Characterization Grade 4 2013-2014

My Favorite Character Who is your favorite character? Share your favorite character’s information with the person beside you: If you were to describe your favorite character, what descriptions would you use for his/her appearance, personality, and interest?

With your partner, remember to: speak in English speak with hushed tones listen carefully and cooperate with your partner

Sharing with the entire class This time, remember to: share what you heard from your partner speak loudly face the opposite table

Character Traits When you read a story, watch the characters as if they were real people.

Characterization The people, animals or things in a story are the CHARACTERS. Authors give you clues about what the characters are like.

Think about what the writer tells you about the characters in a story Think about what the writer tells you about the characters in a story. It will help you understand the story better.

To identify character traits, think of the following things: What does the character say and do? How does the character think and feel? How does the character look? What do the other characters think about the character? How does the character make you feel?

Ben helped his mother in the store. He put boxes on the shelf Ben helped his mother in the store. He put boxes on the shelf. He didn’t drop any boxes. Mr. Ramos left some money at the store. Ben followed him outside to give him the money. What words would you use to describe Ben?

Tippy had a bone. A bigger dog wanted it. Tippy was afraid Tippy had a bone. A bigger dog wanted it. Tippy was afraid. She stood over her bone and barked. The big dog ran away. Tippy was glad she hadn’t lost her bone. What words would you use to describe Tippy?

When describing a character, make sure to mention parts of the story that serve as proofs to your description of the character.

Remember to avoid vague descriptive words such as nice and okay Remember to avoid vague descriptive words such as nice and okay. These words just lead to unclear message.

Characterization Do you still remember Thomas Mead? After reading his story last time, can you also describe his appearance, personality, and interest? Let’s recall what happened to his story and come up with valid descriptions for Thomas Mead through characterization.

The policeman was surprised to see how soon Thomas learned A-B-C. Let us go back to The Tale of Thomas Mead. Read the following excerpt.   What traits best describe the characters? The policeman was surprised to see how soon Thomas learned A-B-C. “Well done!” he shouted. “You can read!” “Of course I can!” said Thomas Mead.

What character said or did in the story Traits that best describe the character based on his/her words and actions The policeman was surprised to see how soon Thomas learned A-B-C. “Well done!” he shouted. “You can read!” The policeman was amazed on how fast Thomas learned the alphabet. The policeman was impressed and happy of Thomas’ progress in reading.

“Of course I can!” said Thomas Mead. What character said or did in the story Traits that best describe the character based on his words and actions “Of course I can!” said Thomas Mead. Thomas was proud of himself for learning alphabet fast. Thomas has become literate.

Let us go back to The Tale of Thomas Mead. Read the following excerpt.   What traits best describe Thomas? A pot of paint fell through the air, and changed the color of his hair. A lady said, “What a disgrace!  Why don't you clean your hair and face?” Quite a crowd had come to stare at Thomas and his emerald hair.

Thomas Mead was messy, unpresentable, and dirty. What character said or did in the story Traits that best describe the character based on his words and actions A pot of paint fell through the air, and changed the color of his hair. A lady said, “What a disgrace!  Why don't you clean your hair and face?” Quite a crowd had come to stare at Thomas and his emerald hair. Thomas Mead was messy, unpresentable, and dirty.

Let us go back to The Tale of Thomas Mead. Read the following excerpt.   How can you describeThomas? He reads all day, and then at night he switches on his bedside light and reads until his parents say, “Thomas!  Put that book away!“

Thomas became very interested in reading. What character said or did in the story Traits that best describe the character based on his words and actions He reads all day, and then at night he switches on his bedside light and reads until his parents say, “Thomas!  Put that book away!“ Thomas became very interested in reading.

Using a Character Web Appearance messy dirty Personality proud and impressed of his own progress. (He went out of jail literate.) Appearance messy dirty (Pot of paint stained his hair and face.) Interest became very interested in reading (He does not want to stop reading until told to do so.)

After the guide presented to you, what is now your idea of CHARACTERIZATION? How do character webs help us understand the story better?

LET US PRACTICE! Make sure you understand the Life Story of St. Tarcisius. With a partner, complete a character web indicating 3 traits of St. Tarcisius and proofs from the story (appearance, personality, interest) Each partner should submit one character web on a Grade 4 paper. Do this task in 10 minutes.

Character Web of St. Tarcisius NAMES: _________________________ Gr. 4- ____ Character Web of St. Tarcisius Personality Trait with proof from the story Appearance Trait with proof from the story ST. TARCISIUS Interest Trait with proof from the story