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Character Connections

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Lesson Plan

Character Connections

Students will be able to explain the relationships among major and minor characters in fiction, drama, and poetry, and edit sentences for subject-verb agreement and completeness.

Understanding character relationships helps students deeply comprehend stories and analyze how characters influence each other across different genres. Practicing grammar ensures clear and effective communication in writing.

Audience

3rd Grade Small Group

Time

15-20 minutes

Approach

Mini-lesson, guided practice, and independent application with targeted feedback and a quick check.

Materials

Small Group Slide Deck, Character Relationships Worksheet, Character Connections Answer Key, Character Connections Quick Check, and Character Connections Quick Check Answer Key

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction (2 minutes)

2 minutes

  • Greet students and briefly review major and minor characters. Ask: 'Who remembers what a major character is? How about a minor character?' (Refer to Slide 1).
    - Introduce today's focus: 'Today, we're going to become character detectives! We'll practice figuring out how characters in different types of stories, like fiction, drama, and poetry, are connected and how they affect each other. We’ll also work on making our sentences super clear when we write about these relationships!' (Refer to Slide 2).

Step 2

Mini-Lesson: Character Relationships (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Display "The Whispering Willow" on Slide 3. Read the excerpt.
    - Model identifying major and minor characters (e.g., Elara as major, Old Man Tiber as minor).
    - Model identifying their relationship: 'Old Man Tiber, a minor character, helps Elara by giving her advice that guides her to discover the problem. Their relationship is supportive.' (Refer to Slide 4).
    - Emphasize relationships can be supportive, challenging, or neutral.

Step 3

Mini-Lesson: Sentence Structure & Subject-Verb Agreement (3 minutes)

3 minutes

  • Transition to grammar: 'When we explain these relationships, it’s important our sentences are clear and correct!' (Refer to Slide 5).<2/>- Briefly review complete sentences (subject + verb, complete thought).
    - Briefly review subject-verb agreement (singular subject + 's' verb; plural subject no 's' verb).
    - Provide 1-2 examples on Slide 6 and ask students to identify and correct errors (e.g., 'The boy run fast.' becomes 'The boy runs fast.').

Step 4

Guided Practice: Character Analysis & Editing (4 minutes)

4 minutes

  • Distribute Character Relationships Worksheet.
    - Guide students through Question 1 (fiction excerpt). 'Look at Lily and Tom. How are they connected? Let's write a complete sentence with subject-verb agreement to explain their relationship.' (Refer to Slide 7).
    - Provide immediate feedback.
    - Have students briefly work on Question 2 (drama excerpt) independently or in pairs.

Step 5

Quick Check: Poetry & STAAR-Aligned Questions (4 minutes)

4 minutes

  • Distribute Character Connections Quick Check.
    - Introduce poetry passage: 'Now we'll be detectives with a poem!' Display "The Little Acorn's Friend" on Slide 8. Read the poem.
    - Instruct students to answer quick check questions independently, focusing on character relationships and sentence editing. 'Remember complete sentences and subject-verb agreement!'
    - Circulate, offering minimal guidance.

Step 6

Wrap-Up & Review (2 minutes)

2 minutes

  • Briefly review key takeaways. Ask: 'What was one new thing you learned or remembered about character relationships?' or 'What’s one thing to remember when writing a complete sentence?'
    - Collect worksheets and quick checks. (Refer to Slide 9).
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Slide Deck

Welcome, Character Detectives!

Who are major characters?
Who are minor characters?

Let's refresh our memory!

Welcome students and remind them about major and minor characters from previous lessons. This is a quick recall to activate prior knowledge.

Today's Mission!

  • Explore how major and minor characters are connected.
  • Understand how they affect each other.
  • Practice writing about relationships with complete sentences and correct subject-verb agreement.

Time to be a Character Detective!

Introduce the day's objective clearly. Emphasize becoming 'character detectives' and improving writing.

