Understanding Characters and Their Traits in Stories
Understanding Characters and Their Traits in Stories Objective: Students will be able to describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Learning Objectives
- Identify main characters in a story.
- Describe character traits and feelings.
- Explain how characters’ actions affect what happens next in the story.
Materials Needed
- A short story or picture book appropriate for 3rd grade
- Paper and crayons or markers
- Character trait chart (simple with spaces for ‘Name’, ‘Traits’, ‘Feelings’, and ‘Actions’)
- Pencil
Key Vocabulary
- Character
- A person, animal, or figure in a story.
- Traits
- Words that describe what a character is like on the inside, such as kind or brave.
- Motivation
- The reason why a character does something.
- Sequence
- The order in which events happen in a story.
Detailed Activities
Read Aloud and Discuss Characters
- Read the chosen story aloud to the student, showing pictures as you read.
- Pause after introducing the main character and ask who the character is and what they are like.
- Discuss the character’s traits and feelings using simple examples from the story.
Character Trait Chart
- Help the student fill out the character trait chart by writing the character’s name.
- Together, write down 2-3 traits that describe the character and discuss why they fit.
- Talk about what the character does in the story and what feelings might cause those actions.
Sequence of Events
- Review the story’s main events with the student, focusing on what the character does first, next, and last.
- Ask the student to explain how the character’s actions lead to what happens in the story.
- Draw simple pictures or write short sentences to show the sequence of events influenced by the character.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to express their thoughts openly about the characters and events.
- Use lots of praise and keep the discussion fun and interactive to build interest.
- If your child struggles, try relating character traits to people you both know, like family or friends.
Assessment Questions
- Who is the main character in the story?
- Can you describe one trait of the main character?
- What did the character do first in the story? What happened next?
- Why do you think the character acted that way?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child draw their favorite character and write three traits about them.
- Create a simple puppet show retelling the story focusing on the character’s actions and feelings.
- Read another story and compare the characters using the trait chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try asking simple, yes/no questions or relate the character’s feelings to your child’s experiences to make it more relatable.
Focus on listening and discussing the story together. You don’t have to be an expert—just sharing time and asking questions helps your child learn.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse character traits (internal qualities) with physical descriptions.
- Children sometimes focus only on what happens, not why characters act as they do.
- Students might struggle to connect character actions to the sequence of events.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide more guided questions and choices for describing traits.
- Use picture cards showing emotions and actions to support understanding.
- Read the story multiple times to build familiarity.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage deeper discussion about why characters make certain choices.
- Ask your child to come up with alternative endings based on different character actions.
- Introduce vocabulary like ‘motivation’ and ’cause and effect’ to expand understanding.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend more time on the read-aloud and discussion if your child is new to identifying character traits.
- If your child is confident, move more quickly to sequencing events and explaining motivations.
- Allow breaks between activities if attention fades, keeping the total lesson around 45 minutes.
Standards
- 3.RL.4 — Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Printable Worksheet
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