Character mapping is always a helpful activity for students and can serve as a reference as students continue to read. In this activity, students can explore physical appearance, character traits, character motivation, and character relationships. This activity is easily modified to include any character focus that students have been working on. Students can build on the character map as they read and new characters are introduced, or create it as a summary activity.
Here is an example from Fantastic Mr. Fox:
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a different character from "Fantastic Mr. Fox" or let them choose one. This sets the stage for teamwork and focused analysis.
Each group reads specified sections of the book highlighting their character, discusses key traits, relationships, and character development, and gathers textual evidence to support their ideas.
Groups create a character map for their assigned character, incorporating illustrations, quotes, and relevant information. Emphasize creativity and thoroughness in their representation.
Have each group present their character map to the class. Follow up with a class-wide discussion, encouraging questions and insights from the other students to deepen understanding and foster peer-to-peer learning.
The main characters in "Fantastic Mr. Fox" include Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox, their children, and the three farmers – Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. Mr. Fox, the protagonist, is characterized by his cleverness, resourcefulness, and dedication to his family’s safety and well-being. He's admired for his bravery and quick wit. Mrs. Fox, his supportive wife, is caring and nurturing, often seen as the stabilizing force in the Fox family. The Fox children, while not deeply developed characters, look up to their father and embody youthful enthusiasm and curiosity. The antagonists of the story, the farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, each have distinct traits: Boggis is “enormously fat,” Bunce is “a potbellied dwarf,” and Bean is “a thin and beaky” character. They represent greed, stubbornness, and a relentless pursuit to capture Mr. Fox, driven by their irritation at his cunning thievery.
The character dynamics in "Fantastic Mr. Fox" offer several lessons for children. The collaborative efforts of Mr. Fox and the other animals to outsmart the farmers teach the importance of teamwork and community. It shows how working together can achieve greater results than working alone. The interactions between Mr. Fox and his family highlight the values of family bonds, support, and sacrifice. Through the farmers' relentless and often irrational pursuit of Mr. Fox, children learn about the consequences of greed and the importance of empathy and understanding towards others, even those different from us. The story also subtly encourages problem-solving and thinking outside the box, as exemplified by Mr. Fox’s ingenious plans.
The character development, or rather the lack thereof, of the antagonists in "Fantastic Mr. Fox" – the farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean – provides its own set of lessons. Their single-minded pursuit of Mr. Fox, driven by greed and a desire for revenge, serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of these traits. The farmers' inability to adapt or reconsider their approach, in contrast to Mr. Fox’s adaptability and cleverness, highlights the importance of flexibility and innovation in solving problems. The lack of significant development in these characters throughout the story emphasizes the narrative’s critique of stubbornness and short-sightedness, offering a perspective on the futility of revenge and the consequences of letting negative emotions guide one's actions.