Evaluate the ability of your learners to recall and retell key details by having them complete a character traits cluster.
The character traits cluster includes seven text boxes to push students to think of more than just one or two single words or short descriptive phrases as they recall and retell details. There is also space for students to add stickers or use the paint tools to create a visual representation of the main character's physical traits.
Students can click each box and type to add the name of the character and text descriptions of what the character looks and acts like. They can use the tools to paint a picture of the character.
Ask students to create a character trait cluster to recall and retell what they have learned from informational text
Students can create character trait clusters to share the traits of a good digital citizen or information they have learned about a person from history, such as George Washington. If your students are studying animals, have them follow the same process to add words and pictures that retell factual details they have learned from their reading.
In addition to collecting descriptive details of what is known, cluster diagrams are often used for brainstorming and ideation. Both of these are great reasons for using a character traits cluster during pre-writing.
Having a cluster diagram filled with information and ideas can make starting that first sentence, or second or third, much easier.