Milkweed has many characters that Misha interacts with. In this activity, students can create a character map of the characters in the story. They should pay close attention to the physical attributes, and the traits of both major and minor characters. Students can also provide detailed information regarding the challenges the character faces, the challenges the character imposes, and the importance of the character to the plot of the story. Teachers may also want students to pay attention to how each character interacts with Misha on his journey from "Stopthief" to Jack.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a character map for the major characters.
Student Instructions:
Boost comprehension by incorporating character maps into your daily or weekly reading routines. Encourage students to update their maps as they encounter new details, fostering active engagement and deeper understanding throughout the novel.
Demonstrate how to create a character map by working through one example as a class. Use think-aloud strategies to show how to identify key traits, relationships, and challenges for a main character.
Pair students or form small groups to discuss and compare their character maps. Facilitate conversations about differences in interpretation, helping students develop critical thinking and social skills.
Use the completed character maps as planning tools for writing assignments. Guide students to reference their maps when crafting character analyses, diary entries, or creative stories related to the novel.
Have students present their character maps to the class as a formative assessment. Encourage clear explanations of character traits, relationships, and personal growth using evidence from the text.
A character map for Milkweed is a visual tool that helps students organize and analyze the main and minor characters in Jerry Spinelli's novel. It highlights each character’s physical traits, personality, relationships, and challenges within the story.
To create a character map for Milkweed, list the major characters, select or draw images to represent them, and use sections to describe physical traits, character traits, how they interact with Misha, and the challenges they face. Tools like Storyboard That can help make this process easy and engaging for students.
When mapping characters from Milkweed, focus on traits like bravery, innocence, resourcefulness, kindness, and adaptability. Also, note any character development or changes in relationships throughout the story.
Creating a character map helps students deepen comprehension by visually organizing character details, understanding relationships, and tracking how each character’s challenges influence the plot and Misha’s journey.
The main characters in Milkweed face challenges such as surviving the Holocaust, dealing with loss, hunger, and fear, and navigating complex relationships in a dangerous world. Mapping these challenges helps students connect with the story’s themes.