Lesson Plan
Who Are They, Really?
Students will be able to identify and analyze how characters change and develop throughout a story, citing textual evidence.
Understanding character development helps students connect with stories on a deeper level, predict outcomes, and analyze authorial intent. It's a fundamental skill for literary analysis.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application.
Materials
Who Are They, Really? Slide Deck, Character Development Worksheet](#character-development-worksheet), and Character Development Answer Key](#character-development-answer-key)
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Who Are They, Really? Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and talking points.
- Print copies of the Character Development Worksheet for each student.
- Review the Character Development Answer Key to ensure understanding of potential student responses.
- Ensure projector and computer are set up for the slide deck presentation.
- Select a short, familiar text (e.g., a short story excerpt, a fable, or a scene from a play) with clear character development for the
Step 1
Warm-Up: First Impressions
5 minutes
- Project the first slide of the Who Are They, Really? Slide Deck asking students to describe a character they know well from a book or movie.
* Ask students to share their initial thoughts with a partner, focusing on what makes that character interesting or memorable.
* Briefly discuss as a class: What makes a character feel
Step 2
Introducing Character Development
10 minutes
- Transition to the core concept using the Who Are They, Really? Slide Deck.
* Define character development (dynamic vs. static characters) and explain its importance in storytelling.
* Use examples from familiar stories (e.g., Harry Potter, The Grinch, a character from a current class reading) to illustrate.
* Explain the different ways authors reveal character development: actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others.
* Facilitate a short Q&A to check for initial understanding.
Step 3
Guided Practice: Analyzing a Character
10 minutes
- Distribute the Character Development Worksheet.
* Project the provided short text (or an excerpt from a class text) on the board.
* As a class, read through the text, pausing to identify moments of character development.
* Model how to fill out the worksheet, guiding students to identify specific actions, thoughts, and dialogue that show a character changing or revealing new traits.
* Encourage students to discuss their observations and reasoning with a partner before sharing with the whole class.
* Refer to the Character Development Answer Key as needed to guide discussion and provide accurate examples.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Character Reflection
5 minutes
- Ask students to complete the final reflection question on their Character Development Worksheet:
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Slide Deck
Who Are They, Really?
What makes a character memorable? Share with a partner!
Ask students to think about a character they know well from a book or movie. What are their first impressions? What makes them stand out? Have them share with a partner.
What is Character Development?
Character development is how a character changes or grows throughout a story.
- Dynamic Characters: They change!
* Static Characters: They stay the same.
Define character development: how a character changes and grows (or doesn't!) throughout a story. Introduce dynamic (changes) vs. static (stays the same) characters.
Why Does it Matter?
Character development helps us:
- Connect with characters
- Understand the story's themes
- See how events impact people
- Make the story more interesting!
Discuss why character development is important for a story. It makes characters relatable, drives the plot, and helps us understand themes. Give a quick example like the Grinch's heart growing or Harry Potter's journey.
How Do Authors Show It?
Authors reveal character development through:
- Actions: What the character does.
- Thoughts: What the character thinks or feels.
- Dialogue: What the character says.
- Interactions: How the character acts with other characters.
Explain the four main ways authors show character development: actions (what they do), thoughts (what they think/feel), dialogue (what they say), and interactions (how they act with others). Emphasize using textual evidence.
Let's Practice!
We're going to read a short text and practice identifying character development using our worksheet. Look for clues in actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions!
Introduce the practice text (which they'll also have on their worksheet). Read it aloud or have students read silently. Remind them to look for clues about character change.
Reflect and Connect
How can understanding character development help you enjoy stories more?
Prompt students to complete the cool-down reflection on their worksheet. This allows them to summarize their learning and apply it personally.
Worksheet
Character Development Deep Dive
Instructions: Read the short story excerpt below. As you read, pay attention to how the character changes or develops. Then, use the table to record your observations, citing specific details from the text.
The Quiet Storm
Maya had always been quiet, preferring the company of books to people. In class, she would shrink in her seat, hoping the teacher wouldn't call on her. Her voice, when she used it, was barely a whisper. She found solace in the detailed worlds within her novels, where she could be brave and adventurous without saying a word. This year, however, a new student named Leo joined her literature class. Leo was boisterous and loved group discussions, often pulling Maya into conversations she'd rather avoid.
One afternoon, during a heated debate about a novel's ending, Maya overheard Leo misinterpret a crucial plot point. Her stomach fluttered, a familiar anxiety rising. But then, a flash of irritation sparked within her. She knew the text inside and out. Someone needs to clarify this, she thought, or everyone will misunderstand. Taking a deep breath, Maya raised her hand, her heart pounding. When the teacher called on her, she spoke, her voice still a little shaky but clear enough for the whole class to hear. She calmly explained her interpretation, backing it up with several direct quotes from the book. Leo, initially surprised, listened intently and then nodded, acknowledging her point. Maya felt a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn't the thrill of adventure from her books, but something real, something she had created herself.
Character Analysis
Complete the table below based on the excerpt. Find specific examples from the story that show Maya's character, especially how she changes.
| Character Trait/Change | Evidence (Quote or Action from Text) | Explanation of how it shows development |
|---|---|---|
| Before (Initial Trait) | ||
| During (Turning Point) | ||
| After (New Trait) |
Reflection
In your own words, explain how Maya developed as a character in this excerpt. What caused her to change?
Answer Key
Character Development Deep Dive - Answer Key
Character Analysis - Suggested Answers
| Character Trait/Change | Evidence (Quote or Action from Text) | Explanation of how it shows development |
|---|---|---|
| Before (Initial Trait: Shy, introverted, avoids attention) | "Maya had always been quiet, preferring the company of books to people." "she would shrink in her seat, hoping the teacher wouldn't call on her." "Her voice, when she used it, was barely a whisper." | These details establish Maya's initial personality as quiet and reserved, actively avoiding social interaction and attention. |
| During (Turning Point: Growing irritation, intellectual confidence) | "Maya overheard Leo misinterpret a crucial plot point. Her stomach fluttered, a familiar anxiety rising. But then, a flash of irritation sparked within her." "Someone needs to clarify this, she thought, or everyone will misunderstand." "Taking a deep breath, Maya raised her hand, her heart pounding." | This marks the shift from passive observation to an internal and external call to action, driven by her knowledge and a desire for correctness, overcoming her usual anxiety. |
| After (New Trait: Assertive, confident, engaged) | "When the teacher called on her, she spoke, her voice still a little shaky but clear enough for the whole class to hear. She calmly explained her interpretation, backing it up with several direct quotes from the book." "Maya felt a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn't the thrill of adventure from her books, but something real, something she had created herself." | Maya actively participates and asserts her understanding, demonstrating a newfound confidence in her ability to contribute and influence. Her feeling of accomplishment shows a positive internal change resulting from her brave action. |
Reflection - Suggested Answer
Maya developed from a very shy and introverted character to one who is more assertive and confident, especially when it comes to her academic understanding. What caused her to change was a combination of her strong grasp of the literature, her frustration with a misunderstanding, and the internal realization that her knowledge could benefit others. This internal spark of irritation and the thought that