Activity Overview
This activity allows for a more in-depth look at one or more characters, with a focus on character traits. Students should provide textual evidence to support the character trait they choose. Students can support their ideas with dialogue, thoughts, or actions of the character they are portraying. Here is an example of a character trait storyboard in the grid format. This example features Snowbell, Margalo, and Stuart, but students can analyze the character traits for any or all of the characters in Stuart Little.
Possible character traits for characters in Stuart Little:
- Stuart: Determined, kind, loyal, thoughtful, confident
- Margalo: Loyal, caring
- Snowbell: Selfish, sneaky, dishonest
- Mr. and Mrs. Little: Thoughtful, generous, kind
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 storyboard describing character traits in Stuart Little.
- Use the template your teacher provided.
- Select a character from the novel and identify character traits they have.
- Describe where they demonstrate that trait.
- Illustrate each example with appropriate characters, scenes, and text.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Trait Analysis | Written explanation of the scene clearly and accurately explains the connection between the character's actions and his or her personality and character development. | Written explanation of the scene attempts to explain the scene's connection to the character's personality and development. Some explanations may be unclear. | Written explanation of the scenes fails to correctly explain the connection between the actions depicted and the character's personality and development. |
| Storyboard Scenes | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the character trait, through depiction of a specific instance in the text. | Storyboard cells show some connection with the character trait, through depiction of the novel, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand or fail to capture a specific event in the text. | Storyboard cells do not demonstrate the appropriate character traits or fail to include any specific textual references. |
| Effort and Editing | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. Spelling and grammar are correct. | Most of the sections of the storyboard were at least attempted and work is presentable. The text contains some errors in spelling and/or grammar. | Storyboard is unfinished and/or disorganized. The text contains many errors in spelling and/or grammar. |
Activity Overview
This activity allows for a more in-depth look at one or more characters, with a focus on character traits. Students should provide textual evidence to support the character trait they choose. Students can support their ideas with dialogue, thoughts, or actions of the character they are portraying. Here is an example of a character trait storyboard in the grid format. This example features Snowbell, Margalo, and Stuart, but students can analyze the character traits for any or all of the characters in Stuart Little.
Possible character traits for characters in Stuart Little:
- Stuart: Determined, kind, loyal, thoughtful, confident
- Margalo: Loyal, caring
- Snowbell: Selfish, sneaky, dishonest
- Mr. and Mrs. Little: Thoughtful, generous, kind
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 storyboard describing character traits in Stuart Little.
- Use the template your teacher provided.
- Select a character from the novel and identify character traits they have.
- Describe where they demonstrate that trait.
- Illustrate each example with appropriate characters, scenes, and text.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Trait Analysis | Written explanation of the scene clearly and accurately explains the connection between the character's actions and his or her personality and character development. | Written explanation of the scene attempts to explain the scene's connection to the character's personality and development. Some explanations may be unclear. | Written explanation of the scenes fails to correctly explain the connection between the actions depicted and the character's personality and development. |
| Storyboard Scenes | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the character trait, through depiction of a specific instance in the text. | Storyboard cells show some connection with the character trait, through depiction of the novel, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand or fail to capture a specific event in the text. | Storyboard cells do not demonstrate the appropriate character traits or fail to include any specific textual references. |
| Effort and Editing | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. Spelling and grammar are correct. | Most of the sections of the storyboard were at least attempted and work is presentable. The text contains some errors in spelling and/or grammar. | Storyboard is unfinished and/or disorganized. The text contains many errors in spelling and/or grammar. |
How Tos about Stuart Little Character Traits
How to Facilitate a Classroom Discussion on Character Traits in Stuart Little
Lead a dynamic classroom conversation about character traits to deepen understanding and encourage critical thinking. Engage students by connecting their ideas to evidence from the text for richer analysis.
Set clear discussion goals
Explain to students that the purpose is to explore how characters' traits impact the story and to support their ideas with evidence from the book. Clear goals help focus the conversation and keep students on track.
Prepare open-ended questions
Write questions like, “Why do you think Stuart acted bravely in this scene?” or “How does Margalo show loyalty?” Open-ended questions invite thoughtful responses and discussion.
Encourage students to cite textual evidence
Remind students to use dialogue, actions, or thoughts from the story to support their answers. This builds their analytical skills and confidence in backing up their ideas.
Use turn-and-talk or small groups
Have students discuss their answers with a partner or small group before sharing with the class. This gives everyone a chance to contribute and prepares them for whole-class discussion.
Summarize key insights together
After sharing, highlight the main points and examples students discussed. Summarizing as a class reinforces learning and clarifies understanding about character traits.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stuart Little Character Traits
What are the main character traits of Stuart in 'Stuart Little'?
Stuart is portrayed as determined, kind, loyal, thoughtful, and confident throughout the novel. These traits are shown through his actions, dialogue, and the ways he helps others in the story.
How can students use textual evidence to support character traits in 'Stuart Little'?
Students should find specific examples from the text, such as character dialogue, thoughts, or actions, to prove a chosen trait. For example, quoting a scene where Stuart helps a friend highlights his loyalty.
What is a good activity for teaching character traits with 'Stuart Little'?
A great activity is creating a character trait storyboard. Students pick a character, identify traits, give evidence from the story, and illustrate scenes that show these traits using a provided template.
Which characters in 'Stuart Little' can students analyze for traits?
Students can analyze Stuart, Margalo, Snowbell, Mr. and Mrs. Little, or any other character in the book. Each character displays unique traits that can be supported with examples from the text.
Why is it important for students to use evidence when describing character traits?
Using textual evidence teaches students to support their ideas and strengthens their reading comprehension. It helps them move beyond opinions and base their analysis on facts from the story.
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