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Narrative Writing-10 Strategies for Engaging the Reader
Fifth graders discuss what narrative writing represents. In this language arts activity, 5th graders review the ten strategies for engaging reader. Students listen to and read good examples of each strategyand write engaging beginnings...
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Sticks and Stones
Students explore bullying. In this character development lesson, students discuss verbal and nonverbal bullying. Using the "sticks and stones" adage, students write a sentence describing a hurtful act on a gray piece of paper,...
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Seedfolks
Students explore sequencing. In this sequencing instructional activity, students sequence events to analyze character actions as cause and effect or the plot of the story. Students discuss character actions and list them on a chart.
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Ocean Pollution
Students explore ocean pollution. For this ecology lesson, students view a video entitled This Pretty Planet and identify common biodegradable products. Students participate in activities designed to simulate the negative effects...
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Character Development: Cancer - A New Treatment
Learners explore the concept of character development. In this character development lesson, students watch a video segment regarding a family's struggle with cancer. Learners examine the personality, situation, motivation, and...
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What Makes a Hero?
Students identify the characteristics of a hero. In this character development and writing instructional activity, students listen to music with a hero theme and discuss the common traits of heroes. Students explore individuals and...
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Using Literature to Teach Bullying
Students explore signs and types of bullying. In this "building character" lesson plan, students listen to several read alouds based on a bully theme. Four groups are formed to discuss "gossip", "exclusion", "physical bullying", and...
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Characterization
For this characterization worksheet, students fill out a graphic organizer chart. Students write the character's name in the center and an example of each of the 4 characterization methods by the author. There are instructions to help.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Nathaniel Hawthorne and Literary Humor
Young scholars examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's style of humor and compare it to other humorists. They discuss the purpose of literary humor and determine how it develops characters and plots in stories. They analyze the use of different...
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Let's Trade! The Prince and the Pauper
Students read and analyze the novel, The Prince and the Pauper. They examine character development, discuss opinions using text, and develop and present a slide show demonstrating the development of a character from the beginning to the...
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Changes in Relationships
Little learners can discuss and consider how relationships change. This presentation asks them if they have brothers and sisters, new babies, or grandparents in the family. They think about who needs help and the type of...
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New Beginnings
Start the year off with a few role-play scenarios focused on positive classroom interactions, respect, and expressing feelings. These scenarios are very oddly worded but pose a good way to help learners build empathy and caring when...
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Interpreting Dramatic Works
Action! Delve into character development in the play Fences by August Wilson, setting the stage for learners to analyze character nuances. Thespians choose a scene from the script, responding with a written account of the...
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Wax Museum
Student role play as statues in a wax museum while the teacher takes the role of the curator. They stand in a static position until the curator leaves the room. They interact until the curator returns at which point they freeze. Now they...
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Charging Redchief
Read and analyze the novel, Ransom of Redchief. They identify the elements of character development, and participate in a mock trial, creating the witnesses through the use of character development.
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In Step With Good Character
Most schools participate in a character education program. This presentation, which outlines the definitions for such terms as self-discipline, integrity, perseverance, etc ., could be used as a discussion starter. You could alter, or...
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Self Discipline: Building Character
There is not a clear purpose for this resource. It seems to be partly an exploration of self-discipline and a discussion of the myth The Dancing Horses of Sybaris. If a class was studying this myth, it could be altered, and corrected in...
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Analyzing Relationships
Students explore relationships between story characters. In this story elements and reading comprehension lesson, students generate character traits of the characters in Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson. Students describe...
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Writing a Tall Tale
Learners investigate tall tales. In this tall tales lesson, students read tall tales, then write their own. Learners focus on writing about exciting character development, plots, and scenes. Students edit and revise their papers...
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Lesson 22: As constant as the Northern Star: Examining Static and Dynamic Characters in Julius Caesar
Students examine the play Julius Caesar. For this literature analysis lesson, students work in groups to identify changes in various characters from the story. They examine various aspects of the character's personality and...
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Character Development-Nanavi, A Girl from Benin, West Africa
Students examine the ways a character changes throughout the course of a story. In this literary analysis activity, students discuss a story that spans three years in a young girl's life. Students analyze the changes the girl...
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A Character's Perspective - Colonial House
Students write letters as colonists. In this point-of-view lesson, students watch a video about Colonial America, fill out a character development worksheet, and participate in a class discussion. Then students write a letter...
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Helping Others
Learners explore community service. In this character development and community lesson, students sing a song based on the fable The Lion and the Mouse. Learners participate in a discussion about kindness, and generate ideas for...
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Calm in the Classroom
Students explore conflict resolution. In this character development lesson, students decorate paper plates to use as puppets. Students role play scenarios in which classroom problem solving is practiced.