Nakia Logan
EDUC 353.01
Dr. Mary Wilson
November 11, 2013
Understanding By Design: Lesson Template
Topic: Characterization
Subject: Literacy
Grade: 3
Designer: Nakia Logan
Stage 1
– Desired Outcomes
Established Goal(s):
RL. 3.3 Describe Characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
RL. 3.3 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RF. 3.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis in decoding words.
Understandings:
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Students will understand that characters have feelings, desires and characteristics just like we do.
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Students will understand how and why characters feel and act the way they do.
Essential Questions:
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What are character traits?
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What role does a characters personality play in the story?
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How might a change in a characters personality change the story?
Students will Know ...
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Definitions:
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Characteristic - a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it.
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Character: a person in a novel, play, or movie.
Students will be able to …
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Students will be able to analyze the feelings, traits and motives of characters in a short story.
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Performance Task(s):
Students will use a Characterization sheet to identify the different characters and their traits, using evidence from the story to support their reasoning.

Nakia Logan
EDUC 353.01
Dr. Mary Wilson
November 11, 2013
Other Evidence (Assessments)
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Through conversation with the teacher and peers students will discuss and analyze why characters act and feel the way that they do. This will be assessed by observation.
Differentiation:
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Students will work in collaborative groups during discussion to effectively build upon ideas and correct responses.
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Students, who require more help, can work with teacher one-on-one while students complete the assignment.
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
1.
The teacher will introduce the topic to students and ask students to try to define the above words. Students will give examples of characteristics of themselves.
2.
The teacher will stop when new characters are introduced and ask questions to ensure students are following. (How do they feel? What are they like? Why?)
3.
After the story, the teacher will initiate a mini-discussion about the characters and their traits.
4.
The teacher will model a characterization about Miss Nelson, so that students will know what they are supposed to do.
5.
Students will then fill out their own characterization sheet for Miss Viola
Swamp.
6.
The students will go around and talk about the traits they gave Miss Swamp and why.
7.
Next, they will discuss and analyze the traits of the children in the novel.
Comparing how they act in the beginning of the novel to how they acted at the end.
8.
Finally, the lesson will end with a rap-up discussion of what the students have learned.
Materials Needed:
Miss Nelson is Missing
Characterization sheet
Character Trait List

Nakia Logan
EDUC 353.01
Dr. Mary Wilson
November 11, 2013

Nakia Logan
EDUC 353.01
Dr. Mary Wilson
November 11, 2013

Nakia Logan
EDUC 353.01
Dr. Mary Wilson
November 11, 2013