Character Traits Activity with any Novel.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory character traits!

Here is one of my favorite activities that my kids love to do.  It really gets them excited about reading their novel that is assigned to them.  I created this one many years ago right after I was trained as a New Jersey Writing Project Trainer.  I love teaching character traits!

The first thing I do with my students is introduce the novel they are going to be reading.  I also tell them that along the way they will be introduced to different characters.  They will need to really get to know these characters and their traits.  At this point it is a good idea to have an anchor chart in your classroom of character traits.  An anchor chart is always done as a whole group and placed somewhere on the wall in the classroom.  Every child contributes to that anchor chart and they will always be able to refer back to it when they need help.  On notebook paper students are to keep track of all the characters in the novel (major and minor).  During the course of reading their book they are to create miniature character dolls using a paper doll cut out.  Each doll gets a profile card that tells all about them and their traits.  

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory characters.

Character Cards with traits

The next one we did recently is with the novel The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

They made a foldable to hold their dolls and cards.

Supplies you need for this project:

1.  white paper to make foldable book to hold dolls and cards.
2.  paper doll cut outs
3.  colored construction paper 
4.  scissors
5.  pencil
6.  glue
7.  stapler
8.  colors and markers