Our Story Excerpt: The Whispering Willow

Elara spent her afternoons beneath the ancient willow tree by the creek, sketching its drooping branches. Lately, however, the willow looked droopy for a different reason. Its leaves were turning yellow, and some branches seemed brittle. A deep sadness settled in Elara’s heart. She tried watering it more, even talking to its trunk, but nothing helped.

Old Man Tiber, whose cottage bordered the creek, often saw Elara by the tree. He was a quiet gardener with eyes that seemed to know every secret of the soil. One sunny morning, as Elara sighed, looking up at the sickly branches, Old Man Tiber slowly approached. "The willow often tells you what it needs," he said, his voice raspy but kind. "You just have to listen closely, not with your ears, but with your eyes and hands." He then tipped his straw hat and ambled back to his own thriving garden.

Elara pondered his words. Listen with her eyes and hands? She spent the next hour examining the soil around the tree’s roots, gently touching the yellowed leaves, and finally, noticing a patch of hardened, clay-like earth right where the roots spread widest. It was blocking the water from reaching them! Old Man Tiber’s strange advice had opened her eyes to the real problem.

Display "The Whispering Willow" here. Read it aloud or have students read silently. This text will be used for modeling character relationships.

Detecting Relationships

Major Character: Elara
Minor Character: Old Man Tiber

How do they interact?
How does the minor character influence the major character?

Relationships can be supportive, challenging, or neutral.

Model identifying characters and their relationships using "The Whispering Willow." Use a think-aloud process, specifically referencing Elara and Old Man Tiber and how his advice influenced her.

Clear Writing, Clear Thinking!

When we explain character relationships, our sentences need to be:

  • Complete (has a subject and a verb, expresses a full thought)
  • Correct (subject and verb agree)

Transition to the grammar skill. Explain why it's important for clear communication.

Grammar Check-Up!

Example 1: *The boy run fast.
*Correct it!

Example 2: *Walk to the store.
*Make it a complete sentence!

Provide 1-2 examples of sentences with errors in completeness or subject-verb agreement. Ask students to identify and correct them.

Your Turn: Character Detective Worksheet!

Let's work through the first question together.

  • Identify characters and their relationships.
  • Write complete sentences.
  • Make sure your subjects and verbs agree!

Explain the worksheet activity. Guide them through the first question, emphasizing both character analysis and grammar. Provide the Character Relationships Worksheet. Students will briefly work on this before the quick check.

Quick Check: A Poetic Mystery!

The Little Acorn's Friend

Little Timmy loved his quiet nook,
Under the oak where green leaves shook.
He'd watch the squirrels, quick and small,
Collecting acorns before the fall.

One day, Timmy tried to draw a tree,
But his lines were wobbly, wild, and free.
A cheeky squirrel, with a flick of its tail,
Dropped an acorn on his drawing, without fail.

Timmy giggled, then looked at the seed,
Small and perfect, a tiny, brown deed.
He traced its shape, so round and neat,
And suddenly, his tree drawing felt complete.
From that day on, his art grew strong,
Thanks to the squirrel's tiny, playful wrong.


Now, answer the questions on your quick check!

Introduce the poetry quick check. Read the poem aloud or have students read silently. Instruct them to answer the questions on the Character Connections Quick Check independently.

Mission Accomplished!

What was one important thing you learned today?

Great job, character detectives!

Conclude the lesson, reviewing key takeaways and collecting worksheets and quick checks.

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Script

Character Connections Script: Your One-Page Guide

Lesson Flow at a Glance

Objective: Students will explain major/minor character relationships across genres and edit sentences for subject-verb agreement and completeness.

Time: 15-20 minutes

Materials Needed:

1. Warm-Up & Introduction (2 minutes) - Slides 1-2

Teacher: "Hello, character detectives! Today, we're figuring out how characters in fiction, drama, and poetry are connected and how they affect each other. We’ll also work on making our sentences super clear!"

