Character maps are a helpful tool for students to use as they're reading, although they can also be used after completing a book. In this activity, students will create a character map of the characters in The Tiger Rising, paying 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.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a character map for the major characters in The Tiger Rising.
Student Instructions:
Make character maps a regular part of your literacy block by setting aside 10 minutes after each reading session for students to update their maps. Frequent updates help students deepen their understanding of how characters grow and change throughout the novel.
Demonstrate the process on the board while verbalizing your thought process as you select traits and evidence from the text. This helps students see how to connect character actions to specific attributes and encourages higher-level thinking.
Assign different colors for physical traits, emotional traits, and character changes over time. This visual strategy makes it easier for students to track development and compare multiple characters throughout the story.
Organize quick pair-and-share sessions where students explain their character maps to a classmate. Discussing character insights with peers strengthens comprehension and exposes students to new perspectives.
Prompt students to identify challenges faced by characters and relate them to experiences in their own lives or current events. Making personal connections increases engagement and empathy while reading.
A character map is a visual organizer that helps students track details about a story's characters, such as traits, challenges, and development. In The Tiger Rising, using a character map allows students to analyze major and minor characters, deepening comprehension and connecting plot events to character growth.
To create a character map for The Tiger Rising, choose a character, note their physical and personality traits, describe changes they undergo, and list the challenges they face. Use a tool like Storyboard That to visually organize this information for each main character.
Main characters in The Tiger Rising have distinct traits: Rob is quiet and thoughtful, struggling with grief; Sistine is outspoken and emotional, facing family challenges. Mapping these helps students understand character motivations and story themes.
Identifying character challenges helps students see how characters grow and respond to adversity. In The Tiger Rising, this deepens empathy and supports critical thinking about character choices and story outcomes.
Popular tools for making character maps include Storyboard That, graphic organizers, and Google Slides. These resources let students visually track character traits, changes, and relationships in The Tiger Rising or any novel.