We are starting my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE read aloud in our classroom this week, The Westing Game. We are knee-deep in our character unit and this book is perfect to use in any character unit for upper grades because there are over 26 characters to keep track of.
Before we started our read aloud, I wrote all of the characters' names on anchor charts.
I then typed up all of the characters names, folded them up, and put them in a container.
I went around and had each student close their eyes and pick a character.
Students are responsible for keeping track of their character for the duration of our read aloud.
I cut sticky notes in half and gave each student a stack to hold onto while on the carpet. Anytime we learn something new about a character (whether it be a physical trait, personality trait, interaction with another character, etc.) we write it on a sticky note.
Then, at the end of our read aloud time, students walk up to the anchor charts to quickly slap their notes under their character's name.
This is such an easy way to introduce our character unit. It gets them excited and makes them accountable.
Stay tuned to part two of our character unit where we have fun exploring character traits more in depth!
For those of you inquiring, click HERE to check out these posters!
Click HERE to check out part 2 of this blog post series!!
Just added: I wrote a blog post on Inferring Character Traits Through Dialogue (Plus a Free Graphic Organizer). Click HERE to check it out!
Grab a copy of The Westing Game to use in your own classroom!