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!

Survival!

When Aiden asked me to accompany him on a camping trip to the mountains, I envisioned a log cabin with a crackling fireplace, hot cocoa, and bunk beds. Imagine how my rustic, yet comfortable image of camping became a nightmare when Aiden and his older brother, Lebron, showed up with…

Alexander and the Jewels

Alexander pushed with all his might against a huge stone. “I saw a wizard put jewels behind the stone. If we can move it, they’ll be ours. We’ll be rich.” “It’s too heavy for us to move,” said Raja. He leaned against the rock and wiped his forehead. “We can…

Emma’s Big Game

Emma was very excited. Today was the championship baseball game! The winners would all get trophies and be the number one players in the town. Emma was determined to bring home a trophy to put on her shelf. She had never won a trophy before. She put on her red…

Goldfish Hide and Seek

Today was the school carnival. Jimmy was excited. He wanted to win a prize at the game table. Jimmy stepped up to the first booth. “Hello, there!” called Mr. Ames. Mr. Ames was the school music teacher. “Would you like to try my game? Just toss a small ball into one…

Literary Lessons

In “Little Women,” readers follow the four March sisters as they grow up through the Civil War. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are quite different from each other, but love each other dearly. As this passage starts, Meg is now married, Beth has recovered from a serious illness, Amy is…

Charlie Meets His Match

A chipmunk twitched his tail as he lay hidden deep under the fallen leaves. It was cold outside, wintertime was approaching, but he was snug in his den in the woods, tucked underground beneath a fallen log and covered by a crunchy carpet of faded autumn leaves. Charlie had a…

Lost in New York

Owen stepped out of the yellow taxi cab and looked up. All around were the tallest buildings he had ever seen.  “Those are called skyscrapers, Owen,” said Dad. “Welcome to New York!” Dad took Owen’s hand and led him through a glass door. The man at the desk gave Dad…

The Laurence Boy

Little Women is the story of four sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March; during the Civil War. While once the March family had a good deal of money, the family has fallen onto hard times. The wealthy Mr. Laurence and his grandson live next door to the March family.…

Pygmalion: Henry and Eliza

George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion was the basis for the famous musical My Fair Lady. First performed in 1913, Pygmalion is the story of Eliza Doolittle, a poor and unsophisticated flower seller on the streets of London, who wants to learn to speak “like a lady.” In this passage from…

Radio Station Contest

Alexis and Zoe were sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. They were having a hard time concentrating on their assignment because the radio station was playing music from their favourite band, the Shape Shifters.  “I can’t believe the Shifters are going to be playing here and we can’t go!”…