Lessons & Units :: Classify and Categorize 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Sorting Based on Character Traits

Lesson Plan

Chrysanthemum | 410L

Chrysanthemum
Learning Goal
Categorize characters based on their character traits.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Direct Teaching Example Chart, Guided Practice Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, chart paper, markers, familiar books from the classroom or school library

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that we can sort characters in a story based on their character traits. I will present two character traits (friendly and unfriendly) and describe how a person acts when he or she is friendly and how a person acts when he or she is unfriendly. I will sort characters from a familiar book that was previously read in class into two categories: friendly and unfriendly, creating a chart. (Example Chart is provided.)

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How did I choose characters for each group?" Students should respond that you thought about the character and if he/she was friendly or unfriendly and then put them in the group that best described them.

  • Guided Practice

    will choose another familiar book from our classroom library and sort characters based on whether the character is friendly or unfriendly. We will add these characters to our Character Traits Chart. We will read Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. We will list the characters and their main actions as they are introduced in the book. We will think about their main actions and ask ourselves if the actions are friendly or unfriendly. (Example Chart is provided.)

  • Independent Practice

    will sort the characters from Chrysanthemum based on two characteristics: friendly or unfriendly. You will draw a picture of the characters doing something that proves they are either friendly or unfriendly. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.)

    TIP: Differentiate the Independent Practice for excelling students by asking students to categorize the same characters using different traits.

Build Student Vocabulary dreadful

Tier 2 Word: dreadful
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story On the first day of school when Mrs. Chud calls out the students’ names, everyone laughs when they hear Chrysanthemum’s name. This made Chrysanthemum think that her name was “absolutely dreadful.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Dreadful means very bad or terrible. It can cause fear or dread. Chrysanthemum thought her name was very bad, or dreadful, because all the students laughed when they heard it.
Students repeat the word Say the word dreadful with me: dreadful.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts My neighbor was playing such dreadful music that it gave me a headache. The movie was so dreadful that I fell asleep while watching it.
Students provide examples Can you think of something that is dreadful? Start by saying, “Something that is dreadful is ___________.
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? dreadful
Additional Vocabulary Words scarcely, miserably

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading the book, share some pictures of the flowers mentioned in the book—chrysanthemum, delphiniums, daisies, carnations, marigolds, and lilies. Point out the main parts of a flower, for example the petal and stem (or stalk). Time permitting, extend the unit by classifying and categorizing the pictures of the flowers according to their colors, shapes, and sizes.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

character trait lesson

Submitted by lmvargez-men_2254855 on 9/17/16