WHO SAID WHAT?

Identifying characters' point of view

Make available several books students have previously read in which two or more of the characters have different points of view. To begin, a child chooses from one of the books two characters with differing viewpoints. He illustrates each character on a sheet of paper, labels them, and then cuts out each character and its label. Next, on separate speech bubble cutouts, he writes what each character would say about a story event. After completing his project, each child trades projects with a partner. The partner reads each speech bubble and places the correct character near each speech bubble. Students continue trading projects with different partners as time allows.

POST IT!

Comparing and contrasting characters' traits

Write the name of a familiar book character on a sheet of chart paper. Have each child write on a sticky note a word or phrase that describes the character and post the note on the chart. Then review the chart with students and stack any repeated words or phrases. Next, write on another sheet of chart paper the name of a different character. Remove one sticky note at a time and ask students if that trait would describe the character on the second chart. If it does, move it; if not, place it back on the original chart. Then provide each student with another sticky note of a different color to record additional traits for the second chart. After all the traits have been discussed, guide students to compare and contrast the characters.