Characterization Mini-Unit | STEAL Characterization Guided Notes

Looking for quick, engaging, digital activities to introduce characterization skills? In this interactive Google Slides mini-unit, students will learn multiple reading skills such as distinguishing character traits and emotions, making direct and indirect characterization using "STEAL", analyzing a character's intrinsic or extrinsic motivations, and finally, classifying characters as protagonists/antagonist, major/minor, round/flat, dynamic/static.

This resource is chunked into 4 parts for you to introduce one skill at a time, practicing with the included model, group, and independent passages, then using a text of your choice for further practice. When your students are ready for the next skill, introduce the next minilesson and repeat!

With color-coded guided notes, students will be engaged and organized! Several versions of the notes are included for differentiation, including completed notes, blank notes organizers, and black and white notes for optional printing! Whatsmore, the slides are "locked" so that students can type and interact with the activities without changing the format or requirements!

After each set of guided notes, a related activity is included for teacher modeling, group or whole class practice, and independent application. Practice activities include "drag & drops" to sort and classify examples, "select & highlight" to identify the best answer or locate supporting evidence, and "typing tools" for students to add text into the slides to explain their answers. At the end of this mini-unit, an additional "independent wrap up" is included as a quick assessment of all the learned skills.

For these characterization lessons, students will think critically about characters' direct and indirect traits, the motivation for their actions, and their roles within the overall context of a story. Perfect for a whole class or small group lesson, this characterization mini-unit will have students thinking critically and analytically about the characters!

What's Included In This Product?

• EDITABLE Teacher Slides: A completed answer key of the student slides with full editing access for even more differentiation opportunities!

• LOCKED Student Slides: A formatted workspace for students to apply their final ideas without changing the layout or requirements!
  • 4 Sets of Guided Notes: Chunked and color-coded into 2&3 column organizers!
  • 4 Sets of Practices: Each with a model, group, and independent activity!
  • Independent Wrap Up Assessment: A quick summative assessment of the various reading skills covered in the mini-unit!

• DIFFERENTIATED Slides: Several versions are included to choose from!
  • Version 1: Completed notes with practice activities
  • Version 2: Blank notes organizers with practice activities
  • Version 3: Black and White version (PDF also included!)

What Skills Are Covered In This Mini-Unit?

• Distinguishing Character Traits and Emotions
• Direct & Indirect Characterization- "STEAL"
• Analyzing Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivations
• Close-Reading and Explanation of Text Evidence
• Classifying Major & Minor Characters, Protagonist & Antagonist, Dynamic & Static Characters, and Round & Flat characters

Pairs perfectly with my Character Casting Project! Let students hold "casting calls" for each role to show what they know about these characterization skills!