  • Ask: "Who remembers what a major character is? How about a minor character?" [Affirm responses.]

2. Mini-Lesson: Character Relationships (5 minutes) - Slides 3-4

Teacher: "Let's analyze 'The Whispering Willow.'"

  • Read excerpt from Slide 3.
  • Model: "Elara is the major character; Old Man Tiber is minor. He gives advice that helps Elara find the problem. Their relationship is supportive." (Refer to Slide 4).
  • Emphasize: Relationships can be supportive, challenging, or neutral.

3. Mini-Lesson: Sentence Structure & Subject-Verb Agreement (3 minutes) - Slides 5-6

Teacher: "Clear sentences are key!"

  • Review: Complete sentences (subject + verb, complete thought) and subject-verb agreement (singular subject + 's' verb; plural no 's' verb). (Refer to Slide 5).
  • Practice: Use Slide 6 examples. "'The boy run fast.' becomes 'The boy runs fast.'" "'Walk to the store.' needs a subject, like 'He walks to the store.'"

4. Guided Practice: Character Analysis & Editing (4 minutes) - Slide 7

Teacher: "Time for your detective work on the Character Relationships Worksheet!"

  • Question 1 (Fiction): "Look at Lily and Tom. How are they connected? Let's write a complete sentence with subject-verb agreement." [Guide and provide feedback.]
  • Question 2 (Drama): "Briefly work on this drama excerpt independently or in pairs." [Circulate.]

5. Quick Check: Poetry & STAAR-Aligned Questions (4 minutes) - Slide 8

Teacher: "Now, a quick check with a poem!"

  • Distribute Character Connections Quick Check.
  • Introduce Poem: Display "The Little Acorn's Friend" on Slide 8. Read it.
  • Instruct: "Answer the quick check questions independently. Remember complete sentences and subject-verb agreement!" [Circulate, minimal guidance.]

6. Wrap-Up & Review (2 minutes) - Slide 9

Teacher: "Great job, detectives!"

  • Ask: "What was one new thing you learned or remembered about character relationships?" or "What’s one thing to remember when writing a complete sentence?"
  • Collect worksheets and quick checks. (Refer to Slide 9).
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Worksheet

Character Relationships Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Directions: Read each short story excerpt. Then, answer the questions about the major and minor characters and their relationships. Remember to write in complete sentences and make sure your subject and verbs agree!

Excerpt 1 (Fiction)

Lily loved to draw pictures of imaginary creatures. Her older brother, Tom, often teased her for it, saying her drawings were silly. One day, Lily drew a beautiful dragon. Tom saw it and, instead of teasing, he said, “Wow, Lily, that’s actually really good! Can you draw a dragon for my school project?” Lily felt a warmth spread through her. Maybe Tom wasn’t so bad after all.

  1. Who is the major character? Who is a minor character?



  2. Describe the relationship between Lily and Tom at the beginning of the excerpt. How does Tom, the minor character, influence Lily?






  3. How does their relationship change by the end of the excerpt? What causes this change?






Excerpt 2 (Drama)

Characters:

  • Leo: A boy who loves playing outside.
  • Maya: Leo's older sister, who is very studious.

(SCENE: A living room. Leo is trying to build a fort with blankets. Maya is reading a book on the couch.)

LEO: (Struggling to drape a blanket over a chair) Ugh, this isn't working! It keeps falling down!

MAYA: (Without looking up from her book) Maybe you need a stronger base, Leo. Those chairs are too wobbly.

LEO: (Frustrated) Easy for you to say, you're just reading! This fort needs a roof!

MAYA: (Puts down her book, a small smile on her face) Tell you what. If you can explain to me why your fort keeps collapsing, using complete sentences, I'll help you find some sturdy boxes in the garage.

LEO: (His eyes widen) Really? Okay! My fort keeps collapsing because the blankets are too heavy, and the chairs are not strong enough to hold them. Also, I think the chairs are too far apart!

