Blog for October 30th

Teaching Activity

What a Character!
Objective: Students will use what they have learned about characterization to create a group of characters for a hypothetical story.

Students will be divided into groups of three or four. Each group will draw a plot line the teacher has created (there will be a bunch of different slips in a hat). Students will have 5 minutes to brainstorm individually, coming up with a character they think would fit in the story line their group drew. After the five minutes, each member of the group will log onto the class wiki page. For five minutes, each member of the group will begin by writing about the character they brainstormed in the five minute session. When time is up, they will have to post what they have written and move onto the next character in the list on the wiki page (one that another group member has started). They will have one minute to read what the team member has written. Based on that information, they will have five minutes to go out on the internet and search for a picture of a person that best fits what has been written about the character. When those five minutes are up, each member will post their picture and move onto the next character on the list. In the final turn, each member will have five minutes to write the ending of the story for each character. After everyone has finished the group will come back together and read each of the character descriptions outloud. Then, using a worksheet, they will evaluate each of the characters based on the earlier things thy have learned about characterization. Picking one of the better characters, the group will work together to rewrite the character and post the revision on the wiki. For homework, each student will be required to visit one of the other groups revised characters and leave comments/ideas/suggestions for the character.