LESSON FIVE: Story Elements/Characterization
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant is read aloud. Students become more familiar with story elements, focusing o characterization.
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS
R2C Use details from text to make basic inference about setting, character, and problem.
LESSON MATERIALS
§ Sources of literature
o Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant
§ Supplies
o Reader’s notebook
o Character T-Chart
§ Handouts provided
§ Words to know
o setting
o story elements
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Teacher observation and character T-Chart.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Review setting with students. Ask why the setting of a story is important. Review the questions from Lesson Four.
2. Tell students today’s focus is characters and why they are an important part of a story. Discuss any favorite characters that student have. Ask students why they like this character.
3. Create an anchor chart on character traits. Give students the definition of a character trait.
|
Strategy
|
A character trait describes the character using specific details. Some character traits include what the character looks like, says, or acts like. |
4. Review and reread the book When the Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. Ask student how they would describe the “relatives” coming from Virginia. Chart their observations.
5. Introduce Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant. Read aloud, pausing to emphasize traits the scarecrow has. Invite students to share their ideas toward the middle of the book. Chart their ideas on an anchor chart (specifically a T-chart which includes character’s name/traits) for future reference.
6. Distribute character trait forms. Students choose a character from their independent reading book and complete the character trait form.
7. Circulate around the room conferencing with individual students about their T-charts.