Describing the Characters is FUN

I had been contemplating how to  get kids in my English class understand and apply the reading and writing strategy of characterisation. Then, just an idea dropped into my head as I was doodling some faces and the activity turned out to be GREAT FUN for the class.  


In the first lesson,  we brainstormed and discussed how characters in stories have outside (how do they look)and inside personality ( how do they behave and their character traits). I modeled for them one of the sample stories to analyze information about the characters outside personality (physical appearance). After this, the kids worked in pairs to describe  themselves and their partners physical appearance. It was good engagement and opportunity to teach good words and phrases as they were constantly asking me to describe how did their noses and chins looked like. The following collage was created before we could forbade goodbye in our first lesson! 

Click to Learn More About These FUN and ENGAGING Graphic Organizers

In the second lesson next week, we will be discussing the inside personality of the characters through reading a story book. Next, students will apply their understanding through pair work. They would be working on the following worksheets. I have two versions of the same worksheet for both the boys and the girls. Click on the collage to read more about this resource at my TpT Store

Describing the Characters is FUN

I had been contemplating how to  get kids in my English class understand and apply the reading and writing strategy of characterisation. Then, just an idea dropped into my head as I was doodling some faces and the activity turned out to be GREAT FUN for the class.  


In the first lesson,  we brainstormed and discussed how characters in stories have outside (how do they look)and inside personality ( how do they behave and their character traits). I modeled for them one of the sample stories to analyze information about the characters outside personality (physical appearance). After this, the kids worked in pairs to describe  themselves and their partners physical appearance. It was good engagement and opportunity to teach good words and phrases as they were constantly asking me to describe how did their noses and chins looked like. The following collage was created before we could forbade goodbye in our first lesson! 

Click to Learn More About These FUN and ENGAGING Graphic Organizers

In the second lesson next week, we will be discussing the inside personality of the characters through reading a story book. Next, students will apply their understanding through pair work. They would be working on the following worksheets. I have two versions of the same worksheet for both the boys and the girls. Click on the collage to read more about this resource at my TpT Store

Story Elements Task Cards for ELA Classrooms

Since I started introducing story elements to my elementary writing classroom, I thought of creating Task Cards to give more practice and to help them review story elements in a fun way. 

After doing some discussion and modeling story elements for them with the help of a story book and graphic organizer, I let them work either in pairs or in groups  to take turns to create the stories. 

Then, they work independently to apply their understanding.This activity works well with Grade 3 students. 

However, for the second graders, I let them first categorize the story element cards for Beginning, Middle and Ending parts of the story. After that, they plan their story with the help of these cards in a guided manner. It is good for interactive notebooks as they write the names of their characters and stick the top part of the card above it creating Flip and See interactives for all the section of their story. 

 


For first graders, I use it along with reading a book and identifying the various story elements as we read together often letting them do the guessing. Also, I let them create their own stories by pasting these in their notebooks as shown below in a guided collaborative small group activity as they take turns to create different parts of their stories.



 
Click to Preview Story Elements Task Cards on TeachersPayTeachers

Story Elements Task Cards for ELA Classrooms

Since I started introducing story elements to my elementary writing classroom, I thought of creating Task Cards to give more practice and to help them review story elements in a fun way. 

After doing some discussion and modeling story elements with the help of a story and graphic organizer, I let them work in group of three's to shuffle the pile of Task Cards and pick one card taking turns. The random selection of cards give them an opportunity to improve their thinking skills as they must think of an event before dealing with the character or setting card. 

Then, they work independently to apply their understanding.This activity works well with Grade 3 students. 

However, for second graders, I let them first categorize the story element cards for Beginning, Middle and Ending parts of the story. After that, they plan their story with the help of these cards in a guided manner. It is good for interactive notebooks as they write the names of their characters and stick the top part of the card above it creating Flip and See interactives for all the section of their story. 

For first graders, I use it along with reading a book and identifying the various story elements as we read together often letting them do the guessing. Click to Preview Story Elements Task Cards on TeachersPayTeachers

Free Common Core Story Elements Puzzles

I created a set of hands-on activities to enhance kids understanding of various story elements keeping in mind that children need to understand first what are different story elements before they could write a story independently or comprehend elements of a story. 



You can also use an interesting grade level story book to go along with this activity. 

Read aloud each story element description after reading a story book and prompt children to figure out different elements(characters, setting, problem etc.). Brainstorm and create a collage on the board to support their understanding.

If you choose not to extend or supplement this activity with a story book, simply use the provided scrambled story strips to enhance their understanding of story elements. Let the students sequence the story in pairs or small groups or guide the whole class to sequence the story through modelling for them. 

Then, read out the description of each story element and prompt the class to identify it's counterpart in the story they have sequenced followed by comprehension questions.

Common Core Story Elements includes:
1. Detailed description of each story element.

2. A Scrambled Story  that you can laminate and cut into  strips for repeated use. 

3. A set of comprehension questions related to the story children have sequenced.

4. A set of 4 Task Cards to reinforce their understanding of the story elements. You can either laminate and cut the cards or you can use it as a single worksheet.

 Children stay curious as they strengthen their learning process through these activities. This is included in the Common Core Story Elements Activities on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

I used the bright orange paper to print the story sentences  and then cut them along the dotted lines to keep this activity bright and lively 

Click to Download the Story Elements Puzzle Task Cards. 
I used the blue card stock paper to print and cut the Task Cards. 

You have the option to use it as a worksheet if you do not intend to laminate it or just use any bright card stock paper.

Free Common Core Story Elements Puzzles

I created a set of hands-on activities to enhance kids understanding of various story elements keeping in mind that children need to understand first what are different story elements before they could write a story independently or comprehend elements of a story. 



You can also use an interesting grade level story book to go along with this activity. 

Read aloud each story element description after reading a story book and prompt children to figure out different elements(characters, setting, problem etc.). Brainstorm and create a collage on the board to support their understanding.

If you choose not to extend or supplement this activity with a story book, simply use the provided scrambled story strips to enhance their understanding of story elements. Let the students sequence the story in pairs or small groups or guide the whole class to sequence the story through modelling for them. 

Then, read out the description of each story element and prompt the class to identify it's counterpart in the story they have sequenced followed by comprehension questions.

Common Core Story Elements includes:
1. Detailed description of each story element.

2. A Scrambled Story  that you can laminate and cut into  strips for repeated use. 

3. A set of comprehension questions related to the story children have sequenced.

4. A set of 4 Task Cards to reinforce their understanding of the story elements. You can either laminate and cut the cards or you can use it as a single worksheet.

 Children stay curious as they strengthen their learning process through these activities. This is included in the Common Core Story Elements Activities on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

I used the bright orange paper to print the story sentences  and then cut them along the dotted lines to keep this activity bright and lively 

Click to Download the Story Elements Puzzle Task Cards. 
I used the blue card stock paper to print and cut the Task Cards. 

You have the option to use it as a worksheet if you do not intend to laminate it or just use any bright card stock paper.