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      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

      1. Series texts can develop motivation to read.
      2. A character might be part of a series of texts
      3. A character trait is a special quality that make a character in a story unique and interesting
      4. 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

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      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.

      Correct Answer:characters,Horrid Henry, Perfect Peter, Moody Margaret
      Correct Answer:settings,school, Henry's home
      Correct Answer:titles,'Horrid Henry’s Perfect Day', 'Horrid Henry’s Homework'

      Q2.
      Match the role to its definition.

      Correct Answer:author,a person who writes the words that make up a text
      Correct Answer:illustrator,a person who creates art or images that make up a text
      Correct Answer:publisher,a company that publishes books

      Q3.
      True or False? Series fiction texts usually have a different character in each text.

      Correct Answer: False, false

      Q4.
      What are the shared features of a series you can identify from the front cover?

      Correct answer: the author
      Correct answer: the illustrator
      the title
      the setting
      the plot

      Q5.
      Which of the following are examples of genre in literature?

      email
      Correct answer: humour
      newspaper
      chapter books
      Correct answer: fantasy

      Q6.
      Which of the following can describe a character's personality?

      Correct answer: courageous
      Correct answer: kind
      girl
      Correct answer: generous
      9-years-old

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is series fiction?

      fiction in historical settings
      fiction about mysteries
      a character's feelings and emotions
      Correct answer: when there are several books with the same characters

      Q2.
      Which of the following is a benefit to reading series fiction?

      Correct answer: develops prediction skills
      develops awareness of a range of different genres
      it gives ideas of what to wear on World Book Day

      Q3.
      Which examples from a text would show a character is brave?

      running away
      Correct answer: standing up for what is right
      Correct answer: facing a fear
      Correct answer: helping others in a crisis
      being a fast runner

      Q4.
      Which of the following are character traits?

      brown eyes
      Correct answer: brave
      short
      Correct answer: respectful
      black hair

      Q5.
      Character traits can be identified by focusing on which of the following?

      Correct answer: words
      Correct answer: actions
      name
      Correct answer: thoughts
      setting

      Q6.
      Sequence these sentences to introduce and describe a character.

      1 - I like the character Demelza from 'Knights and Bikes'.
      2 - I like her because she is fiercely determined and brave.
      3 - For example, she does lots of daring stunts on her bike to achieve her goal.

      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...