Creating Characters – KS2 Writing Features Challenge Mat Worksheets

This set of worksheets allows Key Stage 2 children to think about how to create strong, convincing characters.

Each task – understand, explain, challenge, test, apply – explores how ‘showing’, not telling, what a character is like can add impact to their writing; enlarging pupils’ understanding of what character description involves.

Perfect for home learning to develop creative writing in KS2, as an exercise before an independent writing task, and as a way to challenge more able learners in lower year groups, the worksheets are bright and engaging, using eye-catching images to fire children’s imaginations, and giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in creative writing activities.

What is included in this KS2 primary resource?

• Understand
  Read the sentences, then think about and write down what you are being shown about the character in each
• Challenge
  Rewrite each of the sentences so that they include an action which ‘shows’ what the character is like instead of telling us, then write what you think each of the characters pictured are like
• Test
  Read the text and think about what you are being ‘shown’ about each character. Then complete the table with three points about one of them
• Apply
  Think of a story which could involve three or more of the characters pictured. Are they friends? Do they get along? Have they chosen to spend time with each other or are they trapped together?

National Curriculum English programme of study links

• To discuss words and phrases that catch the reader’s interest
• To plan their writing by discussing writing similar to that which they are planning to write In order to learn and understand from its structure, vocabulary and grammar
• To draft and write by… creating characters…

This resource is part of the Effective Writing collection.
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