Activity Overview
In this activity, students should depict the characters of the story, paying close attention to the physical and character traits of the characters. Students should provide detailed information regarding how the person feels (or might have felt) in the main event. In addition, students can identify the challenges the person faced during the main event.
Characters included in the character map are:
- Mr. Popper
- Mrs. Popper
- Janie and Bill Popper
- Captain Cook and Greta
- Admiral Drake
- Mr. Greenbaum
- Mr. Klein
- A serviceman
- A policeman
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 Mr. Popper's Penguins 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 Physical/Character Traits, How Does This Character Change Over Time, 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 should depict the characters of the story, paying close attention to the physical and character traits of the characters. Students should provide detailed information regarding how the person feels (or might have felt) in the main event. In addition, students can identify the challenges the person faced during the main event.
Characters included in the character map are:
- Mr. Popper
- Mrs. Popper
- Janie and Bill Popper
- Captain Cook and Greta
- Admiral Drake
- Mr. Greenbaum
- Mr. Klein
- A serviceman
- A policeman
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 Mr. Popper's Penguins 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 Physical/Character Traits, How Does This Character Change Over Time, 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 Mr. Popper\'s Penguins Character Map
How to Facilitate a Class Discussion About Character Growth
Kick off a class discussion by asking students to share how Mr. Popper and other characters change throughout the story. Encourage everyone to support their ideas with examples from their character maps or the text. This approach helps deepen understanding and builds confidence in speaking about literature.
Model using evidence from the text to support character insights
Demonstrate for students how to find and cite specific passages that reveal a character’s traits or growth. Show how these moments connect to what they’ve written on their character maps. This skill strengthens critical thinking and reading comprehension.
Encourage peer feedback on character maps
Have students exchange character maps with a partner and give one compliment and one suggestion for improvement. This practice fosters collaboration and helps students see new perspectives on characters.
Connect character challenges to students’ real-life experiences
Invite students to relate a character’s challenges to something they’ve experienced or seen. This personal connection makes literature more meaningful and builds empathy.
Wrap up with a creative extension activity
Ask students to write a short letter from the perspective of a character, describing how they changed during the story. This creative exercise reinforces learning and encourages empathy for literary characters.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mr. Popper\'s Penguins Character Map
What is a character map for Mr. Popper's Penguins?
A character map for Mr. Popper's Penguins is a visual organizer that helps students identify and describe each major character’s physical traits, personality, feelings, and challenges throughout the story. It supports deeper understanding by showing how characters change over time.
How do you create a character map for a novel like Mr. Popper's Penguins?
To create a character map for Mr. Popper's Penguins, list main characters, choose images and backgrounds that fit each, and fill in details like physical traits, personality, how they change, and key challenges faced. This can be done individually or in pairs for 4th-5th grade students.
Which characters should be included in a Mr. Popper's Penguins character map?
Include characters such as Mr. Popper, Mrs. Popper, Janie, Bill, Captain Cook, Greta, Admiral Drake, Mr. Greenbaum, Mr. Klein, a serviceman, and a policeman to cover all main roles in the story’s events.
Why is making a character map helpful for understanding Mr. Popper's Penguins?
Creating a character map helps students visualize relationships, track character development, and understand motivations and challenges. This boosts reading comprehension and engagement with the story.
What should students include in each section of a character map for Mr. Popper's Penguins?
For each character, students should note physical and personality traits, how the character changes over time, and challenges faced during main events. This ensures a thorough analysis of the story.
More Storyboard That Activities
Mr. Popper's Penguins
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
