Characters
What is a character?
A character is a person, animal, or other
creature in a story. Characters have
feelings, thoughts, and problems.
To learn about the characters in a story,
pay attention to their actions, thoughts,
and words with other characters.
What is a trait?
GROUP WORK:
Look at the cards on your desk. These are all
traits that describe Mrs. Spencer. See if you can
divide these traits into two different categories.
What is a character trait?
A character trait is something special about
the character.
It can be something special about the way the
character looks or the way a character acts.
Traits are words like “smart,” “pretty,” “old,”
and “funny.”
Physical Traits
• These traits will describe how a character
looks.
• Which traits are physical traits that describe
Mrs. Spencer?
--blond hair
--brown eyes
--short hair
--5 feet 10 inches
Personality Traits
• These traits will describe how a character acts
or their inner qualities.
• Which traits are personality traits that
describe Mrs. Spencer?
--helpful
--fun
--smart
--strict
Character Traits
• When we discuss character traits, we are
going to focus on personality traits!
• Sometimes the author will directly describe a
character’s traits.
• Other times you must look at details, such as
what the character says, does, or thinks to
figure out what he or she is like as a person!
Character Traits
Character: ________
Character: ________
Trait: ____________
Trait: ____________
What does the
character say or think?
What does the
character say or think?
What does the
character do?
What does the
character do?
Look at each of the personality traits for Mrs. Spencer.
What does she say or do to prove this trait could
describe her?
Character: ________
Character: ________
Trait: ____________
Trait: ____________
What does the
character say or think?
What does the
character say or think?
What does the
character do?
What does the
character do?
Find the Character Traits
Billy is a 4th grader at Camargo Elementary. He
enjoys playing football, basketball, and baseball. In
fact, he scored more homeruns last season that
anyone on his baseball team.
Billy also has a lot of friends. Whenever someone
new moves to his school, he is always the first one to
say, “Hey do you want to play basketball with me at
recess today?”
What are some traits to describe Billy?
Find the Character Traits
Billy is a 4th grader at Camargo Elementary. He
enjoys playing football, basketball, and baseball. In
fact, he scored more homeruns last season that
anyone on his baseball team.
Billy also has a lot of friends. Whenever someone
new moves to his school, he is always the first one to
say, “Hey do you want to play basketball with me at
recess today?”
What are some traits to describe Billy?
Character Traits
Character: Billy
Trait: athletic
What does the character say
or think?
What does the character
do?
Character: Billy
Trait: friendly
What does the character say
or think?
--“Hey do you want to play
basketball with me at recess
today?”
-enjoys playing football,
basketball, and baseball
-scored more homeruns
last season
What does the character do?
--has a lot of friends
LET’S PRACTICE MORE!!!!
Read the short passages on the red
cards and match them to the correct
character trait. Discuss with your
table, what does the character say,
think, and/or do that helped you
determine the character trait.
Independent Practice
Make your own anchor chart in your
journal! Cut and glue the passages
and blank graphic organizer in your
journal. Complete the graphic
organizer independently for each
character!