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Character Chemistry

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Lesson Plan

Character Arc Unveiled

Students will be able to analyze how authors develop characters through their actions, thoughts, and interactions, and understand the concept of character motivation and arc.

Understanding character chemistry helps students connect with stories on a deeper level, develop empathy for diverse perspectives, and become more insightful literary analysts. These skills are crucial for critical thinking and understanding human behavior.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Through a combination of direct instruction, visual examples, and interactive discussions, students will explore the nuances of character development.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Meet the Characters Gallery, Who's Driving the Story?, and Character's Inner Monologue

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Guess the Character

5 minutes

  • Begin with a quick warm-up activity. Display a few images or short descriptions of famous fictional characters (without naming them).
    - Ask students to guess the character and briefly describe one personality trait or motivation they exhibit.
    - Transition by explaining that today's lesson will delve into how authors build these compelling characters.

Step 2

Introduction to Character Chemistry

10 minutes

  • Use the Meet the Characters Gallery Slide Deck to introduce key concepts: character development, motivation, and character arc.
    - Slide 1: Title Slide - Character Chemistry
    - Slide 2: What is Character Chemistry? Explain that character chemistry is how authors make characters feel real and impactful. It's about their traits, motivations, and how they change.
    - Slide 3: Character Traits - The Building Blocks Discuss external (appearance, actions) and internal (thoughts, feelings, beliefs) traits. Provide examples.
    - Slide 4: Motivation - Why They Do What They Do Explain that motivation is the driving force behind a character's actions. Ask students to consider what makes people do things in real life.
    - Slide 5: Character Arc - The Journey Introduce the idea that characters often change or grow throughout a story. Define flat vs. round and static vs. dynamic characters.

Step 3

Exploring Character Through Examples

15 minutes

  • Continue with the Meet the Characters Gallery Slide Deck to show examples of character development.
    - Slide 6: Meet Character A! Present a well-known character (e.g., Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen). Discuss their initial traits and motivations.
    - Slide 7: Character A's Journey Discuss how Character A changes or develops throughout their story. What challenges did they face? How did these challenges shape them?
    - Slide 8: Meet Character B! Introduce another character (e.g., Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, Elsa from Frozen). Repeat the discussion on traits, motivations, and arc.
    - Encourage students to share their own insights and ask questions about these characters.

Step 4

Discussion: Who's Driving the Story?

10 minutes

  • Facilitate the Who's Driving the Story? Discussion.
    - Divide students into small groups or conduct a whole-class discussion.
    - Prompt them to think about how a character's motivations and choices impact the plot and themes of a story.
    - Encourage students to reference specific examples from literature or even popular culture.

Step 5

Journal Reflection: Character's Inner Monologue

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Character's Inner Monologue Journal.
    - Explain that students will choose a character (either from the lesson or one of their own choosing) and write a short journal entry from that character's perspective.
    - The entry should reveal the character's internal thoughts, feelings, and motivations at a key moment in their story.
    - Assign this as a cool-down activity for the last few minutes of class or as homework. Collect journals at the end of class or the next day.
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Slide Deck

Character Chemistry: Unveiling What Makes Characters Tick!

Today's Journey:

  • What makes characters feel real?
  • Traits, Motivations, and Arcs
  • Exploring famous character journeys
  • Reflecting on inner thoughts and feelings

Get ready to explore the magic behind compelling characters!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of 'Character Chemistry.' Ask them what they think it might mean to have 'chemistry' with a character.

What is Character Chemistry?

It's how authors make characters:

  • Feel Real: Like someone you could actually know.
  • Be Interesting: They grab your attention!
  • Drive the Story: Their choices move the plot forward.
  • Evoke Emotion: You cheer for them, worry about them, or even get frustrated by them.

It's the magic behind compelling personalities!

Explain that 'character chemistry' is how authors make characters so believable and impactful that we feel a connection to them. It's about how all their parts fit together.

Character Traits: The Building Blocks

What are 'Traits'?

  • External Traits: What we see on the outside.
    • Examples: Hair color, height, a unique style of dress, a limp, how they speak.
  • Internal Traits: What's on the inside – their personality.
    • Examples: Brave, shy, clever, kind, ambitious, stubborn.

Authors use both to paint a full picture!

Discuss character traits – the observable and internal qualities. Ask students for examples of both in people they know or characters from books/movies.

