8 Character Trait Anchor Chart Ideas

Character Trait Anchor Chart Ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers

Whether you are introducing character traits or just wanting a good student reference for review, you'll find an anchor chart idea below that works for your classroom. Use one (or more) of these character trait anchor charts as inspiration for a character trait unit in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th trade classroom!

You might find some of these other character trait tips, freebies, and ideas useful as well.

How to Infer Character Traits

This anchor chart focuses on how to determine a character's traits from a text. It encourages students to look at a character's thoughts, feelings, actions, and words in order to infer a character's traits.

Modeling Inferring Character Traits

This is probably my favorite character trait anchor chart, because it directly models how to use clues from the text to determine different character traits. You could build this anchor chart together as a class with any fiction book you are reading.

Character Trait List

A list of some character traits. This anchor chart has its shortcomings. It's impossible to list every character trait, and for students who have a limited vocabulary, it is not super useful as a reference. However, this would be helpful when you are first introducing character traits to remind students what traits actually are.

These free character trait lists are more comprehensive and make great references for students.

Contrasting Character Traits Anchor Chart

This anchor chart focuses on building character trait vocabulary by listing a character trait and its antonym. It would be hard for students to refer to this all the time, because sometimes the character traits listed wouldn't make sense with every text.

It is a great way to practice vocabulary and teach students about antonyms, however!

Examples of Inferring Character Traits

This anchor chart models how to infer character traits through feelings, actions, dialogue, and thoughts. It's a little wordy since it has to include short texts, but it would be a useful student reference!

Focusing on One Character Trait

Help students build character trait vocabulary with an anchor chart like this. This would be useful if you are trying to help your students get past describing characters as "nice" or "mean."

Using Past Read Alouds as a Reference

While this is a bulletin board display, not an anchor chart, it could be easily adapted. Identify the most important character traits from different read alouds you have read together as a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade class, and post them for reference.

Internal Vs. External Anchor Chart

This is a good anchor chart to use if you want students to distinguish between what a character looks like and how a character thinks and behaves.

Find more practical ideas for teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students by following me on Pinterest!

Teaching Character Traits? You Need This Freebie!