Learning Objective Name ______

Today, we will contrast1 the motives and actions of characters.

1 show a difference between two or more things

CFU

What are we going to do today?

What does contrast mean?

Activate (or provide) Prior Knowledge

Amanda had just gotten home from school. She was very hungry. Knowing that she was too short to reach the cookie jar on the counter, Amanda wondered how she was going to get herself a cookie. After thinking over the problem, she knew what to do! She pulled a stool from the living room next to the counter. She then climbed onto the stool and pulled the jar towards her. Finally, the sweet cookies were hers! 76 words

Students, tell your partner why Amanda needed to get a stool from the living room.

CFU

Students, you probably told your partner that Amanda needed to get a stool so she could reach the cookie jar on the counter. When you explain why a character does something, that is called telling the character’s motive. When Amanda, the character, goes and gets the stool and then stands on it, those are called the character’s actions. Today, we will contrast the motives and actions of characters.

Concept Development

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.

A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.

Each character’s motive leads to different actions which determine the outcome of the plot2.

2 order of events or actions in a story

Example:

1. Marcos wanted to win the annual Spelling Bee this year. 2. Rose was reigning3 champion the last three years, and did not want to win again. 3. She was tired of the pressure of being champion. 4. So, Marcos studied hard every day after school, and practiced with his mom on the weekends. 5. Rose didn’t practice at all.
6. The day finally came! 7. Throughout the contest, Rose and Marcos were tied. 8. In the fifth round, Rose spelled a word wrong and was out of the competition. 9. She pretended to be disappointed, but was relieved that she lost. 10. When the last word was called, Marcos nailed it, and he won the Spelling Bee! 11. Marcos was the new Spelling Bee Champion! 115 words
3 period of control
Marcos / Character Action #1 / Character Action #2 / Character Action #3 / Outcome
Motive:
Marcos wants to be the Spelling Bee Champion. / Marcos studied every day after school. / Marcos practiced with his mom on the weekend. / Marcos spelled the last word correctly. / Marcos won the spelling bee!
Rose
Motive:
Rose does not want the pressure of winning again. / Rose did not practice at all. / Rose spelled a word wrong. / Rose was relieved. / Rose lost the spelling bee.
Contrast the characters: / Marcos is motivated to win and works hard to achieve his goal, and
Rose does not want to win and does not try.

CFU

Which is an example of a character’s motive? How do you know?

Which is an example of a character’s action? How do you know?

A Gilbert did jobs around the house to earn some money.

B Gilbert wanted to buy a new video game.

In your own words, what is an action? An action is ______.

In your own words, what is a motive? A motive is ______.


Importance

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.

A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.

It is important to contrast the motives and actions of characters because:

1.  contrasting the motives and actions of characters will help you understand why characters behave the way they do.

While walking to school, Sheila and Miranda saw a lost puppy. Sheila wanted to find the puppy’s owner. Sheila thought she and her friends could make posters and put them up around the neighborhood. Miranda wanted to sell the puppy. So they took the puppy to school. Miranda tried to sell the puppy but no one wanted to buy it. Everyone thought that Sheila was right, and she should find the owner of the puppy.
75 words

2.  contrasting the motives and actions of characters will help you do well on tests.

CFU

Does anyone else have another reason why it is important to contrast the motives and actions of characters? (pair-share) Why is it important to contrast the motives and actions of characters? You may give me one of my reasons or one of your own. Which reason is more important to you? Why?


Skill Development/Guided Practice

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.

A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.

Contrast the motives and actions of characters.

Step #1: Read the text carefully.
Step #2: Identify each character’s motive. (circle and write in organizer) Hint: Look for what the characters want or don’t want.
Step #3: Identify each character’s actions. (underline and write in organizer)
Step #4: Determine the outcome. (write in organizer)
Step #5: Contrast the characters motives. (circle the answer)
1. A dog, wanting to go home, was walking down a path. 2. Suddenly, a cat, who wanted to scare the dog, jumped out onto the path. 3. This scared the dog, so he turned around and started walking away.
4. “But,” he thought, “the path was the only way for me to get home.” 5. So he started down the path again.
6. The cat hissed at the dog and arched his back, as cats do, so the dog turned again to walk away.
7. But, the dog was worried that he may never get home. 8. This time he was determined to get past the cat. 9. The dog barked at the cat. 10. Laughing, the cat told the dog he could cross, so the dog continued on his way home. 123 words
The dog / Character Action #1 / Character Action #2 / Character Action #3 / Outcome
Motive:
The cat
Motive:
How are the dog and cat different?
A The dog is afraid of everything; the cat is mean.
B The dog is very brave; the cat is afraid of everything.
C The dog is confused; the cat is worried about getting home.
D The dog is very helpful to people; the cat likes to scare people.

CFU

How did I identify the character’s motive? How did I identify the character’s action? How did I determine the outcome? How did you identify the character’s motive? How did you identify the character’s action? How did you determine the outcome? How did I contrast the character’s motives?
Skill Development/Guided Practice (continued)

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.

A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.

Contrast the motives and actions of characters.

