Developing reading preferences in Year 4 through appreciation of characters
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore a range of characters in texts, articulating what makes them effective.
Key learning points
- Reading allows you to explore your emotions and understand yourself better
- Understanding a character's motivations can lead us to connecting with them on an emotional level
- Favourite characters can be heroes or anti-heroes
Keywords
Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
Protagonist - A protagonist is a main character or central figure in a story or narrative.
Hero - A hero is a protagonist with noble qualities, often saving or helping others.
Anti-hero - An anti-hero is a flawed protagonist, often with moral ambiguity or unconventional methods.
Common misconception
Pupils might assume a hero only portrays positive traits, an anti-hero only negative traits.
Discuss a range of protagonists and reflect on their traits and characterisation. Not all characters will be heroes or anti-heroes.
Teacher tip
An emotions graph can track a character's emotions as they progress through a narrative. It is important to draw the pupils' attention to tracking their character over time, as the story develops.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.An illustrator is responsible for which of the following?
Q2.Which of the following are examples of genre?
Q3.What form can be described as an online platform where individuals or groups publish written content on various topics.
Q4.Select the true statements about reading.
Q5.Match the text form with the definition.
a set of instructions for preparing a particular dish
words that make up a song
instructions that tell someone how to get from one place to another
newly received or important information
Q6.What might determine your personal reading preferences?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following key words to their definitions.
a flawed character, neither purely good nor purely evil
a main character or central figure in a story or narrative
a character with noble qualities, often helping others
special qualities that make a character in a story unique
Q2.True or False? Humorous texts can only be presented as poems.
Q3.Which of the following features are often found in humorous texts?
Q4.Which of the following are examples of heroic character traits?
Q5.Select the character traits that are likely displayed by a hero.
Q6.Select the character traits that are likely to be displayed by an anti-hero.
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Developing reading preferences in Year 4 through appreciation of characters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Developing reading preferences in Year 4 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 4 unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.