Week 6 - Our Garden - Character Traits and Textual Details

This week the students analyzed sections of "Our Garden" by rereading and highlighting sections that demonstrated the characters acting responsibly. Then, the students put their ideas in sentences. We practiced restating the question and using details from the story to support our answers. The students again used the CUP mnemonic device to check their writing. 

We also learned about character traits this week. Students identified a character trait to describe the protagonist and narrator, Julian, based on details from a particular part of the story. We focused on traits that demonstrate the "inside of a character" such as feelings and thoughts. 

Some books that are helpful for exploring character traits and character development include:

The Royal Bee by Frances Park and Ginger Park

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gerstein

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Grades K-3

Courage by Bernard Weber

Rabbit Wishes by Linda Schute (This works well for the outside and inside traits of characters).