Step #1: Read the text carefully.
Step #2: Identify each character’s motive. (circle and write in organizer) Hint: Look for what the characters want or don’t want.
Step #3: Identify each character’s actions. (underline and write in organizer)
Step #4: Determine the outcome. (write in organizer)
Step #5: Contrast the characters motives. (circle the answer)
1. Grandpa wanted to take his grandson Peter fishing. 2. Peter had been looking forward to fishing with his grandpa all week. 3. Peter put a worm on his hook then cast out his line. 4. Grandpa put a worm on his own hook and cast out his line. 5. Grandpa said, “Now we just wait.” 6. Peter was getting bored because he didn’t like waiting. 7. So he reeled in his line and then threw it out again. 8. Grandpa, on the other hand, patiently left his line in the water. 9. Suddenly, Peter felt a tug on his line and he yelled to Grandpa, “I think I caught a fish!” 10. Grandpa ran over to help Peter. 11. He told Peter to bring it in slowly so the fish wouldn’t get away. 12. Peter began reeling it in but the fish fought back. 13. So, Grandpa had to help him. 14. It took both Grandpa and Peter to reel in the fish because it was huge! 15. After that, Peter decided he liked fishing and joined his grandpa often.
165 words
Grandpa / Character Action #1 / Character Action #2 / Character Action #3 / Outcome
Motive:
Peter
Motive:
How are Grandpa and Peter different?
A Grandpa likes to play games; Peter likes to fish.
B Grandpa likes to spend time with Peter; Peter thinks of other’s feelings first.
C Grandpa is patient; Peter doesn’t like waiting.
D Grandpa is selfish; Peter is caring.

CFU

How did I identify the character’s motive? How did I identify the character’s action? How did I determine the outcome? How did you identify the character’s motive? How did you identify the character’s action? How did you determine the outcome? How did you contrast the character’s motives?

Closure
A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.
·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.
A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.
1. Contrast the motives and actions of characters below.
2. In your own words, what is a motive?
Step #1: Read the text carefully.
Step #2: Identify each character’s motive. (circle and write in organizer) Hint: Look for what the characters want or don’t want.
Step #3: Identify each character’s actions. (underline and write in organizer)
Step #4: Determine the outcome. (write in organizer)
Step #5: Contrast the characters motives. (circle the answer)
1. Sadie, the dog, wanted her peanut butter treat. 2. But, her owner wanted her to do some tricks before she could have the peanut butter. 3. Sadie’s owner told her to sit, so Sadie sat. 4. Then, her owner told her to give him a high-five, so Sadie gave him a high-five. 5. Sadie thought that she was going to get her peanut butter now. 6. However, her owner asked her to do one more trick. 7. “Speak, Sadie,” said her owner, so Sadie said, “Can I have my treat now?” 8. Her owner gave her a treat! 91 words
Sadie / Character Action #1 / Character Action #2 / Character Action #3 / Outcome
Motive:
Sadie’s Owner
Motive:
How are Sadie and her owner different?
A Sadie is only thinking of peanut butter; the owner is thinking of treats.
B Sadie dreams of peanut butter; the owner dreams of doing tricks.
C Sadie is not very smart; the owner is disappointed.
D Sadie is a smart dog and can do tricks; the owner thinks Sadie should work for her
treats.
What did you learn today about contrasting the motives and actions of characters?
Day 1 ______
______
Day 2 ______
______


Independent Practice Name ______

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.

A character’s actions are what they do to get what they want or don’t want.

Contrast the motives and actions of characters.

Step #1: Read the text carefully.
Step #2: Identify each character’s motive. (circle and write in organizer) Hint: Look for what the characters want or don’t want.
Step #3: Identify each character’s actions. (underline and write in organizer)
Step #4: Determine the outcome. (write in organizer)
Step #5: Contrast the characters motives. (circle the answer)
1. A cat, wanting to find food, walked into an abandoned house. 2. Meanwhile, a mouse, wanting to make a warm bed for her babies, was collecting stuff for bedding when she noticed the cat. 3. The cat, who was weak from hunger, asked the mouse, “What are you doing?” 4. “I am collecting things to make a warm bed for my babies,” replied the mouse. 5. “Would you be so kind as to let me have some of your fur?” asked the mouse. 6. The cat, only thinking of how hungry he was, said to the mouse, “I will let you have some of my fur if you find me food. 7. I am very hungry but too weak to hunt.” 8. The mouse agreed. 9. The mouse told the cat to walk in front of her and she would guide him to the food. 10. The mouse, thinking only of taking some of the cat’s fur, led the cat outside. 11. As soon as the cat was through the door, the mouse grabbed some fur from the cat’s tail and ran! 12. The cat tried to run after the mouse, but did not have the energy to chase her. 189 words
Cat / Character Action #1 / Character Action #2 / Character Action #3 / Outcome
Motive:
Mouse
Motive:
How are Cat and Mouse different?
A Cat was selfish; mouse was caring.
B Cat was trying to survive; Mouse was dishonest so she could get what she wanted.
C Cat was dishonest; Mouse was dishonest.
D Cat did not like Mouse; Mouse liked Cat.

Independent Practice (continued)

A character’s motive is what they want or don’t want in a story.

·  The motive of a character causes the character’s action to achieve an outcome.