Developing reading preferences in Year 3 through appreciation of characters
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore a range of characters in texts, describing why I like them.
Key learning points
- Series texts can develop motivation to read.
- A character might be part of a series of texts
- A character trait is a special quality that make a character in a story unique and interesting
- A character's emotional arc might adapt or change over a series of books
Keywords
Series fiction - Series fiction is when there are lots of texts with the same characters. Each one tells a new adventure or story about them.
Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
Emotional arc - An emotional arc is how a character's feelings and emotions change throughout a story.
Empathy - Empathy is the ability to experience and understand other people’s feelings and points of view.
Common misconception
Pupils may begin writing about a character in a standalone text, rather than a series.
If a pupil has not encountered series fiction before, they will develop greater awareness through discussion with their peers.
Teacher tip
Have a range of series fiction available in class book area, or school library, to encourage engagement outside of the lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following aspects of series fiction to their examples in the series 'Horrid Henry' by Francesca Simon.
Horrid Henry, Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret
school, Henry's home
'Horrid Henry’s Perfect Day', 'Horrid Henry’s Homework'
Q2.Match the role to its definition.
a person who writes the words that make up a text
a person who creates art or images that make up a text
a company that publishes books
Q3.True or False? Series fiction texts usually have a different character in each text.
Q4.What are the shared features of a series you can identify from the front cover?
Q5.Which of the following are examples of genre in literature?
Q6.Which of the following can describe a character's personality?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is series fiction?
Q2.Which of the following is a benefit to reading series fiction?
Q3.Which examples from a text would show a character is brave?
Q4.Which of the following are character traits?
Q5.Character traits can be identified by focusing on which of the following?
Q6.Sequence these sentences to introduce and describe a character.
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Developing reading preferences in Year 3 through appreciation of characters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Developing reading preferences in Year 3 through appreciation of characters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Developing reading preferences in year 3 unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.