Examining character traits through character mapping
Updated: January 22, 2007
Lesson plan
In this lesson, students will examine the traits of characters from their favorite books. Students will also create a Microsoft Office Visio character map for a selected character.
Students will understand the importance of character development within stories.
Prerequisite skills
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Basic experience with Microsoft Office Word
How to begin
1.
Select a character from a story that you have read to the students.
2.
On the overhead projector or whiteboard, list all the information you know about the character.
3.
Discuss with the students how you learned of this information. Was it directly stated in the book? Or, was the information inferred based on other information within the book?
4.
Further discuss how character development is a key element in good stories.
One way to think about your favorite characters and to understand other characters in stories you are reading is to make a map of those characters. In this activity you will create a map of a character.
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Software: Microsoft Office Visio 2003, Microsoft Office Word
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What to do
Make a map of a character
1.
Select a character from a book that you are reading.
2.
Think about the information you know about the character (age, gender, hair color, personality, traits, and other characteristics).
