Year 3 English: Use Actions and Dialogue to Understand Characters

Understanding Characters Through Actions and Dialogue

What Does This Mean?

When we read a story, we want to know about the characters. Characters are the people or creatures in the story. We can learn about them by paying attention to two important things: actions and dialogue.

• Actions: These are what the characters do. For example, if a character is running, it might mean they are excited or scared.
• Dialogue: This is what the characters say. For example, if one character says, “I can’t believe we won!” it shows they are happy.

Why Is This Important?

Understanding characters helps us connect with the story. When we know how a character feels, we can enjoy the story even more!

Key Rules to Remember

1. Look for Actions: Notice what the characters do. Their actions can tell us a lot about their feelings.
2. Listen to Dialogue: Pay attention to what characters say. Their words can help us understand their thoughts and emotions.
3. Think About How They Feel: Ask yourself: Why did the character do that? How do they feel when they say those words?

Tips and Tricks

• Use Your Imagination: When you read, picture the characters in your mind. What are they doing? How do they look when they speak?
• Act It Out: Sometimes, it helps to perform the actions or read the dialogue out loud. This can make the characters feel more real.
• Ask Questions: After reading a part of the story, ask yourself questions about the characters. What do they want? What are they afraid of?

Examples

1. Actions: If a character is stomping their feet, they might be angry.
2. Dialogue: If a character says, “I’m so nervous about the test,” we can understand that they are feeling anxious.

Questions to Test Your Understanding

Easy Level Questions

1. What are actions in a story?
2. What do we call what characters say?
3. How can actions tell us how a character feels?
4. What might it mean if a character is smiling?
5. If a character is hiding, how might they feel?
6. What does it mean to “listen to dialogue”?
7. Can we learn about a character just by what they do?
8. What might a character do if they are happy?
9. How can dialogue help us understand a character?
10. What does it mean if a character is running away?
11. If a character whispers, what could that mean?
12. Why is it important to understand characters?
13. What should we ask ourselves about characters?
14. Can you give an example of a happy action?
15. What might a character say if they are scared?
16. How can we picture characters in our mind?
17. What is one way to act out a character’s feelings?
18. Why might a character jump up and down?
19. What does it mean if a character crosses their arms?
20. How can you tell if a character is excited?

Medium Level Questions

1. How do actions and dialogue work together?
2. Can a character’s actions be different from their words?
3. What action might show a character is nervous?
4. Why is dialogue important in a story?
5. How can we tell if a character is lying?
6. What might a character do if they are surprised?
7. Can dialogue change how we see a character?
8. How might a character show they are tired?
9. What is a good way to practice understanding characters?
10. How do we know if a character is brave?
11. What can we learn from a character who is giving a speech?
12. How can you tell if a character is sad by their actions?
13. Why do authors use dialogue?
14. What might a character say if they are excited?
15. How can you tell if a character is scared without dialogue?
16. What actions could show a character is in love?
17. How would a character act if they are confused?
18. What might a character do if they are trying to be funny?
19. How can you tell if a character is upset from their actions?
20. Why might a character shout?

Hard Level Questions

1. How can contrasting actions and dialogue create tension in a story?
2. Why might an author choose to write a character’s dialogue in a certain way?
3. How can we infer a character’s backstory through their actions?
4. What role does body language play in understanding a character?
5. How can a character’s actions foreshadow future events in a story?
6. In what ways can dialogue reveal a character’s personality?
7. How does the setting influence a character’s actions and dialogue?
8. What might you conclude about a character who avoids eye contact?
9. How can a character’s dialogue differ based on who they are talking to?
10. What might a character’s choice of words tell us about their education level?
11. How do characters’ actions change over the course of a story?
12. What does it mean if a character is always helping others?
13. How can a character’s dialogue indicate their mood?
14. What actions might indicate a character is lying?
15. How can we use dialogue to predict what a character might do next?
16. Why might a character act differently in front of friends than alone?
17. What might a character’s repeated actions suggest about their habits?
18. How can a character’s dialogue reveal their fears?
19. In what ways can silence be an action?
20. How do characters’ emotions influence their decisions in stories?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. Actions are what characters do.
2. What characters say is called dialogue.
3. Actions can show us feelings like happiness or anger.
4. Smiling usually means a character is happy.
5. If a character is hiding, they might feel scared.
6. Listening to dialogue means paying attention to what characters say.
7. Yes, we can learn a lot by observing actions.
8. A happy character might dance or laugh.
9. Dialogue helps us understand thoughts and feelings.
10. Running away means a character is scared.
11. Whispering could indicate a character is scared or secretive.
12. Understanding characters helps us connect with the story.
13. We should ask about their feelings and desires.
14. An example of a happy action is jumping up and down.
15. A scared character might say, “Help!” or “I don’t want to!”
16. We can imagine characters by visualising their actions and words.
17. Acting out helps us understand feelings better.
18. Jumping up and down usually shows excitement.
19. Crossing arms might mean a character is angry or defensive.
20. Shouting can show a character is excited or angry.

Medium Level Answers

1. Actions and dialogue together give us a fuller understanding of characters.
2. Yes, characters can say one thing and do another.
3. A nervous character might fidget or bite their nails.
4. Dialogue reveals a character’s inner thoughts and feelings.
5. We can tell if a character is lying by their actions (like avoiding eye contact).
6. A surprised character might gasp or jump back.
7. Dialogue can change our perception of a character’s intentions.
8. A tired character might yawn or move slowly.
9. Practicing with acting or reading aloud can help.
10. A brave character may confront danger or stand tall.
11. A speech can show confidence and authority.
12. A sad character might have slumped shoulders or cry.
13. Authors use dialogue to make characters relatable and real.
14. An excited character might say, “I can’t wait for tomorrow!”
15. A scared character might avoid certain places or people.
16. Actions like blushing or smiling can show love.
17. A confused character might scratch their head or look around.
18. A funny character might tell jokes or act silly.
19. An upset character might cry or slam a door.
20. Shouting indicates strong emotions, either positive or negative.

Hard Level Answers

1. Contrasting actions and dialogue can create suspense or surprise.
2. Authors may use specific dialogue to highlight character traits.
3. Actions can hint at past experiences that shaped a character.
4. Body language, like posture and gestures, conveys emotions.
5. Actions can hint at future decisions or conflicts.
6. Dialogue reflects personality traits like confidence or shyness.
7. Setting can influence how characters behave (e.g., at a party vs. alone).
8. Avoiding eye contact can suggest shame or guilt.
9. Characters may speak differently depending on their relationship.
10. Choice of words can indicate a character’s background or status.
11. Characters may grow or change through their experiences.
12. Helping others can show kindness and generosity.
13. Dialogue can use tone and word choice to show mood.
14. Actions like sweating or looking away can suggest lying.
15. Dialogue can hint at future choices or conflicts.
16. Characters may feel pressure to act differently around friends.
17. Repeated actions suggest routines or habits.
18. Fears can be revealed through dialogue and reactions to situations.
19. Silence can indicate discomfort or deep thinking.
20. Emotions influence decisions, driving characters toward conflict or resolution.

Feel free to use these explanations and questions to help your students understand how actions and dialogue reveal the depth of characters in stories!