Motivation: Why Do They Do What They Do?

Motivation is the reason behind a character's actions.

  • Goals: What do they want to achieve?
  • Desires: What do they secretly wish for?
  • Needs: What do they need to survive or be happy?
  • Fears: What are they trying to avoid?

Motivation drives the plot forward!

Focus on motivation. Why do characters do what they do? Connect it to real-life decisions. Ask: 'What motivates you to come to school every day?'

Character Arc: The Journey of Change

A 'Character Arc' is the journey a character takes from beginning to end.

  • Dynamic Characters: They change significantly throughout the story.
  • Static Characters: They stay pretty much the same.
  • Round Characters: Complex, many-sided personalities.
  • Flat Characters: Simple, often defined by one or two traits.

Good stories often have dynamic, round characters!

Introduce character arc. Emphasize that not all characters have a huge arc, but many do. Explain flat vs. round and static vs. dynamic.

Meet Harry Potter!

Let's think about Harry Potter at the beginning of his journey.

  • Initial Traits: What was he like?
  • Initial Motivations: What did he want or need?
  • Early Challenges: What problems did he face?

How did he start?

Introduce a specific character (e.g., Harry Potter). Ask students to recall his initial traits and motivations at the start of the series.

Harry's Magical Evolution

How did Harry change and grow throughout the series?

  • Key Events: What major challenges did he face?
  • New Traits: What qualities did he develop?
  • Shift in Motivation: Did his goals or desires change?

He definitely didn't stay the same!

Discuss how Harry evolves. What events changed him? How did he grow as a person and a wizard?

Now, Meet Katniss Everdeen!

From the Districts to the Arena: Katniss's start.

  • Initial Traits: What kind of person was she before the Hunger Games?
  • Initial Motivations: What was most important to her?
  • Early Decisions: What choices did she make, and why?

What drove her?

Introduce another character (e.g., Katniss Everdeen). Prompt students to consider her initial state and what propels her actions.

Katniss: The Mockingjay's Transformation

How did Katniss change throughout her harrowing journey?

  • Impact of the Games: How did her experiences affect her?
  • Leadership: What role did she grow into?
  • Evolving Motivation: Did her fight remain solely for her family, or did it broaden?

Her arc is powerful!

Lead a discussion on Katniss's transformation. How do the events of the story shape her? Does her motivation shift?

Your Turn: Who's Driving the Story?

Get ready to discuss:

  • How do a character's traits and motivations shape the entire story?
  • Can a story exist without strong character chemistry?
  • Think about a story you love: How did the characters make it great?

Let's chat!

Transition to the discussion activity. Remind students that characters are not just observers, but active forces in the story.

Reflect: Character's Inner Monologue

For your journal entry, choose a character (from today's lesson, another book, or even your own imagination) and write a short piece from their perspective.

  • What are they thinking and feeling at a key moment?
  • What are their secret motivations?
  • What worries or hopes do they have?

Step into their shoes!

Explain the journal activity. Give clear instructions on what they need to write about for their chosen character's inner monologue.

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Discussion

Who's Driving the Story? Discussion Guide

Objective: To explore the profound impact of character traits and motivations on the narrative and thematic elements of literature.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Think about a story you've recently read or a movie you've watched. How would the story be different if the main character had a completely different personality or set of motivations?











  2. Can a story truly be compelling if its characters are flat or unmotivated? Why or why not? What makes you care about a character?











  3. Authors often use external conflicts (like a villain or a natural disaster) to challenge characters. How do these external challenges often reveal or change a character's internal traits and motivations?











  4. Consider the idea of a

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Journal

Character's Inner Monologue Journal

Objective: To deepen understanding of character by exploring their internal world and motivations through imaginative writing.

Journal Prompt:

Choose one character from a book you've read, a movie you've seen, or even a character you've invented yourself. Imagine a pivotal moment in their story – a moment where they have to make a big decision, face a challenge, or have a significant realization.

Write a journal entry (about 1-2 paragraphs) from that character's perspective at that specific moment. In your entry, reveal:

  • What are they thinking and feeling right now?
  • What are their deepest motivations or fears that are driving their thoughts?
  • What do they hope for? What are they worried about?
  • How might this moment change them?

Character Name:




The Pivotal Moment:




Character's Inner Monologue:











































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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