Character Traits

Character traits are a description of a character’s personality. These are revealed to a reader either by the narrator, by other characters, or through deeds. An evaluation of character traits helps a reader predict and understand the motives and actions of the character. Helpful resource: What are character traits? Check out our character traits anchor chart resources too!

The Crocodile and the Fly

Crocodile was the biggest animal in the swamp. He spent most of his time in the cool, shady parts of a green pool. When he was hungry, he slithered into the sunshine towards the drinking hole where all the animals gathered to sip the clear water on hot days. Crocodile was…

The Robin and the Cardinal

One April day, after a long, soaking rain, Cardinal poked his head out from under the evergreen branches to see if he would get wet or stay dry. When he didn’t feel any drips, he hopped down to the ground, using the tree branches like a spiral staircase. Cardinal ordinarily…

The Bumblebee

One day, Ella opened her back door and looked out. She wanted to go to play outside, but there was a large bumblebee flying around. He was bigger than her thumb, and very fuzzy. She could hear the humming of his wings as he made large figure-eights across the patio. Carefully,…

The Big Mistake

Jeremy likes to help his family with chores. He spends time playing with his baby sister while Mom cooks dinner. After supper, he dries the dishes for Dad. But Jeremy’s favorite job is feeding Fletch. Fletch is the family cat. He is brown and black, with tiger stripes across his back.…

The Diving Board

Katie was six years old. She was part of a big family. She lived with her mom, dad and three older brothers. Her older brothers all played sports. They rode their bikes around town. Katie wanted to be just like them when she got bigger. One summer day, the boys…

The New Girl at School

One morning Eric’s teacher began the day with an announcement. “Today we have a new student joining our class,” she said. “Please welcome Akiko to second grade and to America.” Everyone said hello. Akiko smiled and looked down at the floor. “Akiko is from Japan. She is still learning English, and…

The Day the Earth Shook

Every night, Caroline ate dinner with her mom, dad, and older brother Graham. When they sat at the table, they each told a story about their day at work or school. Then they each told about something new they had learned that day. Sometimes the stories were serious, and other…

The Surprise Job

Tiegan always liked to sing. Her earliest memories all have songs in them. Tiegan liked to sing in the bath tub when she was getting ready for bed, and she liked to sing in the morning while she walked to school. Sometimes, though, Tiegan’s family liked the house to be quiet.…

Mary Chesnut: The Firing on Ft. Sumter

Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut (1823-1886) was a prominent woman from South Carolina. Her husband, James Chesnut, was a U.S. Senator before the Civil War. Well-educated, intelligent, and well-connected, Mary understood, as the Civil War began, she had a front row seat to a historic moment in history. She began recording…

Pansy Takes a Trip

Anika pulled her wheeled suitcase behind her as she followed her parents through the airport. She looked all around her in the huge building that seemed to be filled with thousands of people. It was going to be her first time on an airplane. She was very excited, and maybe…