Character Development | Parent Activity

Dear Families,

Your child is learning about character development - how characters in stories change because of what happens to them. This is a key reading skill tested on the Florida FAST assessment. The activities below help you practice this skill using books, movies, and everyday conversations!

Why This Matters for the FAST Test

On the FAST reading test, students are often asked: "How does [character] change from the beginning to the end?" or "What causes [character] to change?" Students need to explain both WHAT changed AND WHY it changed. Practice tracking character changes in everything you read together!

What Is Character Development?

Character development = How a character changes throughout a story because of events that happen.

Characters can change in their:

Feelings: scared → brave, sad → happy
Actions: mean → kind, lazy → hardworking
Beliefs: "I can't do it" → "I can do it!"
Relationships: enemies → friends

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Activity 1: Book Talk Character Tracking

Track characters while reading together

Choose any book you're reading together (picture books work great!).
Before reading: Ask "What do you think the main character will be like?"
During reading: Pause and ask "How is the character feeling now? Why?"
After reading: Discuss "How was the character different at the end than at the beginning?"
Always ask: "What made them change?"

Example with "The Ugly Duckling":
Beginning: The duckling is sad and lonely because others make fun of him.
End: The duckling is happy and confident because he discovered he's a beautiful swan.

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Activity 2: Movie Character Detective

Find character development in films

Pick a family movie with a clear character journey (Disney/Pixar films work well).
At the start, note: "What is the main character like? What do they want? What are they afraid of?"
After the movie, discuss: "How did the character change?"
Identify the KEY MOMENT that caused the biggest change.
Use the sentence: "[Character] changed from ___ to ___ BECAUSE ___."

Example with "Finding Nemo":
Marlin changed from being overprotective and fearful to being brave and trusting BECAUSE he had to cross the ocean to save his son and learned that Nemo was capable.

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Activity 3: Real-Life Character Development

Connect to personal experiences

Share a time YOU changed because of something that happened. (Started a new job, learned a skill, overcame a fear)
Ask your child: "Can you think of a time when you changed?"
Help them describe it: "I used to be ___, but now I'm ___ because ___."
Explain that this is exactly what happens to characters in books!

Child example: "I used to be scared of the dark, but now I'm not afraid because we got a nightlight and I realized nothing bad happens at night."

Questions to Ask While Reading

"How does [character] feel right now? How can you tell?"
"Do you think [character] will change by the end? How?"
"What just happened that might change how [character] thinks or feels?"
"Is [character] the same person at the end as at the beginning? What's different?"
"What did [character] learn? How do you know?"
"What caused [character] to change? Can you point to that part?"

Resumen en Espanol

Desarrollo del personaje: Su hijo esta aprendiendo como los personajes de las historias cambian debido a los eventos que les suceden. Esta es una habilidad de lectura importante que se evalua en el examen FAST de Florida.

Pregunta clave: "Como cambio el personaje desde el principio hasta el final de la historia?"

Actividades en casa:

Mientras leen juntos, pregunten como se siente el personaje y por que.
Despues de ver una pelicula, discutan como cambio el personaje principal.
Conecten con experiencias de la vida real: "¿Cuando has cambiado tu?"

Frase importante: "[Personaje] cambio de ___ a ___ PORQUE ___."

Home Activity: Character Development