Who Am I? Warm-Up

Take a look at the images below. For each person, quickly jot down 2-3 character traits that describe them. How do you know?

1. Image 1: [Insert image of a well-known cartoon character, e.g., SpongeBob SquarePants]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Image 2: [Insert image of a well-known historical figure, e.g., Abraham Lincoln]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Image 3: [Insert image of a popular fictional book character, e.g., Hermione Granger]
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Character Secrets Script

Warm-Up: Who Am I? (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Who Am I? Warm-Up on the board.)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick off our lesson today, I want you to take a look at the three images on the board. For each person, I want you to quickly jot down 2-3 character traits that describe them. Think about what makes them unique. How do you know these traits? You don't need to write full sentences, just some quick notes.


"

(Give students about 2-3 minutes to write.)

"Alright, let's hear some of your ideas! Who can tell me some traits they identified for [Character 1, e.g., SpongeBob]? How did you know he was [trait]? What about [Character 2, e.g., Abraham Lincoln]? What clues did you use? And for [Character 3, e.g., Hermione Granger]? What made you think [trait]?"

"Excellent! You just used a skill that good readers use all the time: characterization. You looked at different clues to figure out what these characters are like. Today, we're going to become character detectives and learn how authors give us those clues."

Introduction to Characterization (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Character Clues Slide Deck - Slide 1 and 2)

"Our goal today is to unlock character secrets! We want to learn how to identify and analyze character traits in a text. Why is this important? Because understanding characters helps us understand the whole story better. It helps us connect with the story and even understand ourselves and others a little more."

"So, what exactly is characterization? Characterization is simply how a writer creates and develops characters in a story. Think of it as the author building a person on paper. And there are two main ways they do this: Direct Characterization and Indirect Characterization."

"Let's start with the first one: Direct Characterization."

Exploring Indirect Characterization (STEAL) (10 minutes)

(Teacher displays Character Clues Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"Direct characterization is like the author just telling you something straight up. The author literally states a character's personality or traits. It's very straightforward."

"For example, if I write: 'The old man was kind and wise.' What words did I use to directly tell you about the old man?" (Pause for responses: kind, wise)

"Exactly! The author comes right out and tells you. It's like the narrator saying, 'Here's a fact about this character.' Easy, right?"

(Teacher displays Character Clues Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Now, indirect characterization is where it gets a little more like being a detective. Here, the author shows you what a character is like, and you have to infer, or figure out, their traits based on clues. To help us remember these clues, we can use the awesome acronym STEAL."

"(Distribute Characterization Handout) Please take out your Characterization Handout. As we go through STEAL, you can fill in the notes on your handout."

"The 'S' in STEAL stands for Speech. What does the character say? How do they say it? Their words, tone, and even their accent can tell us a lot. If a character constantly says, 'I'm not doing that! It's too hard!' what might that tell us about them?" (Pause for responses: lazy, easily frustrated)

"Great! Now for 'T' – Thoughts. What does the character think or feel internally? We often get access to a character's inner world. If a character always thinks, 'He worried constantly about his little sister,' what does that reveal about them?" (Pause for responses: caring, protective)

(Teacher displays Character Clues Slide Deck - Slide 5 and 6)

"Moving on to 'E' – Effect on others. How do other characters react to them? If a character walks into a room and everyone falls silent and looks away, what might that tell you about them?" (Pause for responses: intimidating, perhaps disliked)

"Next, 'A' is for Actions. What does the character do? How do they behave? This is a huge one! If a character always shares their lunch with those who forgot theirs, what trait are they showing?" (Pause for responses: generous, thoughtful)

"And finally, 'L' is for Looks. What does the character look like? How do they dress? This isn't just about being pretty or handsome, but what their appearance suggests about them. If a character always wears worn-out shoes and a faded dress, what might that imply about their background or personality?" (Pause for responses: poor, modest, humble)

"Excellent work, detectives! You've got the STEAL method down."

Practice: Character Secret Agent Activity (8 minutes)

(Distribute Character Secret Agent Activity)

"Now it's your turn to be character secret agents! I'm handing out the Character Secret Agent Activity. You'll find a few short excerpts. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify examples of direct and indirect characterization in each excerpt. Then, explain what character trait each example reveals."

"You can work individually or with a partner. I'll be walking around to help if you have any questions. You have about 8 minutes for this task."

(Circulate, provide support, and monitor student progress.)

Cool-Down: One Trait, One Clue (2 minutes)

"Alright, secret agents, let's wrap up our mission for today. For our cool-down, I want each of you to think about what we've learned."

"On a small slip of paper or in your notebook, I want you to write down:

1. One character trait that we discussed today (e.g., kind, protective, lazy, generous).
2. One type of characterization clue (Direct or one of the STEAL elements) that an author could use to reveal that trait."

"For example, you might write: 'Trait: Generous. Clue: Actions (sharing lunch).'"

"(Collect papers as an exit ticket if desired.) Great job today, everyone! You've taken the first steps to truly unlocking character secrets in every story you read!"

Characterization Handout: Unlocking Character Traits

What is Characterization?

It's how authors create and develop characters in a story.

1. Direct Characterization: The Author Tells You

• Definition: The author directly states a character's personality or traits.
  
  
  
• Example:

Character Secret Agent Activity

Mission: Read the excerpts below and identify examples of direct and indirect characterization. Then, determine what character trait each example reveals.

Excerpt 1

Ms. Periwinkle, a notoriously stern and impatient teacher, glared at Timmy. Timmy, feeling a shiver down his spine, quickly hid the comic book under his desk. He knew better than to cross Ms. Periwinkle when she was in one of her moods, which seemed to be every day.

1. Direct Characterization:
   * Clue:
   * Trait Revealed:
   
   
   

2. Indirect Characterization (STEAL):
   * Clue:
   * Trait Revealed:
   
   
   

Excerpt 2

*Sarah hummed a cheerful tune as she carefully bandaged the stray cat's paw. She often spent her afternoons volunteering at the animal shelter, always making sure every creature felt loved.