Pickles the cat changes a lot throughout the story. In this activity, students work to identify how he changes from the beginning of the story to the end. Students can work individually or in pairs to research and compile a list of evidence. Students will describe the traits they compiled about Pickles in the beginning on one side, and the traits they discovered that have changed in the end on the other. The traits that remain the same throughout the story will go in the middle.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard comparing and contrasting the development of Pickles in The Fire Cat.
Explain to students what it means to compare and contrast by giving simple examples. Clarifying expectations helps students focus on identifying both differences and similarities in character traits.
Demonstrate how to find and record character traits using specific examples from the story. Show students how to look for words, actions, and illustrations that reveal how Pickles changes.
Provide students with a compare and contrast template. Walk them through filling in each section so they can organize their ideas clearly and visually.
Ask students to share and compare their findings with classmates. Promoting discussion helps them deepen their understanding and notice new details about the character’s evolution.
Facilitate a class conversation about how and why characters change. Connecting these changes to the story’s message makes the lesson more meaningful for students.
To compare and contrast Pickles' character development in The Fire Cat, list his traits at the beginning and end of the story. Note the differences, such as new skills or attitudes, and highlight any traits that stay the same throughout. Using a storyboard or a Venn diagram helps organize these observations visually.
At the start of The Fire Cat, Pickles is often mischievous and unsure of his place. By the end, he becomes more responsible and finds a sense of belonging as a fire cat. This change is shown through his actions, new friendships, and the respect he earns.
The best way is to use three sections: describe and illustrate Pickles at the beginning, list traits that stay the same in the middle, and show his new traits or changes at the end. This makes it easy to see how his character evolves throughout the story.
Comparing and contrasting character traits helps students understand character growth, motivations, and themes. It builds reading comprehension and critical thinking by encouraging students to look for evidence and notice changes over time.
Teachers can provide a simple template or storyboard with three columns: beginning, middle (unchanged traits), and end. Students fill in each section based on Pickles' traits in The Fire Cat, then discuss their findings in pairs or as a class.