📖

Character Design Workshop

Illustration: Telling Stories with Pictures

Day 117of 180
Week 24of 36
40Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how visual characteristics communicate personality

2

Create a character sheet with multiple expressions and poses

3

Develop creative storytelling skills through visual design

📖 Scripture Connection

1 Samuel 16:7

“But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For Yahweh sees not as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.'”

— 1 Samuel 16:7 (WEB)

Explores how external appearance doesn't define a person's true character, connecting to the lesson's focus on character design

📦 Materials Needed

  • Drawing paper
  • Pencils
  • Colored pencils
  • Eraser
  • BibleMouse Character Design Worksheet
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Introduce the idea that characters in stories can be designed to show their personality through visual details

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about storytelling through pictures yesterday?
2Teaching (10 min)

Demonstrate how character traits can be expressed through visual elements like clothing, posture, and facial expressions

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Different clothing styles suggest personality
  • Posture can show confidence or shyness
  • Facial expressions communicate emotions
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How might a brave character look different from a shy character?
  • What clothes might show someone is kind or adventurous?
3Activity: Character Creation Workshop (20 min)
hands-on

Students will design an original character with a distinct personality

📝 Instructions:
  1. Choose a personality type (brave, shy, helpful, curious)
  2. Sketch the character's basic shape and outline
  3. Add details that show the character's personality
  4. Create three different poses showing the character's emotions
  5. Use the BibleMouse Character Design Worksheet for guidance
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Focus on one pose and basic character outline

Challenge: Create a character backstory and multiple detailed poses

4Closing (5 min)

Share character designs and discuss how visual elements tell a story

📝 Review Questions:
  • How did you show your character's personality?
  • What makes a character interesting?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how backgrounds can tell stories in illustrations

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Character design is about communicating personality through visual elements

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage creativity and unique designs
  • Focus on the process, not perfection
  • Ask open-ended questions about the character
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might feel self-conscious about their drawing skills

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Creativity in character design, ability to explain character traits

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a short comic strip featuring the designed character
  • Design a costume for a biblical character using similar principles

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 118 →Back to Art