Curated OER
Discipline vs. Self-Discipline
Pupils explore self-discipline. In this character education lesson, students define and give examples of discipline and self-discipline. Pupils work with a group to complete a related concept map.
Curated OER
Yes, You Can!
Students examine the concept of encouragement. In this encouragement and character lesson, students participate in an active read aloud of Mary Grace's, Amazing Grace. They draw a picture in their journal of a time that they needed...
Curated OER
THE WORD WEAVER WRITERS WORKSHOP - Character One Description
In this character development worksheet, students write the characteristics of the first character in the story they are reading. They note the characters name, age, appearance, favorite things, and other important details.
Curated OER
Greek Origins and Character Development
Seventh graders examine words of Greek origin and discuss character development in fiction. They read a list of Greek word parts and create words on a worksheet. Students then read and discuss an informational handout about character...
Curated OER
The Art of Creating a Character Using a Press Conference
Students brainstorm and create list of traits of memorable fictional characters they have read about, write down ten characteristics about new character that they are going to create, discuss ways to make characters come alive, and write...
Curated OER
Character and Plot Development Through Comics
Third graders are introduced to character, plot development, point of view, and tone through the use of comic strips. They, in pairs, identify these four attributes in the comic strip and present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
Cinderella Stories
Learners listen to the Scottish tale, The Princess and the Golden Shoes, creating a character chart. They develop a newspaper containing news stories, personality profiles, and editorials regarding The Princess and the Golden Shoes.
Curated OER
My Caring and Sharing Book
First graders read the book Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. They consider when they have shared with someone or expressed caring. They write, illustrate and compile a fish book that tells of their caring and sharing experiences.
Curated OER
Setting the Stage for Service Learning Relationships
Pupils examine the meaning and examples of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. In this social sensitivity lesson, students identify stereotypes, give examples of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, explain the connection...
Curated OER
Colors and Trouble
Students discuss what it would be like if there weren't enough resources by reading " The Land of Many Colors." In this tolerance instructional activity, students identify the differences between tolerant and intolerant behavior. Student...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Cloud Age Two
In this video segment from Nature, Cloud, a two-year-old horse, interacts with his family in the wild. [3:23]
Other
Barbara Greenwood's Guide to Writing for Children [Pdf]
Barbara Greenwood, a Canadian author of numerous historical fiction books for children, has written this thirty-page writing guide where she explains the process she goes through in constructing a story. She covers such key topics as...
Other
National Writing Project: Collaborating to Write Dialogue
In this lesson, writing partners work together to develop a plot and characters. The lesson emphasizes the use of dialogue to develop the characters and plot of the story.
Other
Building Characters With Adversity
Extensive and very interesting article advising the reader on how to develop characters through adversity.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Reading the Play
This comprehensive lesson plan uses Julius Caesar to teach multiple author tools such as figurative language and foreshadowing. Included are reproducibles, activities for each act, lesson extensions, ideas for different learning types,...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Development of Characters Through Literary Devices
In this lesson, students learn how writers develop characters through a variety of techniques: narration, dialogue, interaction with other characters, interaction with setting, and characters' thoughts. RL.9-10.3 Analyzing Characters,...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Overcoming Obstacles
When faced with a bump in the road, sometimes we forget we have a choice: overcome the obstacle or let it overcome you. Steven Claunch, who was born without fingers on his right hand and with one leg shorter than the other and has...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Wqed Education Programs: Clifford the Big Red Dog Programming
This collection of resources has been designed to help teach character development and social-emotional skills to children ages four to seven. Each lesson follows a similar format, in which children can watch (watch video), read (read a...
City University of New York
Cuny Brooklyn: Literary Terms
Site gives definitions of many literary terms including "characterization."
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Nature/national Geographic: Flora's Background and Motivation
Learn about what motivated Flora, a woman from the city, to move to the African bush in this short video from Nature/National Geographic. This is one in a series of three videos about Flora's life. [7:00]
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: A Hard and Lonely Life
In this video segment from Africa, Flora describes her life in the African bush of Tanzania.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Curious: Cancer a New Treatment
Short video from Curious in which Mark Davis is motivated to develop a new, less debilitating treatment for his wife's cancer. [4:49]
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Serendipitous Character Descriptions
In this instructional activity, young scholars create a unique character and develop a descriptive paragraph utilizing strong word choice.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Serendipitous Character Names & Powerful Opening Paragraphs
In this lesson plan, Bertrand R. Brinley's The Mad Scientist's Club is used as a mentor text. Students will analyze the introductory paragraph of the mentor text and its sequel. Then students will use an interactive button to select a...