📖

Character Portrait Gallery

Characters: The Heart of Every Story

Day 9of 180
Week 2of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify and describe character traits using visual representation

2

Use text evidence to support character analysis

3

Practice creative visualization of literary characters

📖 Scripture Connection

1 Samuel 16:7

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

— 1 Samuel 16:7 (WEB)

Just like God looks at our heart, we're learning to look deeper than physical appearances to understand a character's true nature

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large white paper
  • Colored pencils or markers
  • Pencils
  • Character trait word bank
  • Charlotte's Web book
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and review what we've learned about Wilbur and Charlotte so far. Ask students to share one interesting thing they remember about each character.

💭 Review Question: What makes a character interesting or special?
2Teaching (10 min)

Demonstrate how to create a character portrait by drawing a simple outline of Wilbur or Charlotte and surrounding the image with trait words and evidence from the text.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Character traits are how someone acts, thinks, and feels
  • We can find traits by looking at what a character says, does, and how others describe them
  • Every character has both strengths and challenges
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What traits have you noticed about Wilbur?
  • How do Charlotte's actions show she is kind?
  • How are character traits similar to how God wants us to behave?
3Activity: Character Portrait Gallery (12 min)
hands-on project

Students will create a detailed character portrait of either Wilbur or Charlotte, showing their traits through words, colors, and illustrations.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Choose Wilbur or Charlotte
  2. Draw a large, simple outline of the character
  3. Find at least 4-5 character traits from the book
  4. Write trait words around the portrait
  5. Include 1-2 direct quotes as evidence
  6. Decorate with colors that represent the character
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use a pre-drawn template and focus on 3 traits

Challenge: Compare two characters in one portrait

4Closing (3 min)

Students will share their character portraits with a partner and explain their choices.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about your character?
  • How are character traits like the fruits of the Spirit?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to look beyond appearances and see the heart of others, just as You do.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how characters in stories can be heroes, just like people in the Bible!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 22:11

“He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.”

— Proverbs 22:11 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trace each word of the verse on a different colored paper strip

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson helps children develop deeper reading comprehension by analyzing characters' inner qualities.

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage looking beyond physical descriptions
  • Help children find specific evidence from the text
  • Discuss how traits reveal character
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might focus too much on physical traits instead of character traits

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to explain why they chose specific traits

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a character trait journal
  • Draw character trait portraits for Bible heroes
  • Write a short story showcasing a specific character trait

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 10 →Back to Literature