Tips and Ideas to help you integrate writing while teaching character traits to your third, fourth, and fifth grade students

No Prep Character Trait Activity Ideas

When teaching upper elementary students about character traits, we often focus on the reading aspect – how to identify character traits, how to find evidence from the text, filling out character trait graphic organizers, how to build character trait vocabulary, how characters are described within a text, etc. However, integrating writing into your lessons on character traits can be a …

6 ways to help your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students build character trait vocabulary

Developing Character Trait Vocabulary

One of the most essential parts of teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students character traits is helping them build their character trait vocabulary.  Students need to be able to describe character traits using precise and descriptive language. The activity ideas below make a great addition to any character trait lesson plan, and will help your students build their vocabulary. …

10 Ways to Use a Blank Number Grid for No Prep Math Lessons in 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

10 Ways to Use Number Grids in Upper Elementary

Ever had one of those days? The kind where you are constantly interrupted by ridiculousness from your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade studetns? The end of the day was finally approaching, and I’ll admit it – I was exhausted. And my math block was almost over, having been taken up by several behavior problems (one of which involved fireworks). There …

Use this free character trait word wall template for an easy way to help build character trait vocabulary with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students

Character Traits Word Wall

Have you experienced the excitement of an engaging, rigorous lesson only to later discover that you left your students more confused than when you started?  The Character Trait Word Wall in my 3rd grade classroom came as a result of one of these huge teaching failures.  But like most failures, it turned into an opportunity for an even better learning …

Free Character Trait Lists to help making teaching character traits to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students easier - includes positive traits, negative traits, and character traits sorted by synonyms

Printable Character Traits List – Positive and Negative Traits

Below are 3 different character trait lists for you to use to help expand your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students’ character trait vocabulary. Or, check out these other freebies, tips, and ideas to make teaching character traits easier. You can download a free pdf / printable version of these character trait lists at the bottom of the webpage.Character Traits …

36 Questions to Help Make Teaching Character Traits Easier - Promote Higher Level Thinking in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students

Character Trait Questions for Higher Order Thinking

As teachers, we are constantly questioning our students. We all know how important it is to ask our students higher level thinking questions, but often the questions we think of on the spot are more knowledge or comprehension based questions. Questions that encourage students to analyze, apply, or evaluate their learning are harder to come up with on the spot. …

Use these 3 free graphic organizers with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students learning about character traits. They can be used with different fiction texts.

3 Character Traits Graphic Organizers

Use the 3 free character traits graphic organizers below. Each of the graphic organizers focuses on a different aspect of character traits, and can be used over and over with a suitable fiction story with upper elementary students.  Use these graphic organizers after introducing character traits to your upper elementary students. You can download a free printable / pdf version …

Text Feature Anchor Charts

Below are 6 different examples of text feature anchor charts you could use in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom. Choose the best anchor chart based on the needs of your students.6 Text Feature Anchor Chart Examples1. Introducing Text FeaturesThis type of anchor chart would be great for students just being introduced to text features. It gives the name …

Low Prep Activities for Teaching Text Features

Low Prep Text Features Practice

So your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students have already been introduced to text features (maybe you used this free text feature slideshow or these free charts).  Now they need practice – and you need engaging lessons that don’t require a lot of prep. Below are 5 low prep / no prep activities to help you practice and review text …

nonfiction text feature scavenger hunt ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade lessons

Text Features Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Going on a text features scavenger hunt is an engaging and low prep way to have upper elementary students practice looking for and analyzing nonfiction text features. There are several ways to set up a scavenger hunt, depending on the needs of your classroom.  Find 3 ideas for a text feature scavenger hunt below – as well as a free …