In this activity, students can create a character map of the characters in Freckle Juice. They can describe character traits and provide textual evidence for those traits. After brainstorming possible character traits and creating a word bank with your class, have student choose one word to describe each character in the story. They can also list specific evidence in their character map; for example, what the character says, thinks, feels, and does to support their character trait.
This character map can be modified to cater to specific classroom needs, and both the example above and a blank template will be copied into your account. Students can answer more specific questions about the characters, or describe how their actions affect they plot. They could also write about different characters’ opinions of freckles, and support their ideas with textual evidence.
Possible character traits for characters in Freckle Juice:
(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.
Introduce students to the concept of basic character analysis. Tell them the most basic things they need to observe to map a character map. Since younger students are more familiar with concepts such as appearance, ask them to observe the appearance of different characters.
After imparting the basic concept, get the students familiar with character traits such as kind, strong, intelligent, etc. Explain to them that these are the unique qualities of each person that make them special. For better understanding, teachers can assign the task of writing one character trait to students for each of their friends or classmates.
Teachers can draw a map on the whiteboard to explain with practice. The map can be simple enough to present 2-3 boxes for the main characters and a few questions about these characters. Then teachers can begin to ask these questions and write the answers in the boxes.
Describe how people in a story may have other relationships, such as those with friends or family. Connect characters who are connected or close pals with lines in different colors.
Continue to use the character mapping approach as you read various stories. Repetition will help them comprehend more clearly.
Andrew is a little impetuous, enthusiastic, and interested. He would do everything to get his desired freckles since he is so committed to having them. He also seems one of those characters who would go to great lengths to achieve their goals but at the same time, he has self-doubt and is not completely confident with his own appearance.
Nicky looks confident and at ease with his freckles, even if the article doesn't go into great detail about his personality.
Andrew's classmate and friend is Sharon. She is crucial to the plot because she gives Andrew the formula for freckles in return for cash. She gives Andrew the inspiration to obtain the freckles he wants.
Andrew promises to give Sharon five bucks in return for her top-secret recipe for freckles. Sharon consents to this arrangement, and Andrew gets the formula in the hope that it may enable him to develop true freckles.