QUEST 8: Character Development CHOICES – Personality

CHOICES – Personality

QUEST 8: Character development

Teacher notes

Curriculum links: Literacy Key Stage: Key Stage 2 and more able Key Stage 1 pupils Zone Relevance: Choices

Aim: When writing creatively, it is important to have at least one character in your work. Writers should define some key qualities when developing their character. These qualities do not all need to be defined at once, and can be discovered throughout the work. This activity will outline some key steps to help pupils create their own character.

Background: In Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition, guests are able to see how characters were created for the stories. There are many sketches, drawings, and concepts of characters throughout the exhibit. At the same time, guests create their own Star Wars character through answering sets of questions, and making decisions.

Activity 1: There are five core areas your pupils will use to help develop their character, these are outlined on the Pupil worksheet: 1. The character’s general role in its surroundings. Before their character exists, it is best to have a place for it to do so. They should describe the realm in which their character finds itself. For example, a character could be from the Star Wars universe, live in a kitchen, or belong in the deepest part of the ocean. 2. Next they will decide whether or not their character will be a protagonist (like Qui-Gon Jinn), antagonist (like Darth Maul) or comic relief (like Jar Jar Binks). Or maybe their character is someone who could be seen as a combination like Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (protagonist and antagonist). 3. As a third step, pupils should choose some specific characteristics. These can include gender, age, body type, behaviours, strengths, weaknesses or flaws. It is important for your pupils to remember that characters do not have to be human; their character can be anything! For example, a golden Droid who walks on two legs and can communicate in over 6 million forms such as C-3PO. 4. Your class should then define their character’s goal. Here they can describe what their character is living their life for. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker has a goal of becoming a Jedi Knight. Perhaps their character wants to go to school to become a teacher, or fly a helicopter around the world.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 1 5. The last thing their characters will need is a home. This is important in allowing the character/s to have roots. These roots could be in the form of family, friends, places, occupations, or past experiences. In Star Wars, Padmé Amidala is from the planet Naboo, where she is Queen. 6. Once they have finished the first five sections, pupils can then decide on a name for their character.

Extension activities: • Pupils can draw a picture of their character, or swap character descriptions with a partner and draw each other’s character using the description as a guide. • Create a character as a class.

Adapted from an original document created by The Edmonton Telus Science Center.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 2 Pupil worksheet Use this worksheet to create your own character.

1. Where does your character exist?

2. Is your character a hero, a villain, a comedy character or something else?

3. What specific features does your character have (such as age, body type, strengths and weaknesses)?

4. What is your character’s goal in life?

5. Where does your character live?

6. What is your character’s name?

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 3