Common Core - Characters and Opinions

A few weeks ago we took on the Common Core Standard in reading that focused on identifying characters and also took on the writing standard that focused on writing about your opinion.  Our first graders loved these books and loved these activities.  They also did a great job stating their opinion and why they felt that way about a certain character.

Here are some books we used throughout the two weeks to teach characters:

• Shelia Rae the Brave
• Ira Sleeps Over
• Chester's Way
• True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
• Julius, The Baby of the World
• Goldilocks and the 3 Bears

Below are some the activities we completed with the stories.

For Chester's Way and Ira Sleeps Over, we made circle maps that named all of the characters in the story.  We first made the circle map together, then gradually over time the kids made it on their own.

 

 



 

For The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, we made a bubble map listing characteristics of the Wolf, Alexander T. Wolf.

 

 

 

After reading Strega Nona, we made a double bubble map comparing Strega Nona and Big Anthony.  The kids got a kick out of this story - they always love when the pasta boils over and into the town and they also love at the end when Strega Nona makes Big Anthony eat all of the pasta.

 

For the first character assessment, we used the story, Julius, The Baby of the World. The kids had to make a circle map and list all of the characters from the story. Then, the kids had to write an opinion about the main character Lilly and support their opinion using text from the book.  They did awesome!!  See a few examples below...

Lilly was a bossy girl. I think this because in the book she was saying I'm the queen, I am the boss.

 

 

 

Lilly was an annoying girl. I think this because in the book she was messing up the numbers and letters.

 

 

Lilly was an annoying girl. I think this because in the book she was dreadful to her brother and not inviting him and not encouraging him and being mean. 

*Loved this one! Great word choice*

 

 

 

For the second assessment, we used the story Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.  The kids completed their circle map and then wrote their opinion of Goldilocks.