Do your students love Harry Potter? Check out A Quest for Wizardly Efficiency and How Does Social Change Happen? as well as Design a New Wizard Sports Team.
In this Learning Activity appropriate for grades 5-8, students use the concept of a character sketch to create a well thought-out new character that would fit into the wizard world. This activity can be adapted to work with any book your students are reading in class.
Introduction
What is a character sketch?
A character sketch is defined as a description of a character that is created by writers so that they have a clear picture of who someone is and how he or she would react in varying situations. The character sketch should contain background information about the character as well as family information, emotional details and perhaps even some physical traits. Explain this to your class, noting on a blackboard or whiteboard the important components of a character sketch.
Other helpful terms:
Protagonist - The most important character in a story; hero, central character, leading role, “good guy.”
Antagonist- The character who opposes the hero, or protagonist, and provides the story's conflict; villain, enemy, “bad guy.”
Multi-Part Student Activity
The character sketch assignment is a multi-part process that can be completed over the course of a week in class and at home.
Suggestions for Extending the Activity
Writing: Have students write short stories about their wizard characters, drawing on what they know about Harry Potter (if possible) and using their character as a main character in the story. Help students review each other’s work and offer suggestions for revisions.
Art: Ask kids to illustrate their characters and create a bulletin board with the artwork. Or, scan illustrations and create a digital presentation—perfect for sharing on Parent Open House night.
Technology: Digitally record students speaking a line of dialogue (in appropriate dramatic voice) that they’ve written for their character. Again, parents will love hearing this played as part of a presentation during Open House.
Article by Sarah W. Caron, EducationWorld SocialMedia Editor
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Updated: 01/06/2015