Activity Overview
As students read, a storyboard can serve as a helpful character reference log. This log (also called a character map) allows students to recall relevant information about important characters. When reading a story, small attributes and details frequently become important as the plot progresses. With character mapping, students will record this information, helping them follow along and catch the subtleties which make reading more enjoyable!
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street character map helps students remember who were called out as scapegoats, and will visually show them how quickly things escalated. It will also provide a reference for discussion about how each person added to the hysteria.
Example Character Map
- Name: Steve Brand
- Description of character’s personality:
- What causes the mob to focus on him?
- Changes in character, physically or mentally?
Leader, calming influence, intelligent, open-minded, tries to control the mob.
He always works late in his basement on a radio.
He eventually gets angry, and stops trying to help.
Template and Class Instructions
(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 for the major characters.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the major characters in The Monsters are Due on Maple Street and type their names into the different title boxes.
- Choose a character from 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 text for Character Traits, Mob Focus, Physical and Mental Changes,and an Important Quote.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [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/7/6] Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/8/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Picture & Scene | The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. | Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. | More than half of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. |
| 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. | Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. |
| Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. | Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. |
How To Analyze the Characters in The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Identify the Main Characters
Ask the students to identify the main characters in the story. Students can list down these characters from the most important to the least important or divide them into two different categories. Students can make these segregations based on the involvement of each character in the story and the impact of their decisions.
Begin With Physical Appearance
Once the characters have been identified students make their character illustrations or drawings based on how they are described in the story. Students can also watch the old episode of The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street to get a better perspective of what each character looks like and does their physical appearance plays an important role in the story.
Move on To Personality Characteristics
Encourage the students to focus on the personality traits and hobbies of each character. This will help them identify their weak points and the significance of their presence in the story. For instance, Steve Brand became the point of fixation for the Mob because he used to spend a lot of time in his basement focusing on his work and hobbies.
Discuss Motivations
Reflect on how the end goal and motivation of each character help in the development of the narrative. Identifying and analyzing character motivations will help the students understand the story and make connections in a much better way.
Organize the Information
Students can reflect on all the information that they have collected so far and organize it in a way that is easy to comprehend and provides critical insights on each character written by the author.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Characters in The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Is Tommy a significant part of the story?
Tommy is a small child who argues that the power loss may have been caused by aliens. His creative thinking leads to Maple Street's increasing paranoia. Tommy becomes a significant part of the narrative after people believe his suspicions and start to feel threatened by each other.
How does Don Martin attempt to maintain law and order on Maple Street?
Don Martin makes an effort to maintain composure and reason in the commotion. He attempts to keep his neighbors from making snap judgments and turning against one another.
Who is the main person under suspicion of the mob, and why?
Due to the fact that Les Goodman's automobile starts when none of the other cars do, he attracts the most suspicion. The neighbors begin to believe he is an extraterrestrial as a result of this and his worried conduct.
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