Character Development

During our novel studies, we worked on keeping track of the different characters and played a few games and activities as a way to review the book. As students learned more about the characters, they were better able to anticipate the characters’ actions and refine their predictions on what would happen next in the book. We also started to discuss different character traits. One of the games students really enjoyed playing is a game called Hot Seat. One student steps into the role of a character by being in the hot seat. The other students prepare questions to ask the character, such as why they acted a certain way. Students tried to ask “why” and “how” questions. The student in the hot seat had to try to answer each question as if they were the character in the book. This was an excellent way for students to review all the strategies we have learned so far this year.

As you are reading with your child at home, ask your child about the different characters in the book and what character they liked best. Try asking them why they think certain characters may have behaved a certain way or how a character may be feeling. Have your child give you one or two reasons to explain their thinking.