ClassX Video Lessons Grade Grade 2 How to Learn about Characters | Reading Comprehension | Khan Academy Kids
When we read stories, understanding the characters is really important. Let’s explore a story about a crocodile detective named Pac, who helps us find clues about characters.
Sometimes, the author directly tells us about a character. For example, in our story, the author says that the crocodile is scared because his mom went to get lunch. This gives us a clear idea of how the crocodile feels.
Other times, we need to find clues to understand the character better. Detective Pac is here to help us with that! There are three types of clues we can look for:
First, we can look at what the character looks like. In the story, the crocodile has a frown and wide eyes, which makes him look scared.
Next, we can listen to what the character says. The crocodile says, “I wish Mom was back,” which shows us that he misses his mom.
Finally, we can observe what the character does. The crocodile leaps away from a scary bird, showing us that he doesn’t feel very brave without his mom around.
Even if the author doesn’t directly tell us how the crocodile feels, we can figure it out by finding these clues. When the crocodile’s mom comes back, he tells her all about his adventures. He realizes he was braver than he thought!
By looking at these clues, we can learn a lot about characters in stories and enjoy reading even more!
Character Detective Game: Become a detective like Pac! Choose a storybook you have at home. As you read, look for clues about the characters. Use a notebook to draw the character and write down what they look like, what they say, and what they do. Share your findings with a family member or friend and see if they found the same clues!
Act It Out: Pick a scene from the story about the crocodile detective Pac. Pretend to be one of the characters and act out what they might say or do. Think about how they might feel in that moment. Ask a friend or family member to guess which character you are and what clues helped them figure it out.
Character Feelings Chart: Create a chart with three columns labeled “Looks Like,” “Says,” and “Does.” As you read a new story, fill in the chart with clues about a character’s feelings. Discuss with a parent or teacher how these clues help you understand the character better. Can you think of a time you felt the same way as the character?
