Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're doing really well.

My name is Ms. Avsal and I'll be your teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling very pleased about that because today's lesson is about the graphic novel, and I love graphic novels.

And how about you? I wonder how you feel about graphic novels, if you've read many or if this will be one of your first.

Our lesson is called: Introducing the Context of "Frizzy," and it comes from the unit of work, No country and "Frizzy," graphic novels exploring identity and belonging.

So you will need your copy of "Frizzy." You have hopefully got some focus, energy and enthusiasm, and you're looking forward to getting into this new text.

So if we have all of those ingredients, then we will begin our lesson now.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explore characterization in a graphic novel.

I hope that sounds interesting to you.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

I'd like us to go through them one at a time, saying them out loud.

My turn, your turn.

Characterization.

Character traits, body language, prediction.

Let's find out what these key words mean.

Characterization, the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

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

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

Prediction, an educated guess based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge.

These are our key words, characterization, character traits, body language and prediction.

Pause here and share with someone.

Had you heard of any of these keywords before? And did you already know their meanings? Thanks for sharing.

Let's look out and listen out for these keywords.

Let's think carefully about them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called: Identity and Characterization in "Frizzy," and it has two learning cycles, exploring characterization, and making predictions.

Let's begin by exploring characterization.

"Frizzy" is a fictional graphic novel text which follows Marlene, a young Dominican American girl coming to terms of growing up.

What we know so far, in the section titled "Quince" pages 18 to 43, Marlene doesn't enjoy herself at the start of the celebration.

Lots of her family berate her for not acting in a traditional or expected manner.

At the end of the scene, her mother dances with her.

However, all Marlene can think about is how she will look in the photographs.

And then we can see on our screen an image of Marlene looking in the mirror.

Dressed for the celebration.

In the section "Best Friends," pages 45 to 59, Marlene has been back to the salon to have her hair straightened.

We are introduced to Camilla who talks about Marlene's experiences at the quinceanera with her and they both agree that perfect hair isn't everything.

They decide to find a way for Marlene to embrace her natural curly hair.

The girls research different styles on a beauty blog, and decide to come up with a plan.

Pause it and share with someone, have you had the experience of getting dressed up to go to a celebration? And if so, what did you wear or how did you do your hair? Thanks for sharing.

I've really enjoyed going to family weddings, and wearing beautiful Asian outfits and getting my hair and makeup done.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Sequence the following events from Quince, pages 18 to 43 into chronological order.

And you can refer to the text for support.

Here are the events, A, as the celebration begins, Marlene is unfairly compared to her cousin Diana.

B, Marlene runs to the closet upset.

C, Marlene's Auntie Ruby arrives, she empathizes with Marlene.

D, Marlene's cousin, Angel makes rude comments towards her.

So pause here while you sequence these events into chronological order.

The sequence in which they occurred.

Well done for having a go at sequencing these events from Quince into chronological order.

The first event was, as the celebration begins, Marlene is unfairly compared to her cousin Diana.

Next, Marlene's Auntie Ruby arrives, she empathizes with Marlene.

After that, Marlene's cousin Angel makes rude comments towards her.

And finally, Marlene runs to the closet upset.

Well done if you sequenced the events into this order.

What is characterization? Pause here and share with someone, what do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Characterization is the way an author, and illustrator describe and develop the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

Authors and illustrators use a range of methods to convey characterization.

Pause here and share with someone, what do you think some of those methods are? Thanks for sharing.

Let's take a look at what are some of the methods that authors and illustrators use to convey characterization.

A character's appearance, a character's words, a character's actions, how a character is depicted.

Marlene starts the section titled: "The Plan," reflecting on her life when she was younger.

I'd like you now to read and explore pages 60 to 64, and afterwards discuss one change between Marlene when she was younger and now.

Pause here while you do this.

Read those pages and discuss one change between Marlene when she was younger and now.

Thanks for reading those pages and having that discussion.

Let's hear from Jun.

"When she was younger, Marlene was allowed to play all day.

She could get sweaty and dirty, and there were no comments about her being a young lady.

Now she has to stay in and avoid those activities." I wonder if this is also something that you discussed.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false? The expectations of Marlene when she was younger and now haven't changed.

Pause here while you decide is this statement true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these statements.

A, Marlene has a plan after researching hairstyles on an online beauty blog.

B, when Marlene's mother said she was becoming a young woman, Marlene had to make sure not to sweat too much, get too dirty or play too rough.

Pause here while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement B, this justifies your earlier answer.

We can tell lots about characters through their appearance, the words they use, the actions they perform, and how they're depicted in the illustrations.

What can we infer about Marlene from pages 62 to 64? So pause here while you take a close look at those pages and share with someone, what can you infer about Marlene.

Perhaps you notice that Marlene faces away from the reader.

Her hand on the window might represent her longing to go outside.

