Explore Literature with a Character Development Worksheet Pack

Character development sits at the heart of any great story. It’s the process by which characters grow and change throughout a narrative as they face obstacles, make decisions and pursue goals. For elementary students, learning this concept helps them become critical readers and creative writers.

This resource has been designed by our team to help you delve into character development with your students. It includes three carefully crafted passages that follow along from each other, each focusing on one key driver of character growth:

• Motivations – What does the character want and why?
• Challenges – What obstacles stand in their way?
• Choices – How do their decisions shape the outcome?

After reading each text, students answer targeted questions that prompt them to think critically about how these elements influence a character’s actions and development.

This resource downloads as a black-and-white PDF or editable Google Slides file. Answers are also included in the download to make grading quick and easy.

Benefits of This Character Analysis Handout

This versatile resource enables your students to explore how authors create dynamic characters and how they can do the same in their own narrative writing. By completing these worksheets, your student will learn to:

• Identify Motivations – Students will explore what drives a character’s actions and how personal goals influence decisions. This skill helps them understand cause-and-effect relationships in narratives.
• Analyze Challenges – Students will examine the obstacles characters face and how these hurdles create tension and shape growth. This builds comprehension of plot structure and conflict.
• Evaluate Choices – Students will reflect on how decisions impact outcomes and reveal character traits. This fosters critical thinking and prepares students for their own creative writing pursuits.

Download Your Character Development Worksheet PDF

Time to get started with these character development worksheets! Use the Download button above to access the full set of passages, accompanying questions and associated answer pages.

As this resource contains answer pages, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file, then selecting and removing the pages you wish to photocopy for the students.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Resources to Complement This Character Development Worksheet Printable

Interesting character development makes narratives more engaging for the reader. Click below to explore additional resources for teaching this key element to your students.

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