Teaching Character through the Language Arts Curriculum
Story: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Classroom Activities
Day 1
Invite students to listen to the story Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkens. Afterwards engage students in a story discussion.
Ask questions such as:
Who is the main character in this story?
What was Lilly's problem?
What did Lilly do to solve her problem?
How would you describe Lilly? Why?
Day 2
Create a lightbulb lab that has drawing and writing materials. Invite children to go to the lightbulb lab and answer the following questions through drawings and writings.
Invite students to listen to the story Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkens. Afterwards engage students in a story discussion.
Ask questions such as:
Who is the main character in this story?
What was Lilly's problem?
What did Lilly do to solve her problem?
How would you describe Lilly? Why?
Day 2
Create a lightbulb lab that has drawing and writing materials. Invite children to go to the lightbulb lab and answer the following questions through drawings and writings.
Day 3
Invite students to discuss the subject of conflict resolution. Talk about the story but also ask students to share their personal experiences in resolving conflicts with others. Complete the following worksheet.
Invite students to discuss the subject of conflict resolution. Talk about the story but also ask students to share their personal experiences in resolving conflicts with others. Complete the following worksheet.
Day 4
Invite students to discuss the Author's purpose when writing the story. Ask students to share their opinion on what character values the story teaches. Complete the following worksheet in the lightbulb lab.
Invite students to discuss the Author's purpose when writing the story. Ask students to share their opinion on what character values the story teaches. Complete the following worksheet in the lightbulb lab.
Day 5
Talk to students about inferring information from story characters. Invite students to discuss what they perceive as positive or negative character traits. Ask students to infer what kind of a teacher Mr. Slinger was by completing a worksheet.
Talk to students about inferring information from story characters. Invite students to discuss what they perceive as positive or negative character traits. Ask students to infer what kind of a teacher Mr. Slinger was by completing a worksheet.
Day 6
Talk to students about empathy and how to look at things from another person's perspective. Invite them to visit the lightbulb lab and complete the following assignment on a separate piece of paper.
Talk to students about empathy and how to look at things from another person's perspective. Invite them to visit the lightbulb lab and complete the following assignment on a separate piece of paper.
Day 7
Talk about Lilly's moral values. Do you think Lilly is respectful? Is she responsible? Why? Invite students to grade some of Lilly's character traits by filling out a report card for her. Afterwards ask students "What character traits might Lilly need to work on?" "What character traits might you need to work on?" Why?
Talk about Lilly's moral values. Do you think Lilly is respectful? Is she responsible? Why? Invite students to grade some of Lilly's character traits by filling out a report card for her. Afterwards ask students "What character traits might Lilly need to work on?" "What character traits might you need to work on?" Why?
Day 8
Talk to students about how we are known by our deeds and that our deeds define our character. Share the Bible verse from Proverbs 20:11 "Even a child is known by his deeds, wether what he does is pure and right." Invite students to complete the following worksheets in which they have to cut and paste the character traits that belong to each character. Afterwards ask them to give examples of the things that Lilly and Mr. Slinger did that led them to infer their character traits.
Talk to students about how we are known by our deeds and that our deeds define our character. Share the Bible verse from Proverbs 20:11 "Even a child is known by his deeds, wether what he does is pure and right." Invite students to complete the following worksheets in which they have to cut and paste the character traits that belong to each character. Afterwards ask them to give examples of the things that Lilly and Mr. Slinger did that led them to infer their character traits.
Day 9
As a final project Teachers will invite students to form small groups and work together to rewrite the story of Lilly. The new version has to give examples of how they believe conflicts could have been avoided or worked out in a different way. Each group will perform their version of the book. Allow students to make their own costumes and encourage artistic expression. This project should take a couple of days to allow students to analyze, evaluate and get prepared in order to perform.
As a final project Teachers will invite students to form small groups and work together to rewrite the story of Lilly. The new version has to give examples of how they believe conflicts could have been avoided or worked out in a different way. Each group will perform their version of the book. Allow students to make their own costumes and encourage artistic expression. This project should take a couple of days to allow students to analyze, evaluate and get prepared in order to perform.