Improve your students reading comprehension with readworks. One way to bring books to life for students is to have them empathize with one of the characters. Character education can also easily be tied into the common core standards. Im back with another list of my favorite picture books to teach. This resource links to lots of great ideas to help me teach character traits in reading to improve reading comprehension. Stay tuned till the end of this post because i have a free character trait activity to help you implement this. I sometimes find myself looking for a book to read to my class that will serve as an example of good character or act as a literary pep talk. Fiction books that help teach point of view teaching. List of kids books about responsibility talking with. Teaching about character traits in reading can be challenging but fun. Younger students may identify the physical characteristics of a character while more advanced students may delve deeper, analyzing what the character feels and thinks. Proving character traits use this graphic organizer with your students to identify and list character traits in different narrative texts. One such reading strategy is determining character traits.
First, we define character traits and talk about what is and isnt a character trait. A huge list of books to teach character traits from kindness to gratitude. It might be a book on fairness after an especially tough recess, a book on honesty after someones eraser collection goes missing, or maybe a book on perseverance to let a student who is feeling challenged know that it will all work out. The reader learns about the characters through details in the story. Here are some of my favorite books to use to teach character traits, in the order i have used them in the past. The common core state standards in 3rd grade fictional literature calls. These books have helped teach and understand characters feelings, relationships, and so much more. Character traits activities character education character development first grade books first grade reading kevin henkes books bad case of stripes mentor texts anchor charts these books are the perfect mentor texts to teach main character and character traits in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade.
Books to teach character traits, feelings, and actions susan jones. In this lesson, students will identify character traits in a story and decide if they have the same traits. Books that offer multiple perspectives are a great way to expose 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students to this skill. I could teach so many skills while my students got to enjoy a story. When i received the book, i thought i would read it to my kindergarten and first grade classes.
Great stories for character analysis in the early years the rainbow fish. I chose stories with strong and visible characters. The task cards include a short passage that describes a character. I chose the following 6 books to teach character traits, character feelings, and character actions. K3rd early american history around the world with picture books part i around the world with picture books part ii teaching character through literature 46th early american history history of science history of the horse geography through literature teaching character through literature history of california history of western expansion. Here a list of favorite books recommended by first grade teachers, kids, and me a mixture of newer titles and classic favorites. I have used a variety of picture books and chapter books. Talking with trees books and worksheets for children teach positive character traits, like honesty, respect, responsibility, forgiveness, selfcontrol, and more.
Character traits character traits activities, character. Teaching character traits in readers workshop scholastic. What are some of your favorite picture books for teaching about character in the classroom. Character traits tell or show you how the characters in a story look, feel, and act. Here are a couple of the 4th grade standards that we address when we discuss and analyze these books in my class. Youll find a lesson on how authors reveal character traits, two character trait lists, a variety of graphic organizers, several cooperative learning activities, and a list of suggested character trait books. Here are a list of steps to help with teaching character traits. I have been meaning to post this for quite some time but i was so busy with end of quarter testing, and then i got sick with strep throat just before christmas which im just now beginning to get over.
My kids who were always the first to say they didnt like reading were the ones with the biggest smiles on their faces. First grade lesson plan on the characters of a story. This was always one of my most favourite stories to read as the character the rainbow fish is easy to describe using adjectives. Tyrannosaurus rex vs edna the very first chicken by douglas rees. Fifth grade lesson in reading character traits betterlesson. We started by discussing outside and inside charater traits.
I gave the end of story assessment and my lowest grade was an 80. August and september read alouds teaching character. Ill also share five important tips for using mentor texts to teach writing in the primary grades, so be sure to read to the end of the post. The best read aloud books for first grade imagination soup.
Its also an interesting story as there is a clear change in the. Books to teach character traits, feelings, and actions. One of the things i use is this anchor chart to guide our discussions about a characters outward appearance vs. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Some of the worksheets for this concept are character traits game, grade1 2 lesson plans a character, implicit character traits project, characterization work 3, unit character traits lesson plan 1 essential unit question, grade 7 character traits, nonfiction valley forge, kindness. This lesson incorporates literature, writing, comparison skills, and social skills. I visited our school library and got the tales of anansi, eric carles books such as the grouchy ladybug and others, kevin henkes titles, the franklin series and some fairytales. Grade rooted in reading book list queen of the first grade jungle is part of. These worksheet alternatives are great for teaching whole group lessons.
