Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

Characterisation is the way an author and illustrator describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

Body language is the way people communicate their thoughts, feelings, and emotions through their movements and gestures without using words.

Inference means to use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.

Motives refer to a person’s reasons for doing something.

Exploring characterisation in 'Greenling'

English

Making predictions about 'Greenling'

Exploring the story 'Greenling'

Reading around the text 'Greenling'

Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Greenling’

In 'Greenling: reading’, pupils discussed the power of nature and its importance. In ’Blackberry Blue: reading’, pupils will discuss how themes of nature are integrated into a contemporary fairy tale narrative.

In 'The Wild Robot: book club’, pupils discussed themes, including environmentalism, identify and belonging. In ’Greenling: reading’, pupils will further explore these themes, drawing comparisons between the characters and their opinions and perspectives.

In this unit, pupils read and explore the picturebook text, 'Greenling'. They will learn about the features of a fable and explore characterisation in the text. Pupils will develop an understanding of 'rewilding' and identify and engage in the key themes of community and sustainability.

'Greenling': reading

special qualities that make a character in a story unique

how characters communicate without words, using movements and gestures

Match the following keywords to their definitions.

Referring to their body language, how might the character in this image be feeling?

True or False? A character's feelings and emotions can only be understood by their body posture.

Which of the following can help readers understand a character’s motives?

True or False? Mrs. Barleycorn's character traits change from the beginning of the text to the end?

She is grateful that her husband found the Greenling.

She says that the Greenling should be returned to the wild.

She does not care whether her husband looks after the Greenling or not.

What is Mrs. Barleycorn's initial reaction to the Greenling?

find key details or information in the text and extract them.

predict what might happen from what we have already read.

use clues from within the text to draw conclusions.

How might the following person be feeling?

He brings the Greenling inside to keep it safe.

How does Mr. Barleycorn show he cares for the Greenling?

Exploring characterisation in 'Greenling'

Lesson outcome