Viewing her from the other side of the window, the reader can see Marlene's sad expression and empathize with her frustration.

Perhaps you inferred these meanings.

And now I'd like you to take a look at pages 62 to 64.

What can we infer about Marlene from these pages? Pause here, take a good look at these pages and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you noticed that Marlene is alone, unable to look at the reader.

She's surrounded by white space.

Her body language suggests that she's hugging herself, perhaps needing reassurance.

Marlene has direct eye contact with the reader.

Perhaps she wants us to see the real her.

Words and phrases she uses to describe herself surround her.

Thanks for sharing what you inferred about Marlene.

Let's have a check for understanding at this point in the narrative.

How is Marlene likely to be feeling? Choose from the selection.

A, happy, B, sad, C, hopeful.

Pause here while you decide how is Marlene likely to be feeling? Well done if you selected B, sad.

And now it's time for your first task.

I'd like you to refer to page 64, and discuss the following questions with your partner.

One, do you think Marlene is able to show all of the character traits and aspects of herself at all times? Why or why not? And two, what are three things that you would describe about your own character? Do you share any similar characteristics to Marlene? Pause here while you refer to page 64 and have a discussion about these questions.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that discussion? Do you think Marlene is able to show all of the character traits and aspects of herself at all times? Why or why not? And what are three things that you would describe about your own character? Let's hear from Sofia.

"I don't think Marlene is able to show her true self.

She's different around her mom and older members of the family.

Perhaps she's not given the opportunity to show these aspects of herself to them." And here's Aisha with some of her characteristics.

"I'm mindful of others.

I also love music.

I can play an instrument.

I love coding." Pretty cool things to love, Aisha.

I hope you've enjoyed sharing three things that you would describe about your own character.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, making predictions.

Marlene puts her plan into action.

As she sneaks past her mother on page 65, we're able to gain more of an understanding into her cultural heritage.

I'd like you to read and explore pages 65 to 70.

What do you notice about Marlene's family home? What does Marlene draw attention to? Pause here while you read those pages, and answer these questions.

Thanks for reading those pages and answering those questions.

Let's hear from Andeep.

"Marlene draws attention to the fact that in her family home there are lots of religious crosses and pictures of Jesus." Perhaps you have some objects in your home that share your cultural heritage.

Pause here and share with someone if you have or if not, have you seen any in someone else's house? Thanks for sharing.

Marlene's plan backfires, and her mom has to put her hair in trenzas, braids.

I like to read and explore pages 71 to 77, referred to the top panel on page 76.

What do you think the blank space between Marlene and her mother could represent? Use their body language to support you.

Pause here while you read those pages and answer this question.

Thanks for having a go at that.

Let's hear from Alex.

"The gap between Marlene and her mother could represent the words that they do not say to one another.

Marlene wants to share that she does not like their tradition of going to the salon every Sunday, but doesn't want to upset her mom.

Their body language suggests that they aren't sharing everything, they are guarded." Let's have a check for understanding, true or false? Marlene is able to talk to her mother about anything.

Pause here while you decide is this statement true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these statements.

A, Marlene doesn't want to tell her mom that heading to the salon together is making her sad.

B, Marlene says that everything is fine.

Pause here while you select which of these statements justify your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement B, indeed Marlene doesn't want to tell her mom that heading to the salon together is making her sad.

This justifies your earlier answer.

And now it's time for your next task.

We leave Marlene on page 77 about to step onto the school bus, ready to head to school.

Having explored the characters in more detail, what do you think will happen next? I'd like you to make a prediction about what might happen to Marlene.

Use evidence from the text to support your prediction.

And you could begin your sentence like this, I predict, say what you think will happen because and what's your reasoning, and give your evidence to support this prediction.

Enjoy your task and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with making a prediction about what might happen to Marlene using evidence from the text to support your prediction.

Let's hear from Jacob.

"I predict that Marlene will try to fit in at school and not draw extra attention to herself.

She doesn't like wearing her hair in braids.

Perhaps Camilla will try and help her fix them during breaktime?" Were your responses similar or different? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

And if your predictions are based on evidence in a text, they're likely to be good predictions.

Well done everyone for having a go at this task, and making predictions.

In our lesson, Identity and characterization in "Frizzy," we've covered the following.

Characterization is the way an author, and illustrator describe and develop the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

We can tell lots about characters through their appearance, the words they use, the actions they perform, and how they're depicted in the illustrations.

Through eye contact and body language, we can infer how a character might be feeling and what this might convey to a reader.

Having explored the characters in greater detail, readers can make predictions about what might happen next.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to begin exploring this fantastic graphic novel, "Frizzy," looking at characterization, exploring some of your own character traits might be nice to consider, what are some character traits that you might like to develop a little more? Perhaps you've been inspired by hearing from others.

Well done for using inference, and for developing your prediction skills.

I predict that we'll be meeting each other at another lesson soon.

And until then, bye for now.