Literacy Lesson Plan: Discussing Characters in a Story

Overview

This lesson plan is designed for Year 4 students in New Zealand, focusing on the New Zealand Curriculum's English learning area, specifically at Level 2. The main objective is to introduce students to a selected text and guide them in discussing the characters within the story. This lesson will enhance students' understanding of character traits, motivations, and development.

Duration

24 minutes

Class Size

8 students

Curriculum Area & Level

• Subject: English - Literacy
• Curriculum Level: Level 2 (Years 3-4)
• Curriculum Link: NZ Curriculum - English

Learning Objectives

• Identify and describe characters in a story.
• Articulate how characters' actions contribute to the storyline.
• Engage effectively in group discussions by listening, questioning, and responding to their peers.

Materials Needed

• A copy of the storybook "The Clever Kiwi" for each student
• Character trait charts printed for each student
• Whiteboard and markers
• Discussion cards with prepared questions focusing on characters

Lesson Structure

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Objective Sharing:

   • Welcome the students and introduce the day’s objectives.
   • Explain that today they will be focusing on the main characters of a story and discussing their traits and actions.

2. Introducing the Text:

   • Introduce the book "The Clever Kiwi".
   • Provide a brief overview of the story without giving away key plot points. Mention that the kiwi in the story encounters various challenges and uses its cleverness to navigate these.

Main Activity (15 minutes)

1. Guided Reading:

   • Have the students read the first two chapters of "The Clever Kiwi" quietly or as a whisper read.
   • Pause at intervals to ask predictive questions and ensure comprehension.

2. Character Discussion:

   • Using the whiteboard, list the main characters encountered so far.
   • Hand out character trait charts. Guide the students in filling these out based on their reading, focusing on traits, motivations, and any changes they observe.

3. Group Discussion:

   • Break the class into pairs. Provide each pair with discussion cards that pose questions about the characters, such as "What makes Kiwi clever?" or "How did Kiwi feel when…?"
   • Allow pairs to discuss each question, encouraging them to refer to specific parts of the text to support their opinions.

Closure (4 minutes)

1. Group Sharing:

   • Reconvene as a whole group. Have pairs share insights from their discussions. Highlight interesting points and correct any misconceptions.

2. Wrap-up:

   • Summarize the key character traits discussed.
   • Briefly introduce what will be covered in the next session – perhaps moving on to how the characters develop or influence the plot.

Follow-Up Activity

• Character Diary Entry:
  • As a follow-up, ask students to choose one character from the story and write a diary entry from that character’s perspective. This should reflect their feelings, actions, and experiences from a particular part of the book.
  • This can be done in the next literacy session or as a homework task.

Additional Resources

• TKI Literacy Online
• NZ Curriculum Online

By focusing on character analysis and discussing these in groups, students will develop deeper reading comprehension skills and enhance their ability to express their thoughts and understandings. This lesson also aims to foster empathy and insight into different perspectives through character exploration.