Exploring Character Development in Petey

Exploring Character Development in Petey

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to analyze and understand the character development in the novel Petey by Ben Mikaelsen.

Introduce the learning objective to the students and explain what they will be able to do by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about
character development in novels?

Introduction to Petey

Petey is a novel written by Ben Mikaelson. It tells the story of a young boy named Petey, who has cerebral palsy, and his journey towards self-discovery and acceptance.

Provide a brief overview of the novel Petey and its main themes to set the context for character development.

What is Character Development?

Character development refers to the process of how a character changes, grows, and evolves throughout a story. It involves exploring their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and actions.

Explain the concept of character development and emphasize its importance in understanding the story.

Petey's Initial Traits

At the beginning of the novel, Petey is portrayed as shy, isolated, and lacking self-confidence. He struggles to communicate and interact with others due to his physical limitations.

Describe Petey's initial traits and highlight the challenges he faces at the start of the story.

Key Events in Petey's Journey

Throughout the novel, Petey experiences several key events that shape his character. These events include meeting his teacher Mr. Giovanitti, making friends, and discovering his talent for painting.

Discuss the important events in Petey's journey and how they contribute to his character development.

Changes in Petey's Personality

As the story progresses, Petey becomes more confident, expressive, and resilient. He learns to overcome his physical limitations and embraces his unique abilities.

Explain the changes in Petey's personality and highlight the positive traits he develops over time.

Impact of Other Characters

The interactions and relationships Petey forms with other characters in the novel have a significant impact on his character development. They provide support, guidance, and friendship.

Discuss the influence of other characters on Petey's growth and how their relationships contribute to his development.

Reflection and Analysis

Take a moment to reflect on Petey's character development throughout the novel. Consider the challenges he faced, the changes he underwent, and how his experiences shaped him as a person.

Engage the students in a discussion about Petey's character development and encourage them to analyze the factors that influenced his growth.

Conclusion

Character development is a crucial aspect of storytelling, as it allows readers to connect with and understand the journey of the protagonist. Petey's transformation serves as an inspiration for embracing one's true self.

Summarize the importance of character development in storytelling and highlight the significance of Petey's transformation.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.