Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 3

Developing a character profile for Lila from 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'

I can create a character profile for the protagonist Lila.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 3

Developing a character profile for Lila from 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'

I can create a character profile for the protagonist Lila.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The protagonist is a main character or central figure in a story or narrative.
  2. Lila is the protagonist in the story 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'.
  3. Character development builds a unique character with depth, personality and motivations that the reader can connect to.
  4. We can identify Lila's character traits by exploring her experiences and interactions and making inferences.
  5. Lila displays a range of character traits such as resilience, determination and courage.

Common misconception

Children may find it difficult to understand the nuanced difference between feelings and character traits.

Distinguish between a temporary feeling and a character trait. Explain that feelings become character traits if they are persistently displayed. E.g. Lila does not always feel frustrated but she has always shown determination.

Keywords

  • Protagonist - a main character or central figure in a story or narrative

  • Character development - the process of building a unique character with depth, personality and clear motivations

  • Character traits - the special qualities that make a character in a story unique or interesting

  • Role on the wall - a character analysis activity which encourages readers to infer

Create a shared role on the wall at the beginning of the lesson or allow children to do the activity in groups to share ideas and build Lila's character profile.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 2018 Penguin Random House UK edition of ‘The Firework Maker's Daughter' by Philip Pullman for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Who is the protagonist in 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter'?
Correct answer: Lila
Lalchand
the King
Hamlet
Chulak
Q2.
Which relationship is central to the plot of the story?
Chulak and Hamlet's relationship
Chulak and Lila's relationship
Correct answer: Lila and Lalchand's relationship
Chulak and Lalchand's relationship
Q3.
Why does Lalchan think that it is inappropriate for Lila to be a firework-maker?
He thinks she is not talented enough.
Correct answer: He has traditional views on the role a girl should play.
He is afraid of fire.
Q4.
How did Lila feel when she discovered her father had shared the secret to firework-making with Chulak instead of with her?
relieved
Correct answer: furious
Correct answer: betrayed
happy
Q5.
True or false? Lila respected her father's wishes about her future.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Select the true statements about Lila.
Correct answer: She defied her father in pursuit of her dream.
She gave up on her dreams.
Correct answer: She challenged stereotypes of the role girls should play.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
How do you identify the protagonist in a story?
It is the oldest character.
It is the character with the most power.
Correct answer: It is the character who drives the action and is the central figure.
It is the character that is first introduced.
Q2.
What does character development mean?
It is a description of a character's appearance.
Correct answer: It is the process of building a unique character with depth and personality.
It is how a character's story ends.
Q3.
What is a character trait?
a character's opinions
Correct answer: the special qualities that make a character unique
what a character looks like
Q4.
How do we identify a character's traits?
Correct answer: exploring a character's actions and what they say
retrieving the exact traits from the text
guessing
Q5.
Which character traits can we infer about Lila from her love of learning about fireworks?
unmotivated
Correct answer: curious
Correct answer: enthusiastic
lazy
Correct answer: creative
Q6.
Which character traits can we infer about Lila from her defiance of her father in pursuit of her dreams?
Correct answer: determined
Correct answer: strong-willed
timid
nervous