Character Portraits Across Borders

Students meet their partner class by video, introduce themselves, and share one character idea each from their own lives. Pairs talk about what inspired their characters and what they are curious about in each other's communities.

Students use a writer's notebook to observe people and places around them, then write a short character sketch drawn from those sources. They note which traits, habits, and beliefs came from their culture and which came from personal experience.

Students share their character sketches with the partner class through a shared board and give each other written feedback. Together they compare the sources used on both sides and list similarities and differences in how characters are shaped by culture.

Students run a short survey in their own community about what shapes people's personalities, then discuss the results in a reflection forum with the partner class. They revise their character portraits using these new perspectives and empathy.

Students present their final character portraits to the partner class by video and explain how culture and community shaped them. Both classes end with a joint reflection on what they learned about intercultural communication and empathy.