Mapping Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Characters

Activity Overview

In this activity, students depict the characters of the story, paying close attention to the physical and character traits of both major and minor characters. Students provide detailed information regarding the characters’ actions and how they influence other characters. In addition, students can identify how the main character changes over time.

Have students create the characters and fill in the information from a template, or you can make the characters on a blank map and print it out for students to complete. Alternatively, assign different characters to different students or groups to go into greater detail. Students or groups can present their information to the rest of the class.

Other characters to consider who were not included in this character map:

Harlan Granger
Jeremy Simms
Mr. Simms
Mr. Avery
Mr./Mrs. Berry
Claude Avery
Wallace Family
Mr. Jamison
“Night Men”

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Create a character map for the major characters.

Identify the major characters in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and type their names into the different title boxes.
Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters.

Select colors and a pose appropriate to story and character traits.

Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character.
Fill in the text boxes for Physical/Character Traits, What Challenges Does This Character Face, and How Does This Character Interact with the Main Character.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Character Map

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/1] Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
[ELA-Literacy/RL/7/3] Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot)
[ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/1] Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text

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Rubric

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Character Map Rubric for Middle School

Create a character map of the characters in the story. Put the character's name in the title boxes and choose a character and scene to represent each one. As you read, take notes on the characters by answering the questions.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 25 Points	Beginning 17 Points
Character Picture & Scene	The characters and scenes are all appropriate for the book's characters. They reflect strong understanding of the book's most important characters.	Most of the characters and scenes are appropriate for the book's characters. They reflect emerging understanding of the book's most important characters.	Many of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. The project reflects a lack of understanding of the major characters.
Accuracy of Notes	Most of the information of the notes is correct.	Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing.	Much of the information of the notes is incomplete and/or incorrect and irrelevant.
Effort and Editing	Work is complete, thorough, and neat. Spelling and grammar are correct.	Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. The text contains some errors in spelling and/or grammar.	Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. The text contains many errors in spelling and/or grammar.