Become a CharacterBecome a Character Using Adjectives Using Adjectives

By Gina PettiBy Gina Petti51158 RED 56551158 RED 565

Teaching Language Arts in the Secondary SchoolTeaching Language Arts in the Secondary School

Nova Southeastern UniversityNova Southeastern UniversityJune 26, 2008June 26, 2008

Lesson PlanLesson Plan

ObjectivesObjectives

Student will:Student will:** Understand the characteristics of adjectives.Understand the characteristics of adjectives.

* Detail a character from a book using adjectives.* Detail a character from a book using adjectives.

* Define and comprehend character traits.* Define and comprehend character traits.

* Use internet resources to find descriptive words.* Use internet resources to find descriptive words.

* Develop a graphic organizer and web to portray a character from a book.* Develop a graphic organizer and web to portray a character from a book.

* Understand the importance of the literary elements of characters in a * Understand the importance of the literary elements of characters in a story.story.

* Use Reader’s Theatre to act out character traits.* Use Reader’s Theatre to act out character traits.

Sunshine State StandardsSunshine State Standards LA.910.3.1.1 – generating ideas LA.910.3.1.1 – generating ideas

from multiple sources based upon from multiple sources based upon teacher-directed topics and teacher-directed topics and personal interests.personal interests.

LA.910.3.1.3 - using LA.910.3.1.3 - using organizational strategies and organizational strategies and tools to develop a personal tools to develop a personal organizational style.organizational style.

LA.910.3.5.3 – sharing with LA.910.3.5.3 – sharing with others, or submitting forothers, or submitting for publication.publication.

LA.910.6.4.1 – use LA.910.6.4.1 – use appropriate available appropriate available technologies to enhance technologies to enhance communication and achieve a communication and achieve a purpose.purpose.

LA.910.1.6.2 – listen to, read, LA.910.1.6.2 – listen to, read, and discuss familiar and and discuss familiar and conceptually challenging text.conceptually challenging text.

LA.910.6.10 – determine LA.910.6.10 – determine meanings or words, meanings or words, pronunciation, parts of pronunciation, parts of speech,…and alternate word speech,…and alternate word choices by using a dictionary, choices by using a dictionary, thesaurus, and digital tools.thesaurus, and digital tools.

Do you know what an adjective is?Do you know what an adjective is?

Many times adjectives or Many times adjectives or descriptor words become descriptor words become the character’s traits in a the character’s traits in a story.story.

Adjective – these are words Adjective – these are words that describe and modify a that describe and modify a person or thing.person or thing.

Ex: The Ex: The tall brown beautiful tall brown beautiful tiger is running fast.tiger is running fast.

Find the words that are Find the words that are describing the noun or describing the noun or character in a story.character in a story.

Watch out!!! Sometimes these adjectives express Watch out!!! Sometimes these adjectives express degrees of modification: degrees of modification: positivepositive, , comparativecomparative, ,

superlativesuperlative..

Comparative and superlative show degrees. Comparative for Comparative and superlative show degrees. Comparative for 2 or more, and Superlative for 3 or more.2 or more, and Superlative for 3 or more.

Let’s look back at the example sentence. Let’s look back at the example sentence.

The The talltall brownbrown beautifulbeautiful tiger is running fast! tiger is running fast!

PositivePositive ComparativeComparative SuperlativeSuperlative

talltall tallertaller tallesttallest

brownbrown brownerbrowner brownestbrownest

beautifulbeautiful more beautifulmore beautiful most beautifulmost beautiful

Now, it’s your turn, youNow, it’s your turn, you silly, talented, funny, silly, talented, funny, energetic, loyal, lucky, warm, trustworthy, energetic, loyal, lucky, warm, trustworthy,

student!!!student!!!

Brainstorm some adjectives about yourself. Can Brainstorm some adjectives about yourself. Can those be character traits, as well?those be character traits, as well?

One thing to add….certain adjectives have One thing to add….certain adjectives have irregular forms in comparative and superlative. irregular forms in comparative and superlative. Here’s a list.Here’s a list.

goodgood betterbetter bestbestbadbad worseworse worstworstlittlelittle lessless leastleastmuchmuchmanymany moremore mostmostsomesomefarfar furtherfurther furthestfurthest

“ “Adjectives are sometimes Adjectives are sometimes frail….don’t ask them to do more work frail….don’t ask them to do more work

than they should!”than they should!”Now, let’s pick a Now, let’s pick a character out of character out of your book.your book.

Can you find some Can you find some adjectives or adjectives or descriptor words descriptor words about the about the character?character?

Here are some great examples of traitsHere are some great examples of traitsand adjectives that can describe your character…..and adjectives that can describe your character…..

AdventurousAdventurous demandingdemanding humoroushumorous restlessrestless richrich

RoughRough poorpoor alertalert ambitiousambitious meanmean

MessyMessy miserablemiserable mysteriousmysterious impoliteimpolitedulldull

BossyBossy brainybrainy averageaverage arrogantarrogant calmcalm

BoredBored confidentconfident hopefulhopeful stubbornstubborn sweetsweet

ImpatientImpatient independentindependent kindkind jealousjealous safesafe

SadSad guiltyguilty properproper proudproud greedygreedy

CautiousCautious busybusy cowardlycowardly crosscross cruelcruel

GlamorousGlamorous preciseprecise rationalrational wickedwicked youngyoung

ShyShy lonelylonely sneakysneaky skillfulskillful evilevil

BlueBlue sharpsharp shortshort efficientefficientfaithfulfaithful

DishonestDishonest foulfoul curiouscurious talltall strangestrange

BeautifulBeautiful freshfresh healthyhealthy innocentinnocent lazylazy

Don’t forget to use your class computer, thesaurus, and dictionary Don’t forget to use your class computer, thesaurus, and dictionary as a references! as a references!

Let’s organize our character adjectives in this Let’s organize our character adjectives in this manner:manner:

Romeo

Romantic Brave Courageous

Lights, Cameras, Action!Lights, Cameras, Action! Can you Can you act out your character’s traits????act out your character’s traits????

Reader’s Theatre – Reader’s Theatre – let’s read a short let’s read a short exert from your exert from your book and “act out” book and “act out” the descriptor the descriptor words and words and adjectives.adjectives.

Can you run silly, Can you run silly, fast, and be brave fast, and be brave all at once?all at once?

Don’t forget how important literary elements Don’t forget how important literary elements such as characters really are!such as characters really are!

Could Romeo be without Juliet???Could Romeo be without Juliet???Then how would the story end?Then how would the story end?

Characters and their traits are one of the most Characters and their traits are one of the most important elements in a story……the end!important elements in a story……the end!