Teaching Characterization With The Most Magnificent Thing

In preparing for the beginning of the year, picture books teach multiple skills in helping students adjust to school and learning new reading skills. In this post, you'll learn how to use Pic Collage Kids (PicKids) in teaching Characterization With The Most Magnificent Thing. Plus, I have a freebie you can download.

I have chosen a book that's perfect to read at the beginning of the year. It's also and excellent choice for teaching characterization and Growth Mindset. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is a precious book about a young girl and her best friend, who happens to be her dog.

She decides to make the MOST magnificent thing! The little girl knows how it will look and how it will work. Now, she has to make it, which she thinks will be easy-peasy. It was anything but easy as she tries over and over again to make her magnificent thing. Throughout the book, the reader will learn about the little girl's character - thus making this a great way to teach character traits.

Teaching Characterization

As you read The Most Magnificent Thing, discuss traits of the little girl. Character traits may not be word by word descriptions.

• Character traits are different from physical traits.
• Character traits can be determined by what the character says and actions throughout the story. 
• Character traits can be inferred from reading the text.
• Character traits can even change throughout the book.

PicCollage Kids

With PicCollage Kids (PicKids), students can select images that display character traits of the little girl and label each image with the trait. Follow these steps to complete the activity.

• After opening the PicKids app, students will select the "grid" layout.
• Then, select the 4 frame layout.
• One option is to take your own photos from the book and select from the camera roll, or select web search.

• If you select "web search", type "The Most Magnificent Thing."
• Select 4 images for your collage.
• Adjust the size of the images with your fingers so they fit well in the frames.

• Click on the + and select "Effects" and "Frames". Choose a frame for your image and any other effects to improve the look.
• Click on the + and select "Text". Type your character trait and then select the font, color, and adjust the size.
• Below is a video tutorial in using PicCollage Kids.

Below is a finished product. If you wish, you can even change the background color. Save the completed activity on the camera roll, or select other ways to save or send. You can even have your students write sentences using the character traits.

Click on the image below for more additional FREE activities for Teaching Characterization With The Most Magnificent Thing.

If you want your students to have a list of character traits available for future activities, click on the image below.