I Am

Students will be able to use adjectives and character traits to help describe who they are and explore their own identity while gaining a deeper understanding of character traits.

This is a background building/hook lesson to be used before an ELA lesson, using text.

Using the online platform Canva, students will create posters using words and pictures to describe who they are. This lesson is an opener for describing characters in a story and how they impact the plot. When students become familiar with character traits and adjectives that help describe who they are, they not only are able to explore their identity, they also become more comfortable identifying character traits from a character in a story and the importance of those traits. Using Canva, students will have the freedom to design the poster how they wish, which also will be a reflection of their identity.

Due to this lesson being a precursor to describing two or more characters in a story and how they impact the plot, the assessment for this lesson is the creation of the Canva poster. This can be assessed by a rubric (Read Write Think Poster Session Rubric). 

• Things to consider:
  • How many traits and what kind of traits (internal or external), minimum, are students required to incorporate?
  • Should students include external and internal traits?
  • Checking in and conferencing with students throughout the poster creation will help to ensure they are understanding what traits are and what traits they identify with.
  • Students may want to present to their class if time allows. Some students may not wish to share since this is a very personal assignment. Posters could also be printed and displayed, allowing students to interact with each other’s traits related to their identity. 
• Exit ticket question: What is a character trait? 
• Additional Resource from the Center for Urban Education – This resource can be used as an assessment for the understanding of character traits. It can be used after this particular lesson as a pre-test to guide any future lessons that are more focused on characters in a book/story. 

• Canva.com – Free Pro Accounts for teachers are available
• Character traits list – Any similar list will work
• Character Traits Flocabulary Video – Free from Vimeo
• Read, Write, Think Poster Session Rubric

Opener

Character Traits Flocabulary Video (3 min) 

Next Steps

• Using a character trait list (such as this list from teachervision.com), review from previous grade levels what character traits are and discuss any unknown words. (5-10 min)
• Explain to students that they will choose character traits that they identify with and create a poster (“I Am”) to describe who they are on Canva. Lay out expectations (ex.: How many character traits minimum should be listed, etc.). Making and sharing an example about you, the teacher, prior to the lesson can help students visualize the task. (5-10 min)
• When students begin working, circulate and “conference” with students, ensuring their understanding of character traits and the task. (Time to create the poster will vary depending on students’ Canva familiarity and how much time you wish to allow them to create. 15-60 min). 
  • If some students prefer, or technology is not available, this activity can be done with paper, markers, magazine cutouts, etc.

Optional Extension

Students can present their posters if they wish. Due to the personal nature of this assignment, some students may feel more comfortable presenting to small groups rather than the whole class. 

After This Lesson

Using a story, students should be able to understand character traits better. They should then be able to make the connection with how characters impact the plot in a consecutive lesson. For resources to map out characters and bridge the connection between characters and how they impact the plot, this website includes graphic organizers and so much more.

From Indiana’s 5th Grade ELA Standards

• 5.SL.4.2 Create engaging presentations that include multimedia components and visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.

From Indiana’s Employability Skills Standards

• Indiana SEL/ Employability Skills Standards: 17. Connection Demonstrates the ability to network with others through social awareness and cultural sensitivity. 3-5.SE.2 Continue to try to understand how the other students might think, feel, and/or respond.