Cultivating Empathy through Character Analysis

Abstract

My objective is to create a curriculum for 4th grade, but one that can be easily adjusted to accommodate all grades and levels of literary understanding: a curriculum that identifies virtues, and makes text connections that facilitates empathy (putting yourself in the character’s shoes) for the characters of the story by means of character analysis. I will be using the book Core Empathy: Literacy Instruction with a Greater Purpose by Christie McLean and Mary Knight to guide me as well as incorporating the Diné Character Building and Culture Standards to create an inclusive roadmap to connecting with children’s literature.