Character+Development

Character Traits:

[|Adjectives and Character Traits] : **OVERVIEW** Students explore adjectives through a read-aloud and develop a working definition of the term. They list as many adjectives as they can, then combine them with "to be" verbs to create simple sentences. Next, they are introduced to character traits by putting the adjectives from their list in the context of a character from a shared reading. They then use an online chart to equate the character traits with specific actions the character takes. Finally, students "become" one of the major characters in a book and describe themselves and other characters, using Internet reference tools to compile lists of accurate, powerful adjectives supported with details from the reading. Students read each other's lists of adjectives and try to identify who is being described.

The lesson uses //Charlotte's Web// as an example, but this activity is effective with any work of literature in which characterization is important.

Character Development:

[|Bright Morning Exploring Character Development Through Fiction] : **OVERVIEW** After reading //Sing Down the Moon// by Scott O'Dell, or another book from the provided book list, students brainstorm a list of words to describe the main character, Bright Morning. They then narrow the list down to the six descriptors that tell the most about her. Next, they search the book for places that show Bright Morning fits the first descriptor on their list. Finally, they work independently, with small group support, to find textual support for another of the characteristics on their list. They mark the text with stick-on notes and write to explain their choices. An online character map tool serves as an assessment for the lesson.

[|Three Elements of Characterization]


 * Picture Books that Illustrate Well-Developed Characters**

Blos, Joan. 1990. //Old Henry//. Mulberry Books. Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. 2003. //Ella Sarah Gets Dressed//. Harcourt. Curtis, Jamie Lee. 2000. //Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods that Make My Day.// Harper Collins Juvenile. Gay, Marie-Louise. 2002. //Stella, Fairy of the Forest//. Groundwood Books. Gay, Marie-Louise. 2000. //Stella, Queen of the Snow//. Groundwood Books. Gay, Marie-Louise. 1999. //Stella, Star of the Sea//. Groundwood Books. Henkes, Kevin. 1996. //Chrysanthemum//. Mulberry Books. Henkes, Kevin. 1995. //Julius, the Baby of the World//. Mulberry Books. Hoffman, Mary. 1991. //Amazing Grace//. Scott Foresman. Hoffman, Mary. 2000. //Boundless Grace//. Puffin. Kay, Verla. 2007. //Rough, Tough Charley//. Tricycle. Keller, Holly. 2002. //Farfillina and Marcel//. Greenwillow Books. Lowry, Lois. 2002. //Gooney Bird Greene//. Houghton Mifflin. Martchenko, Michael. 1989. //Thomas’ Snowsuit//. Firefly Books. Mason, Jane B. 2004. //Stella and the Berry Thief//. Marshall Cavendish. McMullan, Jim and Katie. 2002. //I Stink!// Joanna Cotler. Meddaugh, Susan. 1995. //Martha Speaks//. Houghton Mifflin. Meddaugh, Susan. 1998. //Martha Blah, Blah, Blah//. Houghton Mifflin. Meddaugh, Susan. 1998. //Martha Walks the Dog//. Houghton Mifflin.Mora, Pat. 2005. //Doña Flor//. Dragonfly. Myers, Christopher. 2000. //Wings//. Scholastic. Nolen, Jerdine. 2005. //Hewitt Anderson’s Great Big Life//. Simon & Schuster. Nolen, Jerdine. 2003. //Thunder Rose//. Silver Whistle. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. 2006. //Peggony Po: A Whale of a Tale.// Hyperion. Soto, Gary. 2006. //My Little Car//. Putnam Juvenile. Woodson, Jacqueline, and E. B. Lewis. 2004. //Coming on Home Soon//. Putnam.

[|Character Sketch]

[|What a Character!.pdf] [|Developing a Character.pdf]