Class discussions about specific traits in fictional characters work at any grade level. For instance, an elementary school discussion about Pinocchio lends itself to dialogue about appropriate punishment for lying. For teens, reading Mary E. Pearson's "Scribbler of Dreams," the conflict of which revolves around lying, can also lead to a more in-depth discussion about lying's ramifications. Prepare questions ahead of time and start students with a partner or small groups. Conclude with a discussion among the whole class that encourages reflection on the character trait.
Before and after reading a book, have students write journal entries on a character trait that plays a meaningful role in the story. Instruct them to reflect on whether reading the book changed their attitude toward that trait. Alternatively, have them write journal entries from the perspective of a character in the book, imagining the emotional changes the character goes through over the course of the story. Likewise, have them identify a character who shows growth in a story and then write about a time they went through a similar situation. You can also ask students to write a poem about the character's actions and how they reflect on him or her as a person.
For more energetic extension activities, help students look within themselves by acting out the lives of others. Have students work in pairs, with one acting as a reporter and the other as a character from their class reading material. Direct the student playing the reporter to interview the character candidly. Then, have students switch roles. In small groups, have the students take on the persona of a character, interacting in a new situation as the character would. Both journaling and discussion are effective follow-up activities to encourage deeper reflection on the character trait being discussed.
To integrate higher thinking skills, let students explore character traits visually. For younger children, have them draw pictures of themselves exhibiting a fictional character's personality trait. Older students can create a collage that shows that character trait as it is represented in the novel, poem or short story. For extension, have them compare a novel's treatment of the trait with the students' perception of it. For instance, have them compare a trait like respect, as it is portrayed in the story, with their own ideas about respect. For a more artistic lesson, have students create masks that show a character's dominant personality trait. This activity could be used with a role-playing exercise. Always relate the ideas back to the students to promote character development.