What a character!
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2357/
A lesson plan for grades 3–4 English Language Arts
In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students analyze how a character’s personality traits, actions, and motives influence the plot of a story. Students also learn how storytellers use their face, body, and voice, as well as the five senses to enhance the telling of a story.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
- considering the differences among genres.
- relating plot, setting, and characters to own experiences and ideas.
- considering main character's point of view.
- participating in creative interpretations.
- making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters and events.
- reflecting on learning, gaining new insights, and identifying areas for further study.
- Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
Grade 4
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
- analyzing the impact of authors' word choice and context.
- examining the reasons for characters' actions.
- identifying and examining characters' motives.
- considering a situation or problem from different characters' points of view.
- analyzing differences among genres.
- making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters, events and themes.
- Objective 3.01: Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes by:
Theatre Arts Education (2001)
Grade 3
- Goal 2: The learner will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles.
- Objective 2.05: Dramatize stories through guided dramatic expression from a story.
- Objective 2.06: Demonstrate ideas and emotions using gestures, blocking and movement.
- Objective 2.07: Utilize improvisational skills to make character choices in the dramatic process.
- Goal 5: The learner will research by finding information to support informal or formal productions.
- Objective 5.03: Choose vocal expression and movement to support the playing of a character.
Grade 4
- Goal 2: The learner will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles.
- Objective 2.05: Create dramatizations based on texts.
- Objective 2.06: Demonstrate ideas and emotions through gestures and movement.
- Objective 2.07: Assume the role of a variety of real and non-real characters.
- Goal 5: The learner will research by finding information to support informal or formal productions.
- Objective 5.03: Adapt and use information about character traits derived from a text.
