Are you looking for a fun way to teach describing characters and character traits? Try this! Fold each side of a horizontal sheet of paper to the middle. Have the kids draw a picture of the character on the front. Put words to describe the outward appearance of the character on the outside. This can be things that are obvious from the text. Next, open the page up and write character traits and words to describe the character’s emotions on the inside. These are things you have to infer about the character’s traits based on the evidence from the text. It’s pretty fun and these make a great display!
I have a little template you can use to make these if you would like. Just click on it to download it from Google Docs!
Sarah Taylor says
May 10, 2017 at 8:16 pmI can not download the sample from google docs for the character study. Please help! What am I doing wrong. THanks.
Keep Em Thinking says
May 15, 2017 at 5:44 pmHi Sarah, I just fixed the link. Click on the image and it should take you to Google Drive. Thank you for letting me know!
Mrs. Wendeln says
October 22, 2015 at 11:37 amMe too! This is perfect for Mr. Chalkers!
kai lindstrom says
October 4, 2015 at 2:20 amWhat a fantastic resource Susan! I'm studying to be a teacher and am going to include this in one in a literacy block on character development. I had fun trying it out too… 🙂
Shanay Cordova says
August 25, 2015 at 11:22 pmGreat Idea, what does the inside look like?
Jordan says
February 7, 2015 at 6:15 pmThank you for the excellent idea! I can't wait to use this with my 1st graders. I don't know if anyone mentioned this or even noticed it, but in the story, Amazing Grace, Grace wants to be Peter Pan, not Tinkerbell. 🙂 Love that book, a truly brave girl!
Eda GÜMÜŞ says
January 8, 2015 at 11:48 amThanks for your printable 🙂
Keep em Thinking says
November 11, 2014 at 11:57 pmHi Jess, iM sorry, but I don't have a rubric for this.
Jess says
November 11, 2014 at 9:29 pmIs there a rubric for this?
Julianne says
September 21, 2014 at 1:59 amThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kelly Clark says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThis is awesome! I can't wait to use this in my classroom. Thank you for sharing.
Veronica V. says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you for sharing! It is too cute!
Tamia says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmCan't wait to use this….
Molly says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThis is so neat! And I love your sample! I'm definitely going to do this with my class during our character study! Thanks so much!
Susan Mescall says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmYour template has spread like wildfire at my school. Students who are struggling with their behavior have used this to describe themselves! I am using it as a character study for the main characters of "The View From Saturday". Thank you for posting this!
Susan Mescall
Susan Morrow says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you so much! You've made my day!
Ethel B. says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmLooking forward to using this with Bradley from "There is a Boy in the Girl's Restroom." Thank you!!!
Sulinda says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmWe will be studying character traits right off this year. I plan to have each student draw himself/herself and write their own character traits. Our open house is just 2 weeks later, so we will display these in the hallway for all to see. This just killed 2 birds with one stone for me. Thanks!!!
Susan Morrow says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmI am so glad you are able to use this idea and change it to make it your own! Send me a picture when it is completed!
Susan Morrow says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmWhat a great idea! I'm glad you found it useful!
Courtney@BooksnBoys says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmFound this via Pinterest and I LOVE this idea – especially for my visual learners. We are going to use it in conjunction with Sunday School this summer as we are learning about the fruits of the Spirit. Thank you for the template! That really helps non-artistic people like myself who can only draw stick figures 🙂
Wonder is Wonderful for Teaching Character | Fab 4th and 5th Grade says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pm[…] motives, actions and effects on others. I found this great culminating character activity at Keep ‘em Thinking. I’m looking forward to sharing my students’ finished projects with you when we are […]
Cristy says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmI'll use this for kids to talk about themselves the first day of school! Awesome!!
Kathy Lynes-Jordan says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmI really enjoy this activity and will be doing this in my classroom
Debbie says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmGreat idea! I plan on using this before our 1st quarter conferences. I like the idea of using it to describe themselves too! Thanks so much
Shawn Weisser says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmReblogged this on The Children's Librarian.
Margaret Mary Ryan says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you for your template. I am using it to do a compare/ contrast biography project. Students will draw their own faces on one side and a famous person's on the other. Inside they will fill in information about themselves and the subject of their research. Your face templates provided the touch I was looking for to make the assignment more interesting to the kids.
dontchek@gmail.com says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThanks for this! I am teaching character traits to 2nd Grade ELL students! I am so excited to share it with them!
Margaret Mary Ryan says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you for your idea and especially for your template. I used it to help my fourth grade students create A famous person and me biography report. Each student read a book about a famous American. I created a list of questions about the famous person and a corresponding list about the student and listed them inside of the folded template. The students answered the questions and then made one half of the face on the template look like themselves and the other look like the famous person. The project worked well and the students seemed to enjoy doing it.
Teacher On the Go! says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmThank you so much for this! I can't wait to use this in my classroom. I think the kids will love it. 🙂
Jennifer Lopez says
September 20, 2014 at 11:52 pmSuch a creative idea. I am going to use this along with a self portrait simile poem