Grade Levels: K-3

These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the Character topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Character Study

Read a book with your child or attend a reading at a local bookstore or library. You may want to choose a story they will be familiar with, like The little Red Hen,Discuss the main character in the book and have your child describe the character’s traits. Then have your child choose a friend or close relative and analyze his or her character. How is the friend or relative alike or different from the main character in the book? For example, a child might compare their mother to the Little Red Hen. Would the friend or relative act similarly in the same situation as the main character? Why or why not? Have your child write his or her ideas down of what might happen if the friend or relative was in the story. Then have your child rewrite the story using the friend or relative as a character. Your child may want to tell the story instead of writing it. After your child completes the activity, she or he can share or perform the story to the friend or relative.

Getting Into Character

One great way to understand character is to get into character. Have your child choose a story and act it out. Or, if you prefer, there are many plays for young children available on the internet that can be found by googling “readers theater”. She or he may want to recruit friends, siblings, or even dolls to act out the story. Help your child make masks and costumes for his or her character and put together a backdrop or scene. As your child practices lines, encourage him or her to think about how the character is feeling when delivering the lines. Is the character angry, sad, or happy? How do you know? Guide your child to explain his or her answers. After rehearsals are finished, your child can perform the play in front of family and friends.

My Own Character

Characters in a book are not the only ones who have traits. People have them too. Have your child write a list of his or her own character traits. Discuss moments when your child was brave, clever, or helpful and think about activities that he or she excel at or enjoy doing. Your child can also use the letters of his or her name to name a specific character trait. Post the list of traits in front of a mirror so your child can be reminded of his or her great qualities everyday.