Free Character Traits Worksheet: Teach Students to Prove Internal Traits With What Characters Do, Say, and Think
Every teacher has heard it: “The character is determined.” It’s a start, but it doesn’t show that the student understands why we know the character is determined, or how that trait shapes the story.
Word choice matters too. Vague words like “good” or “nice” tell us very little, while precise ones like determined, generous, or impulsive tell us how a character will act. Teaching students to choose a specific trait and then prove it is where character analysis gets interesting.
I made a free character traits worksheet set to help students do exactly that. You can download it below.
The big idea: inner traits drive the story
Characters don’t just have traits. Their traits make them do, say, and think certain things, and those choices move the plot. A cautious character checks the playground equipment before she plays. A caring character brings her doll to school to keep it safe. Once students see that link, they understand characters and stories much more deeply.
That’s why the worksheet asks students to explain what a character did, said, or thought that shows each trait.
What’s in the free resource
1. The worksheet. Students draw a character from their book in the oval, which gets them thinking about external traits. Then they write one inner trait in each of three boxes. For each one, they finish an “I know because…” explanation using details from the book. A completed example from Wemberly Worried is included, so students can see what strong evidence looks like.
2. A character trait list. Common traits are organized into two categories:
How a character treats others (kind, helpful, generous, honest, loyal, and more)
How a character faces challenges and choices (brave, determined, resourceful, cautious, impulsive, and more)
The traits are paired as opposites, such as generous and stingy, so students can compare and choose the most precise word. I didn’t label them positive or negative, because that depends on the story.
3. An editable Canva file so you can adjust the worksheet for your students.
How to use it in your classroom
Here’s a simple lesson sequence you can try:
Model with a read-aloud. Pick a picture book with a character who has clear traits, and fill out one box together as a class.
Sort inner from outer. Have students draw the character in the oval and notice that traits like “tall” or “red hair” are external, while “determined” or “sensitive” are inner.
Practice “I know because.” Students choose a trait from the list and prove it with an action, a line of dialogue, or a thought.
Compare with a partner. Many traits have more than one good example in a book, so partners can share different evidence for the same trait.
Connect to the plot. Ask, “What would change if this character weren’t cautious (or brave, or kind)?” This is where students start to see how traits drive the story.
How character traits can change over time
Some characters stay the same from beginning to end. Others change, and those changes are often the heart of the story. A timid character may become brave, a stubborn one may learn to listen, or a confident one may start to doubt herself.
Characters usually change because of something that happens to them: a mistake, a conflict, a kind act from someone else, or a hard choice. That means the worksheet can show change as well as traits:
Fill it out twice. Have students complete one copy at the beginning of the story and another at the end, using different traits and evidence for each.
Compare the two. Ask, “Which trait changed? Which stayed the same?”
Find the turning point. Have students identify the moment when the character began to change, and explain what caused it.
Use sentence stems:
At the beginning, the character was ______ because ______. By the end, the character became ______ because ______. The turning point was when ______.
This builds on the do/say/think idea: if a character’s actions, words, and thoughts change by the end of a story, it shows students that their inner traits have shifted.
Picture books that work well
Look for characters whose choices clearly reflect who they are. Several of these also show a character changing:
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes: anxious, cautious, caring (the example on the worksheet)
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds: Ramon’s perfectionism makes him stop drawing, and a new way of thinking brings him back
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds: Vashti moves from self-doubt to bravery and generosity
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes: Lilly’s impulsiveness causes both her mistake and her repair
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes: imaginative and sensitive, with her feelings about her name changing during the story
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman: determined and confident
A writing extension: because, but, so
Once students have found evidence, have them write about it with a sentence stem:
Wemberly is cautious because ______.
Wemberly is cautious, but ______.
Wemberly is cautious, so ______.
Each stem asks for a different kind of thinking: the reason, a complication, and the effect on the story.
If you try it with your students, I’d love to hear how it goes. Tag me or send me a link, and I’ll send you a $10 gift certificate to my online store.
Happy teaching!
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