Inside and Outside Traits

Grade level

Grades 2–5

Time

About 15 minutes

Topic

Creating characters

Answer key

Yes, page 2 of the PDF

Kids practice

Inventing a character, Inside and outside traits, Changing walk and voice for a role, Answering questions in character

What kids do

Printed on the sheet:

1. Outside traits are what you can see: how a character looks and what they wear. Inside traits are how a character acts, thinks and feels. Actors need both!
2. Write each trait under Outside or Inside.
3. Outside traits (how they look)
4. Inside traits (how they act and feel)
5. Your turn: a character you would like to play

Words on this sheet

Traitstallbravecurly hairkindshygreen scalesbossygrumpycurious

Teacher tip

Have kids ask “Can I see it?” for each trait. If you can see it, like curly hair, it is an outside trait. If not, like shy, it is inside.

How to use it

• Have kids walk across the room as their character before they write.
• Keep finished characters for the scripts and storyboard sheets.
• Read the box at the top of the sheet together, then try the first item out loud as a class.

Watch for

Characters with only outside traits. Ask how they act and feel.

Talk about it

• Which trait is hardest to show on stage?
• How did the audience know how your character felt?

Take it further

Have two characters from different kids meet in a short improv scene.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.