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Bud's Big Break: Writing Characters

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Alan Keller

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Bud's Big Break: Writing Characters Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify character traits and motivations from "Bud, Not Buddy" and apply similar techniques to develop their own fictional characters through descriptive writing.

Understanding how authors build compelling characters enhances reading comprehension and provides tools for students to create richer stories themselves.

Audience

4th-6th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, discussion, and guided writing.

Materials

  • Bud's Big Break Slide Deck, and - Character Writing Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Bud's Big Break Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and discussion points.
  • Print enough copies of the Character Writing Worksheet for each student.
  • Ensure you have a way to display the slide deck to the class (projector, smartboard, etc.).

Step 1

Introduction: Who's Your Favorite?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students about their favorite characters from any book they've read. What makes these characters memorable?
  • Introduce the lesson: Today, we're going to look at how amazing authors, like Christopher Paul Curtis, make characters unforgettable, and then you'll get to try it yourself!
  • Display Slide 1: Bud's Big Break: Writing Characters
  • Display Slide 2: What Makes a Character POP?

Step 2

Character Deep Dive: Bud Caldwell

10 minutes

  • Transition to discussing Bud Caldwell from "Bud, Not Buddy."
  • Display Slide 3: Meet Bud Caldwell!
  • Ask: "What do we know about Bud? What kind of kid is he? What are some of his 'rules'?"
  • Encourage students to share specific examples from the book that reveal Bud's personality and motivations.
  • Display Slide 4: Bud's Traits & Motivations
  • Guide a discussion about Bud's key traits (e.g., resilient, resourceful, hopeful) and what motivates him (finding his father, a sense of belonging).

Step 3

Your Turn: Crafting a New Character

10 minutes

  • Explain that students will now create their own fictional character, drawing inspiration from the detailed way Christopher Paul Curtis describes Bud.
  • Distribute the Character Writing Worksheet.
  • Display Slide 5: Your Turn: Create a Character!
  • Guide students through the brainstorming sections of the worksheet, prompting them to think about their character's appearance, personality, actions, and main goal.
  • Display Slide 6: Write Like Curtis!
  • Emphasize using descriptive language and 'showing' rather than 'telling' a character's traits, just like the example provided on the slide.

Step 4

Share & Reflect

5 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share one or two descriptive sentences about their new character from their Character Writing Worksheet.
  • Display Slide 7: Share Your Character!
  • Conclude with a brief discussion: "Why is it important for authors to create such detailed characters? How does it make the story better for the reader?"
  • Display Slide 8: Why Character Matters!
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Slide Deck

Bud's Big Break: Writing Characters

How do authors make characters feel real and unforgettable?

Welcome students and introduce the lesson topic. Ask them to think about their favorite book characters and what makes them memorable.

What Makes a Character POP?

It's all about the details! Authors use:

  • Appearance: What they look like
  • Actions: What they do
  • Thoughts: What they think and feel
  • Words: What they say
  • Reactions: How others react to them

Lead a brief discussion. Prompt students to share examples of what makes a character 'pop' from books they've read. Guide them to think about appearance, actions, thoughts, and words.

Meet Bud Caldwell!

From "Bud, Not Buddy" - what do we already know about this amazing character? What are his defining traits or famous 'rules'?

Transition to Bud Caldwell. Ask students to recall key details about Bud from the book. What comes to mind when they think of him?

Bud's Traits & Motivations

Is Bud:

  • Brave?
  • Resourceful?
  • Hopeful?
  • Determined?

What makes him act the way he does? What is his main goal?

Facilitate a discussion. Ask for specific examples from the book that illustrate Bud's bravery, resourcefulness, or hope. How do these traits drive his actions and the story?

Your Turn: Create a Character!

Now, it's your chance to create a brand new character! Think about:

  • Who are they? (Name, Age, Background)
  • What do they look like? (Appearance)
  • What do they want? (Main Goal/Motivation)
  • How do they act? (Personality/Actions)

Explain the next activity. Introduce the Character Writing Worksheet and guide students to start brainstorming their own unique character. Emphasize thinking broadly about their character's identity.

Write Like Curtis!

Authors like Christopher Paul Curtis 'show' us their characters, they don't just 'tell' us.

Instead of: "Bud was scared."

Try: "Bud's stomach did a flip-flop, and he could feel his heart hammering against his ribs, beating a mile a minute."

Provide guidance on descriptive writing. Explain the concept of 'show, don't tell' with the given example. Encourage students to make their writing vivid and engaging.

Share Your Character!

Turn to a partner or share with the class: "My character, ______, is always ______ because ______."

Give students a sentence frame to help them share a key descriptive detail about their character. Encourage active listening.

Why Character Matters!

Well-developed characters are the heart of any great story. They make us laugh, cry, and keep turning pages!

Keep observing the people around you and the characters in your books for inspiration!

Wrap up the lesson by reinforcing the importance of strong character development in storytelling. Encourage students to continue practicing their character writing skills.

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Worksheet

Craft Your Character: A "Bud, Not Buddy" Inspired Worksheet

Just like Christopher Paul Curtis brought Bud Caldwell to life, you're going to create your own unforgettable character! Let's think about the details that make characters feel real.

Part 1: My Character's Core

  1. Character Name:


  2. Age:


  3. Main Goal/Dream: (What does your character want more than anything?)





Part 2: Bud's Inspiration

Think about Bud Caldwell from "Bud, Not Buddy."

  1. List 3 character traits that describe Bud (e.g., brave, clever, lonely, hopeful):
    a.



    b.



    c.


  2. How did these traits impact Bud's journey and the choices he made in the story?










Part 3: Bring Your Character to Life

Let's brainstorm details for your new character.

  1. Appearance: What do they look like? (Think about their hair, eyes, clothes, any unique features.)










  2. Personality: What kind of person are they? (Are they shy, outgoing, grumpy, kind, mischievous?)





  3. Actions: What do they do that shows their personality? (e.g., a shy person might always look at their feet; a mischievous person might have a secret smirk.)










  4. Dialogue: How do they talk? (Do they use big words, mumble, speak loudly, use slang?) Write one sentence your character might say.





  5. Why are they important? (What role do they play in a story? What makes them interesting?)





Part 4: Show, Don't Tell!

Now, take one of the traits or ideas from Part 3 and write 2-3 descriptive sentences about your character. Remember to show their trait through actions, feelings, or observations, instead of just telling it.

Example from "Bud, Not Buddy": *Instead of

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