Character Connections

Grade: 4th

Duration: 45 minutes

Unit: Exploring Ivan's World (Lesson 5 of 12)

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Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Alignment:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3
  Explain interactions between characters and how those interactions affect the plot.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1
  Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1
  Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts.

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Learning Objectives ("I Can" Statements):

• I can identify relationships between Ivan and other characters such as Stella and Bob.
• I can explain how these relationships influence Ivan’s actions in the story.
• I can use examples from the text to support my ideas.
• I can participate in group conversations about character relationships.

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Success Criteria:

• I can name at least two characters who are friends with Ivan and describe their relationship.
• I can give examples of how Stella and Bob influence Ivan’s decisions or feelings.
• I can listen and respond thoughtfully during group discussions.
• I can write a short paragraph about a character relationship using evidence from the book.

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Materials Needed:

• Copies of selected passages from "The One and Only Ivan" (specific parts highlighting interactions with Stella and Bob)
• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers
• Character Relationship Graphic Organizer worksheet
• Writing paper and pencils

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Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction & Objective Review (5 minutes)

• Begin by saying:
  “Today, we will explore the friendships Ivan has and how his friends help shape his actions. We will look closely at Stella and Bob and discuss how Ivan's relationships impact what he does in the story.”
• Student volunteers read aloud the “I can” statements projected on the board.
• Teacher briefly explains success criteria the students will use to check their understanding.

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2. Mini-Reading & Text Evidence (10 minutes)

• Teacher reads aloud two short, chosen passages that show Ivan interacting with Stella and Bob.
• Students follow along in their own books or printed copies.
• After reading, ask guided questions:
  • “What does Ivan feel when Stella talks to him?”
  • “How does Bob’s friendship affect Ivan?”
• Model how to find text evidence by underlining key phrases or sentences.
• Refer explicitly to CCSS RL.4.1 by encouraging students to cite specific text examples when describing relationships.

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3. Group Discussion & Graphic Organizer (15 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups of 4 (4 groups total). Each group gets a Character Relationship Graphic Organizer with columns: Character, Relationship to Ivan, Examples from Text, and Effect on Ivan.
• Groups discuss each friendship using the passages and fill out the organizer collaboratively.
• Teacher circulates, providing support and prompting deeper thinking with questions such as:
  • “Why do you think Ivan listens to Stella?”
  • “Can anyone share how Bob’s actions changed Ivan’s choices?”
• Groups then share their findings with the entire class (SL.4.1).

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4. Independent Writing (10 minutes)

• Students write a short paragraph answering:
  “How do Ivan’s friends, Stella and Bob, influence what he does? Use at least two examples from the text.”
• Encourage use of text evidence and complete sentences.
• Collect writing for informal assessment aligned with RL.4.3.

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5. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Have a few students share parts of their paragraphs aloud.
• Recap the lesson by revisiting the success criteria and asking:
  • “Did we meet our goals today?”
  • “What was one new thing you learned about Ivan’s friendships?”
• Preview next lesson: exploring how Ivan’s world changes because of his friends.

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Differentiation Strategies:

• For Diverse Learners:

  • Provide sentence starters for writing activity (e.g., "One way Stella influences Ivan is...").
  • Use paired reading for passages to support struggling readers.
  • Visual aids on the graphic organizer to help with organizing thoughts.
  • Allow verbal responses for students who need it instead of writing.

• For Advanced Learners:

  • Challenge students to compare relationships — how Ivan’s friendship with Stella is different from his friendship with Bob.
  • Encourage them to infer what might happen next in the story based on these relationships.
  • Invite advanced learners to create a short skit demonstrating one of Ivan’s interactions with his friends.

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Extension Activity (Optional Homework or Center Work):

• Students draw a comic strip showing a scene that highlights a key friendship moment between Ivan and Stella or Ivan and Bob, adding speech bubbles with dialogue from the story or their own invention but consistent with the characters.

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This lesson captures the complexity of character interactions aligned perfectly to the Common Core, while engaging 4th graders through collaborative conversations, text analysis, and creative writing — sure to inspire both students and teachers alike!