Character Traits

The tomcat stretched lazily and then licked his paw. “I’m taking off for a bit,” he told his son. “You’re going to search for some milk, aren’t you? Can I come along?” his son asked. “I’m thirsty, too.” “Not today,” the tomcat answered. He had no intention of introducing his son to the porch step where the farmer’s wife set out a bowl of milk for him as soon as the sun was at its highest point in the sky. If he came, I’d have to share my milk. No way!!

Which character trait best describes the tomcat?

• A. generous

• B. greedy

• C. loyal

• D. stubborn

Give me that tape,” Brayden demanded, reaching for the roll of tape Gary was holding. “I need to use it.” Paige glanced over at the two boys. “Aren’t you forgetting to say something, Brayden?” she prompted. “Oh, I guess I am forgetting a word. Give it to me now,” said Brayden, snatching the tape from Gary’s hands. Which character trait best describes Brayden?

• rude

• cunning

• friendly

• dishonest

“The next five days are going to be awesome!” Brad commented as they drove down the bumpy, gravel road toward the camp check-in station. He looked down at the camp brochure he had opened on his lap. “Dad, what do you think I should do first- the zip line, the waterslide, or the obstacle course?” Brad’s father laughed. “Let’s just worry about getting you checked in for now and locating your cabin. There will be plenty of time for your new activities after I leave.” Which character trait best describes Brad?

• arrogant

• lazy

• adventurous

• worried

A little later, Noah’s mom arrived to take him home. “I just don’t understand why you choose to be friends with that kid,” said Wyatt’s sister, Ali. “He’s always complaining about something. Is he ever in a good mood?” “Well… no. But he was the first kid who was nice to me when we moved here. I remember how scared I was to get on the bus, but he said I could sit with him when he saw me looking for a place to sit. Which character trait best describes Wyatt?

• charming

• manipulative

• irresponsible

• loyal

To describe a character trait, you should:

• Use one word, like "smart"

• Write a full sentence explaining how the character shows this trait

• Only use examples from the beginning of the story

• Ask your friends what they think

What does it mean to identify a character trait?

• To find out what a character likes and dislikes.

• To describe the physical appearance of a character.

• To recognize and name qualities that describe the character's personality.

• To guess what a character will do next in the story.

A character who always follows through on promises is most accurately described as:

• Unreliable

• Reliable

• Dishonest

• Careless

If a character often helps others without being asked, they might be described as:

• Selfish

• Lazy

• Generous

• Clumsy

If a character is always the first to volunteer for difficult tasks, they are likely:

• Lazy

• Brave

• Uninterested

• Timid

Comparing and contrasting characters involves:

• Finding out which character is the villain

• Deciding which character you like the best

• Looking at the similarities and differences between characters

• Changing the story to make the characters more interesting