Portraits of the Creightons

This character analysis worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6 and 7 to strengthen close reading, evidence-based reasoning, and understanding of character development through Across Five Aprils. Learners examine four key members of the Creighton family by selecting two defining traits for each character, supporting those traits with quoted or paraphrased text evidence, and explaining how these details reveal inner struggle, growth, or motivation during the Civil War.

Learning Goals

• Character Analysis Using Text Evidence (Grades 6-7)
  Students identify meaningful character traits and justify them with details from the novel.
• Understanding Motivation & Growth
  Learners analyze how experiences of war shape characters’ choices, beliefs, and development.
• Close Reading & Interpretation
  Activities require careful attention to actions, dialogue, and narrative description.
• Clear, Concise Literary Writing
  Students practice explaining ideas coherently while staying focused on evidence.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA and historical fiction standards.
• Structured, Visual Layout
  Organized sections help students clearly separate traits, evidence, and explanation.
• Supports Differentiation
  Allows flexibility in trait selection while maintaining rigorous evidence requirements.
• Builds Analytical Confidence
  Helps students move from general impressions to precise, supported analysis.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for literature units, character studies, assessment prep, or discussion support.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Portraits of the Creightons worksheet helps students deepen their understanding of Across Five Aprils by focusing on how individual characters respond to conflict and change. By selecting traits, citing evidence, and explaining significance, learners strengthen literary analysis skills and gain insight into character motivation and growth. Whether used as a core activity or a review tool, this printable resource provides meaningful practice in character-focused textual analysis.

This worksheet is part of our Across Five Aprils collection.