Lesson Plan: Character Development - Flora
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- Standards
Print Lesson PlanOverview
Students watch three clips that show a character's development over time as she makes an important life decision. While watching, students note important events and developments and later create and present a timeline depicting the character's development over time.
Why is this an important concept?
When readers can identify how a character develops or changes over the course of the story, they show their ability to comprehend the plot and possibly the motivation and conflict of the story.
Grade Level:
6-8Suggested Time
60-minutes
Media Resources
- Flora's Background and Motivation QuickTime Video
- A Hard and Lonely Life QuickTime Video
- A Decision is Made QuickTime Video
Materials
- Character Development Notes handout
- Character Development Timeline handout
- Character Development rubric
The Lesson
Part I: Learning Activity
1. Distribute copies of the Character Development Notes handout
2. Show the first video, "Flora's Motivation." Ask students to note what Flora's life was like before she married and what it is like now. Model note-taking on blackboard for class as you view the segment, pausing the video as necessary.
3. Discuss notes with class. Explain why you noted the things you did.
4. Show the second video, "A Hard and Lonely Life" Ask students to note the hardships Flora experienced and how Flora's life changed since moving to the bush. What is Flora's inner conflict? This time, students will write notes without your modeling; however, verbally highlight important things to note during the viewing. For example, you might pause the video and say, "This is important to note because?"
5. After viewing, discuss notes with class.
6. Inform students that Flora returns to her home town where she visits her mother and sisters. But, then she decides to return to the bush. Show the third video, "A Decision Is Made." This time as they watch, ask students to note the reasons for Flora's decision. Students will write notes independently.
7. After viewing, discuss notes with class.
Part II: Assessment
In small groups of two or three, students complete the Character Development Timeline handout and present it to another small group. Assess students? timelines using the Character Development rubric
For students who need additional teacher guidance:- Provide opportunities for students to view the video segments multiple times, pausing at intervals to allow time for note-taking.
- Provide further assistance with taking notes, modeling the note-taking process for all three videos.
- Work together with students to create the timeline, showing them how to draw information from their notes.
- Coach students prior to presenting their timelines.
We assign reference terms to each statement within a standards document and to each media resource, and correlations are based upon matches of these terms for a given grade band. If a particular standards document of interest to you is not displayed yet, it most likely has not yet been processed by ASN or by Teachers' Domain. We will be adding social studies and arts correlations over the coming year, and also will be increasing the specificity of alignment.Media Resources Used in this Lesson:
A Decision is Made
(QuickTime Video)
Flora's Background and Motivation
(QuickTime Video)
A Hard and Lonely Life
(QuickTime Video)
Resource Produced by:
Collection Developed by:
Collection Funded by:
Funding for the VITAL/Ready to Teach collection was secured through the United States Department of Education under the Ready to Teach Program.