getting to know our characters. {ie Pigeon's funny expressions}

As we delve deeper into character studies, we looked at facial expressions this week. {CC K.RL.3} I started by reading a few books on feelings and having my kids practice making each expression as they came up in the story. {It was hard for them to keep angry or sad faces while looking around at each other on the carpet and trying not to laugh!}  Two great options to lead your mini-lesson on expression are Today I Feel Silly and The Way I Feel.

Then we made an anchor chart of some of the expressions we read about.  I drew the heads and let my kids draw the expressions.  It helped to make the faces again so they kids had a good idea of what to draw.  ;)

And who better to help us read expressions than our emotional friend Pigeon?!  We had so much fun with this Mo Willems character, reading a different book each day to practice telling how he felt.  {I also got to introduce body language because Pigeon is just so animated!}

After practicing looking for character expressions in our book bins, we created this Pigeon bubble map to show some of his various expressions and the feelings they conveyed.  How great did my little illustrators do?!

Thanks to The Kinder Cupboard for their blank Thinking Maps!  Here's a copy for you.

After even more practice - and explaining our characters' feelings to a partner - we talked about how their feelings can change throughout a story.  Focusing mainly on Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! the kids got to choose 3 expressions for Pigeon and explain why he was having those feelings at each stage of the story.  Again...so much more fabulous than I expected!!  What was meant to be a quick skill practice is turning into the makings of a super cute bulletin board!  :)

And here's another download for you!

Remember to enter the Origami Owl giveaway for some new fabulous jewelry too!  Enjoy your week friends!  :)