Lesson Plan
Character Deep Dive: Who's Who?
Students will be able to infer character traits and motivations by using specific details and evidence from the text.
Understanding characters helps students connect with stories, predict events, and comprehend the author's message more deeply. This skill is crucial for strong reading comprehension.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, modeling, guided practice, and independent application.
Materials
- Character Clues Slide Deck, - Character Detective Worksheet, - Character Detective Answer Key, - Short Story Reading, and - Pencils or pens
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Character Clues Slide Deck and practice the script.
- Print copies of the Character Detective Worksheet for each student.
- Print copies of the Character Detective Answer Key for your reference.
- Print copies of the Short Story Reading for each student.
- Ensure projector/display is set up for the slide deck.
- Gather pencils/pens for students.
Step 1
Connect to Prior Knowledge: Meet the Character Detectives!
3 minutes
- Display Slide 1 of the Character Clues Slide Deck.
- Ask students: "What makes a character in a story interesting? How do authors help us understand who a character is?"
- Introduce the idea of being a "character detective" who looks for clues.
Step 2
Model the Skill: Clues in the Text
5 minutes
- Display Slide 2 and 3 of the Character Clues Slide Deck.
- Introduce "Character Traits" and "Text Evidence."
- Read aloud a short paragraph from the Short Story Reading (e.g., the first paragraph describing the character).
- Model how to identify a character's action or words and infer a trait. "The character always shares their snacks. This clue tells me they are generous."
- Emphasize using phrases like "The text says... which tells me..."
Step 3
Guided Practice: Let's Find Some Clues Together!
4 minutes
- Distribute the Character Detective Worksheet and the Short Story Reading.
- Display Slide 4 of the Character Clues Slide Deck.
- As a class, read the next paragraph from the Short Story Reading.
- Guide students to identify another clue about the character and work together to infer a trait. Fill out the first example on the Character Detective Worksheet together.
Step 4
Independent Application: Your Turn, Detectives!
3 minutes
- Display Slide 5 of the Character Clues Slide Deck.
- Instruct students to read the rest of the Short Story Reading and complete the remaining sections of the Character Detective Worksheet independently.
- Circulate and provide support as needed.
- Collect worksheets at the end of class for assessment.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Who's That Character?
Let's be character detectives!
Welcome students. Ask about favorite characters and how they know what a character is like. Introduce the idea of being a detective.
What Are Character Traits?
Words that describe a character's personality.
- Are they brave or shy?
- Kind or grumpy?
- Curious or quiet?
Explain that character traits are words that describe a character's personality. Give simple examples like kind, brave, shy.
Text Evidence: Our Clues!
Authors give us clues about characters through:
- What they say
- What they do
- What they think
- How others react to them
We use these clues to infer!
Explain that authors don't always tell us a character is brave, they show us. We look for clues in what the character says, does, thinks, and how others react to them.
Let's Practice Together!
Read a part of the story.
- Find a clue about the character (what they say, do, think).
- What trait does that clue show?
"The text says... which tells me the character is..."
Guide students through an example from the story. Have them identify a clue and then infer a trait. Write it on the board if possible.
Your Turn, Character Detectives!
Read the rest of the story.
- Look for more character clues.
- Infer character traits.
- Fill out your Character Detective Worksheet!
Explain that they will now work independently to find clues and traits from the rest of the story using their worksheet.
Worksheet
Character Detective Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Story: The Whispering Woods Adventure
Your Mission: Find Character Clues and Infer Traits!
Part 1: Guided Practice (Do this part with your teacher)
Clue from the story:
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait):
Part 2: Independent Practice (Complete on your own)
Read the rest of the story. For each clue you find, write it down and then infer a character trait.
Clue 1
Clue from the story:
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait):
Clue 2
Clue from the story:
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait):
Clue 3
Clue from the story:
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait):
Challenge: Describe the character in your own words using 2-3 traits you found!
Reading
The Whispering Woods Adventure
Lily skipped through the Whispering Woods, her bright yellow boots splashing in puddles left by the morning rain. She hummed a happy tune, not at all bothered by the muddy path. A tiny, scared bird had fallen from its nest, chirping softly from the wet grass. Lily immediately knelt down, gently scooping the little bird into her cupped hands. "Don't worry, little one," she whispered, her voice as soft as a breeze.
She looked up, searching for the nest in the tall oak trees. Her eyes scanned every branch, even those high above. Finding the nest, she carefully climbed the lowest branches, stretching her arm up to place the bird back with its siblings. It was a bit wobbly, but she held on tight. Once the bird was safe, Lily carefully climbed down, wiping mud from her jeans with a grin.
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed from deeper in the woods. Most children would have run, but Lily paused. "Hello?" she called out, her voice clear and steady. She wasn't afraid. She took a step towards the sound, curious about what animal might be making such a noise. She peered between the thick bushes, her heart beating a little faster, but mostly with excitement. Lily knew every creature had a story, and she was always ready to listen.
Answer Key
Character Detective Answer Key
Story: The Whispering Woods Adventure
Part 1: Guided Practice (Teacher & Students)
Clue from the story: Lily immediately knelt down, gently scooping the little bird into her cupped hands. "Don't worry, little one," she whispered, her voice as soft as a breeze.
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait): Kind, Caring, Gentle
Part 2: Independent Practice
Clue 1
Clue from the story: She looked up, searching for the nest in the tall oak trees. Her eyes scanned every branch, even those high above. Finding the nest, she carefully climbed the lowest branches, stretching her arm up to place the bird back with its siblings. It was a bit wobbly, but she held on tight.
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait): Helpful, Determined, Brave, Resourceful
Clue 2
Clue from the story: Suddenly, a loud growl echoed from deeper in the woods. Most children would have run, but Lily paused. "Hello?" she called out, her voice clear and steady. She wasn't afraid.
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait): Brave, Fearless, Calm
Clue 3
Clue from the story: She took a step towards the sound, curious about what animal might be making such a noise. She peered between the thick bushes, her heart beating a little faster, but mostly with excitement. Lily knew every creature had a story, and she was always ready to listen.
What does this clue tell you about the character? (Character Trait): Curious, Adventurous, Empathetic, Open-minded
Challenge: Describe the character in your own words using 2-3 traits you found!
Example Answer: Lily is a brave and kind girl who is also very curious. She isn't afraid to help others, even if it means getting a little muddy or facing an unknown animal in the woods.