MAYA: (Nods) Very good sentences. Come on, then. Let’s build an epic fort.

  1. Who is the major character? Who is a minor character?



  2. Describe the relationship between Leo and Maya. How does Maya, the minor character, impact Leo?






  3. How does Maya help Leo in this scene? What kind of relationship do they have?






Sentence Editing Practice

Directions: Read each sentence. If the sentence is incomplete or has a subject-verb agreement error, rewrite it correctly in the space provided. If it is already correct, write "Correct."

  1. The cat chase the mouse.



  2. Run very fast.



  3. My friends loves to read books.



  4. The flowers bloom in spring.



  5. They jumps over the puddle.



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Answer Key

Character Relationships Worksheet: Answer Key

Excerpt 1

  1. Who is the major character? Who is a minor character?

    • Major Character: Lily. The story focuses on her feelings and experiences.
    • Minor Character: Tom. He interacts with Lily and influences her, but the story is not primarily about him.

  2. Describe the relationship between Lily and Tom at the beginning of the excerpt. How does Tom, the minor character, influence Lily?

    • At the beginning of the excerpt, the relationship between Lily and Tom is somewhat antagonistic or challenging. Tom often teases Lily for her drawings. This makes Lily feel a bit hurt or misunderstood.

  3. How does their relationship change by the end of the excerpt? What causes this change?

    • By the end of the excerpt, their relationship becomes more supportive and positive. Tom's unexpected compliment on Lily's dragon drawing and his request for one causes this change. This makes Lily feel warm and think that Tom is not so bad.

Excerpt 2 (Drama)

  1. Who is the major character? Who is a minor character?

    • Major Character: Leo. The scene revolves around his struggle to build a fort and his feelings of frustration.
    • Minor Character: Maya. She observes Leo, offers advice, and eventually helps him, thus influencing the major character's actions and the scene's outcome.

  2. Describe the relationship between Leo and Maya. How does Maya, the minor character, impact Leo?

    • The relationship between Leo and Maya is initially a typical sibling dynamic, with Maya being studious and Leo being more active. Maya, as the minor character, impacts Leo by offering insightful advice that makes him think and by setting a condition (explaining in complete sentences) that leads to her direct help.

  3. How does Maya help Leo in this scene? What kind of relationship do they have?

    • Maya helps Leo by encouraging him to analyze his problem with complete sentences, which then prompts her to offer practical help in finding sturdy boxes for his fort. They have a supportive and helpful relationship, where Maya uses her intelligence to guide and assist her younger brother.

Sentence Editing Practice

  1. The cat chase the mouse.

    • The cat chases the mouse.

  2. Run very fast.

    • He runs very fast. (Or: The boy runs very fast. / They run very fast.)

  3. My friends loves to read books.

    • My friends love to read books.

  4. The flowers bloom in spring.

    • Correct.

  5. They jumps over the puddle.

    • They jump over the puddle.
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Quiz

Character Connections Quick Check

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Answer Key

Character Connections Quick Check: Answer Key

Poetry Passage: "The Little Acorn's Friend"

Little Timmy loved his quiet nook,
Under the oak where green leaves shook.
He'd watch the squirrels, quick and small,
Collecting acorns before the fall.

One day, Timmy tried to draw a tree,
But his lines were wobbly, wild, and free.
A cheeky squirrel, with a flick of its tail,
Dropped an acorn on his drawing, without fail.

Timmy giggled, then looked at the seed,
Small and perfect, a tiny, brown deed.
He traced its shape, so round and neat,
And suddenly, his tree drawing felt complete.
From that day on, his art grew strong,
Thanks to the squirrel's tiny, playful wrong.

  1. What is the main way the cheeky squirrel impacts Little Timmy in the poem "The Little Acorn's Friend"?
    • Correct Answer: B. The squirrel gives Timmy a perfect shape to help him draw.
    • Reasoning: The poem states,
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