As students read, a storyboard can serve as a helpful character reference log. This log (also called a character map) allows students to recall relevant information about important characters. When reading a novel, small attributes and details frequently become important as the plot progresses. With character mapping, students will record this information, helping them follow along and catch the subtleties which make reading more enjoyable!
| NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Jonas | The protagonist. He becomes the Receiver, the person in the community that will receive all the memories of the world. |
| Lily | Jonas' little sister. | Jonas's Father | A caretaker of the young. He acts as a nurturer to Gabe. | Jonas's Mother | A lawyer in the community. | Asher | Jonas's best friend. He is funny and playful. He becomes the head recreation director during selection. |
| Fiona | A redheaded girl that Jonas likes. |
| The Giver | The former Receiver who gives Jonas all the memories of the world. |
(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.
At the beginning of the process, instruct the students about what belongs in a character map. Teach them that they will use physical and mental descriptions, what the characters say, and what other characters say about them. Students will use words and pictures to map their characters.
Do a character map for the protagonist so students will understand the process and will become familiar with how to add words and pictures.
Students learn best by doing, so assign each student a character to map on their own. Assist students and scaffold as needed as you move around the room.
To further illuminate the ideas of character mapping, allow students to share their map with a partner or small group. They can learn a lot from each other in a process like this.
When students take the time to create a character map, they are focusing in on little details that will help them to truly understand the characters and what they are about. This adds so much to the understanding of a novel because they can see little moments of growth and change throughout the story.
With a storyboard, students are able to create a reference list with pictures, descriptions, and details that they can refer to as they read and add to as they learn more. This is a great way to keep track of characters and watch how they grow.