Learning about characters’ backgrounds and motivations can help students better understand why characters behave the way they do and make connections to other books they have read, or to their own lives. Characters are often what make the story, and Rick Riordan does an amazing job of staying true to the traditional mythological characters while updating them to fit our modern world.
As students read, they can keep a character reference log. A character map allows students to recall important information on characters. When reading a novel, little attributes often return to become an important plot details. Through the use of character mapping, students will catch this information and will be able to follow the fine points which make reading more enjoyable.
By clicking "Use This Assignment", both the example above and a blank template will copy into your teacher account. Depending on your students, you can provide them with scaffolded templates. Feel free to adjust as desired, and even add additional questions for students to answer.
For a quick way to incorporate character maps into the classroom, you can print out these storyboards as a worksheet 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.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map of the important characters in The Lightning Thief. Be sure to include gods, humans, and demi gods!
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different character from The Lightning Thief. Encourage teamwork as they research and fill out the character map, focusing on traits, relationships, and parentage. This approach ensures active participation and allows students to learn from each other during presentations.
Assign specific tasks within each group, such as researcher, illustrator, and presenter. Clarifying roles helps students stay organized and ensures everyone contributes. Structured collaboration builds accountability and maximizes learning.
Offer students access to reliable sources like the book, reputable websites, and class notes. Guide them to focus on key character attributes, motivations, and mythological connections. Targeted research deepens understanding and supports accurate character mapping.
Encourage groups to share their character maps using posters, digital slides, or skits. Creative presentations make learning more engaging and help classmates remember important details. Celebrate diverse approaches to boost confidence and enthusiasm.
A character map for The Lightning Thief is a visual organizer that helps students track and analyze key details about the novel’s main characters, including their backgrounds, traits, parentage, and powers.
You can use a character map as a worksheet or digital assignment where students fill in information about each character’s traits, powers, and parentage. This helps students remember important details and make deeper connections as they read.
Include sections for each character’s name, parentage, powers, traits, and role in the story. Use visuals or icons to represent characters, and encourage students to cite examples from the text for each trait or power.
Character mapping helps students notice recurring details, understand motivations, and make connections to mythology and their own lives, enhancing comprehension and engagement with the novel.
Use a template with boxes for character name, parentage and powers, important traits, and visual representation. The article recommends making the third box “Parentage and Powers” to align with the story’s themes.