Activity Overview
In this activity, students will depict the characters of the poem, paying close attention to their character traits and identify the character’s actions that show these traits. Students will also identify the challenges these characters face.
Characters included in the character map are:
- Casey
- Flynn and Jimmy Blake
- The crowd
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
- Identify the major characters in "Casey at the Bat" and type their names into the different title boxes.
- Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters.
- Select colors and a pose appropriate to story and character traits.
- Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character.
- Fill in the text boxes for Character Traits, What Actions Show These Traits, and What Challenges Does this Character Face.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Picture & Scene | The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. | Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. | More than half of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. |
| Accuracy of Notes | Most of the information of the notes is correct. | Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. | Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. |
| Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. | Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. |
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will depict the characters of the poem, paying close attention to their character traits and identify the character’s actions that show these traits. Students will also identify the challenges these characters face.
Characters included in the character map are:
- Casey
- Flynn and Jimmy Blake
- The crowd
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
- Identify the major characters in "Casey at the Bat" and type their names into the different title boxes.
- Choose a character to represent each of the literary characters.
- Select colors and a pose appropriate to story and character traits.
- Choose a scene or background that makes sense for the character.
- Fill in the text boxes for Character Traits, What Actions Show These Traits, and What Challenges Does this Character Face.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Picture & Scene | The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. | Many of the characters and scenes match the book's characters. | More than half of the characters and scenes do not match the characters in the book. |
| Accuracy of Notes | Most of the information of the notes is correct. | Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. | Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. |
| Effort | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. | Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. | Character map is unfinished and/or disorganized. |
How Tos about \"Casey at the Bat\" Characters
How can I help students make text-to-self connections with Casey at the Bat characters?
Encourage students to relate the characters' experiences and emotions in Casey at the Bat to their own lives. Ask guiding questions like, "Have you ever felt the pressure to succeed like Casey?" or "Can you think of a time you faced a big challenge?" This builds empathy and deepens comprehension.
Model making a personal connection with a character’s challenge.
Choose a character’s struggle from the poem and share a brief story from your own experience that mirrors their feelings or obstacles. Be genuine and concise so students see how literature connects to real life.
Guide students to identify a character’s emotion they have experienced.
List key emotions shown by Casey or the crowd (like excitement, disappointment, or hope). Invite students to recall a time they felt that same way and describe it with a partner or journal entry. This fosters engagement and personal relevance.
Use graphic organizers to map connections.
Provide a simple graphic organizer with columns for ‘Character,’ ‘Challenge,’ and ‘My Connection.’ Have students fill it out as they read, helping them visually link character experiences to their own.
Facilitate a class discussion to share connections.
Invite volunteers to share their text-to-self connections with the class. Celebrate diverse perspectives and highlight the value of connecting literature to everyday experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions about \"Casey at the Bat\" Characters
What is a character map for "Casey at the Bat"?
A character map for "Casey at the Bat" is a graphic organizer that helps students visually identify and describe the poem’s main characters, their traits, actions, and the challenges they face.
How can I teach character traits using "Casey at the Bat"?
To teach character traits with "Casey at the Bat," have students list each character’s traits, cite specific actions from the poem that show these traits, and discuss the challenges each character encounters.
What are some quick activities for analyzing characters in "Casey at the Bat"?
Quick activities include creating character maps, role-playing scenes, drawing character portraits with captions, and having students match actions to character traits using examples from the poem.
Who are the main characters in "Casey at the Bat"?
The main characters in "Casey at the Bat" are Casey, Flynn, Jimmy Blake, and the crowd, each playing a role in the story’s dramatic baseball game.
What challenges do the characters in "Casey at the Bat" face?
Characters in the poem face high expectations, pressure to perform, and the disappointment of failure. Casey especially deals with the challenge of living up to the crowd’s hopes in a crucial moment.
More Storyboard That Activities
Casey at the Bat
![Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - Identifying Themes in "Casey at the Bat"](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-cells/966388/cell-row-0-col-2-w400.png "Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - Identifying Themes in "Casey at the Bat"")
![Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - New Vocabulary in "Casey at the Bat"](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-cells/966435/cell-row-0-col-1-w400.png "Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - New Vocabulary in "Casey at the Bat"")
![Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - Structural Elements of "Casey at the Bat](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-cells/966583/cell-row-0-col-0-w400.png "Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer - Structural Elements of "Casey at the Bat")
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
