Minds On
Identical or interchangeable?
Consider the following: adventurous, daring, bold, brave, fearless.
- What’s the same about them? What’s different?
- What are these types of words called?
- How are these words used in stories?
Let’s enjoy a short video clip to explore this concept further.
Exercise your adjectives
Consider a text that you have read or are currently reading. Select an adjective from the text and generate a list of synonyms.
Press ‘Hint’ to reveal what is a synonym.
If possible, share your list of synonyms with a partner.
Action
Pick a character trait
What do you think?
Reflect on all the amazing, wonderful, spectacular, and outstanding synonyms we discussed previously in Minds On! When adjectives are used to describe how a character behaves, they are called personality or character traits. We are going to examine how character traits help us to understand a story.
Story time
Now, it's time to determine the main character's MAIN character traits. Consider the main character in a story you are reading or have just finished. You may infer character feelings, moods, and opinions by finding examples of what the character thinks, what the character says, and what the character does in the text. Choose a few character traits that you think best describe the main character in the story. Cite evidence from the text to support your choices. You can document your ideas using the graphic organizer below or use another method of your choice.
Complete the Character Trait Graphic Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
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Evidence from the text What does the character think? What does the character say? What does the character do? |
Some Examples of Character traits: Hardworking, kind, frustrated, clever, athletic, honest, sneaky, empathetic, thoughtful, responsible, caring, friendly, social, angry, ambitious, reliable, energetic, fearless, careless, rude, bold, cheerful, funny |
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Character traits: |
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Character Trait Graphic Organizer.
If possible, compare your character's traits with a partner. Are there any traits in common?
Reflect
Consider the adjectives you chose to describe how the main character behaves. Does the main character’s behaviour change throughout the story? If so, reflect on whether you would use different adjectives to describe the main character at the beginning, middle and end of the story.
Consolidation
Compare and contrast
Compare and contrast: It's not just the main character who contributes to the storyline and helps to connect the events of the story. Pick another character that you think really helped you understand the story. Consider what character traits they possessed and how that character contributed to the story’s development.
Select an event that includes both characters. Did the two characters react differently to the event? Consider how their character traits might have affected their actions.
Complete the Character Comparison in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
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Character: |
Character: |
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Event: |
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What the character said/thought/did: |
What the character said/thought/did: |
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Trait: |
Trait: |
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Outcome: |
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Character Comparison.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
How did each character's traits affect their actions in the story? If possible, share your ideas with a partner.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.