Teaching students what character traits are, and how to recognize them. Using books to teach character traits purposeful mommy. Teaching about the characters in a story twoday lesson. Teach your child to read teaching about character traits in reading can be. Character traits activities teaching with jennifer findley. Then we brainstorm a list of character traits on a separate anchor chart as a class. These books are the perfect mentor texts to teach main character and character traits in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Teaching character traits in reading the teacher next door.
This is a suggested list onlyplease feel free to add your own books. Posted on march 11, 2017 by alison 1 comment looking for some great picture books for teaching character traits in kindergarten, first, or second grade. Access thousands of highquality, free k12 articles, and create online assignments with them for your students. Use this activity with books where you want to teach the elements of character development. With kindness and agesold wisdom, the talking trees help children work through difficult character building situations, leading them. After reading each book, we discuss each character, what character traits were shown, and how we. Grades 35 the common core state standards in 3rd grade fictional literature calls for students to identify and describe characters actions, thoughts, and motivations, which is no small task for an 8yearold who is just beginning to read longer text. The books listed below that are affiliate links are some of my favorite books that help teach point of view. First grade is a time of tremendous growth in reading, and my students are hungry for new books to support their newfound appetite for literature. Grade level title author theme try and stick with it cheri meiners 1. Books that teach emotions and character building traits are an invaluable resource for parents. Mentor texts to teach character traits comprehension strategies. My students need book series with a cast of creative characters to help support our upcoming work on character traits. Teaching main character and character traits teaching.
Main idea and theme can be some of the most difficult topics to teach my first graders, so i thought i would share some of my favorite picture books i use to teach these skills in my classroom. They kept talking about remembering reading those books in kindergarten and 1st grade. These are great tools to use with different texts throughout their yearly studies or as a study guide for unit tests. Mentor texts to teach reading comprehension strategies. The character trait links above provide free ideas, activities, and printables you can use when teaching character traits to your elementary students. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for first grade character traits.
I tell my students that a character trait is the way a person or a character in a book acts. Character traits is a great skill for this because the students enjoy writing characters that demonstrate different character traits. Instruction 35 mins today we will learn about character traits. Teach your first grade students about the setting, characters and sequence of events in a story. As september rolls along every year, we begin to meet our characters in different stories.
Take your class on the first thanksgiving virtual field trip. First grade character traits worksheets learny kids. Kindergarten honesty character education lesson plan. This is important because it allows students to examine characters and their growth, helps them obtain more meaning out of texts and helps them become more conscientious readers. This series of lesson plans provides teaching ideas, book suggestions, activities and downloadable worksheets. Main character and character traits are fun to teach in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade with these engaging activities and lesson plans. I used task cards to give groups some quick and easy practice to help with these concepts. You can also find more ideas for teaching point of view here. No matter what grade level you teach though, you can always find a way to relate character education to the standards.
We worked on character traits this week and i can honestly say that my kids got it. Miss sofies story time kids books read aloud 687,493 views. Looking for some great picture books for teaching character traits in kindergarten, first, or second grade. Character traits lesson plan teachers pay teachers. Books in which children can relate with the characters can help kids internalize lessons that, we as parents, often struggle to teach our kids. When we talk about character traits you can think about how the character looks, what the character says or thinks, what the character does or how the character feels. My favorite books for teaching character traits, actions. The books listed below are best for use with kindergarten, first, or second grade. Character traits and the books that teach them lessons. A bad case of stripes this was a great book start start with since her external traits are so interesting, and her internal traits are also pretty easy to pick out as well. Use this helpful list to find just the right book when you need a story that sends the message that good character counts.
Everything you need to teach character traits in a fun and engaging way. Rarely does an author directly say the character is curious or hardworking. Writing mentor texts for kindergarten, first, and second grade. A character is someone whose activities, thoughts and feelings are revealed in a story. Get started with the character scrapbook using these exceptional titles.
The task was for them to read and find four character traits. Teachers, parents, and homeschoolers, are you looking for a good list of books to read aloud to your first 1st graders. This character traits bundle is designed to teach upper elementary and middle school students about character traits in a way that will keep them engaged. I want my students to be able to identify the inner and outer character traits of main characters as well as their actions and feelings.
It includes a variety of unique activities, including partner plays, a craftivity, a powerpoint, task cards, and games. I taught first grade for 5 years before accepting a primary literacy position at a local school. Often, in books for young readers, the characters in a story are animals. This fun worksheet engages students in analyzing how a characters feelings change over the course of the beginning. Teaching character through literature beautiful feet books. I chose the following 6 books to teach character traits, character. This is a suggested list onlyplease feel free to add your. Second grade lesson characters and their traits day 1 of 3. Students have to decide which character trait the character is showing in each short passage. I am teaching reading skills for the first time after years of esl.