What a Character Wants, and What Gets in the Way
The question that turns reading a story into understanding one.
The goal
By the end, Theo will be able to identify a character's main want or goal in a story and explain what obstacle stands in the way, using specific details from the text.
How to teach it, step by step
- 1
Read this together: “The Big Jump”
Marcus stared at the ramp at the end of the empty parking lot. It was taller than any he had tried before, at least four feet high at the top. His heart thumped like a drum in his chest.
For weeks he had practiced smaller jumps on his skateboard. He could clear two feet without thinking. But this ramp looked like it belonged in one of those pro videos he watched online. Marcus wanted one thing more than anything: to land the jump cleanly, roll away smooth, and finally feel like a real skateboarder instead of a beginner.
He pushed off, wheels clicking on the cracked pavement. Wind rushed past his ears. Then he saw the crack, a jagged line running right across the middle of his path. If he hit it at the wrong angle, the board would stop dead and he would go flying. Marcus swallowed hard. The ramp was so close now. Could he swerve around the crack without losing speed? Or should he bail out and try again another day?
He had to decide in the next two seconds.
- 2
Explain the idea
Every good story has a character who wants something. That want is the character's goal or motivation. It can be as simple as wanting to win a race or as big as wanting to feel brave.
What gets in the way is the obstacle. It might be another person, a problem in the world around them, or even something inside the character like fear. The tension between the want and the obstacle is what makes the story exciting.
Let's look at our passage. Marcus wants to land the big jump on his skateboard and feel like a real pro. The obstacle is the crack in the pavement that could wreck his jump, plus his own fear that he might not be ready. Those two things push against each other and keep us wondering what he will do next.
- 3
Sit together in a cozy spot. Read the passage "The Big Jump" out loud to Theo, or take turns reading paragraphs if he wants to join in. Read with some energy so the ramp and the crack feel real.
- 4
After the reading, ask Theo what he thinks Marcus wants most in the story. Listen to his answer, then point out the exact lines that show the goal: "He wanted one thing more than anything: to land the jump cleanly, roll away smooth, and finally feel like a real skateboarder."
- 5
Next ask what stands in Marcus's way. Talk about both the crack in the pavement and his own nervousness. Show how these obstacles make the story more interesting because now we don't know if he will succeed.
- 6
Explain that almost every story works this way: a character has a clear want, something blocks it, and the plot grows out of how the character tries to get past the obstacle. Give a quick everyday example: a soccer player wants to score the winning goal but the goalie keeps blocking the shots.
- 7
Have Theo think of one simple want from his own life, like wanting to draw a perfect comic page, and name one thing that sometimes gets in the way, like running out of time or not knowing how to draw a certain pose. Keep it light and fun.
- 8
Do this together
Turn the passage into a quick two-column chart on a piece of paper. On the left write "What Marcus Wants" and on the right write "What Gets in the Way." Together fill in the chart with short phrases pulled straight from the story. Then draw a simple skateboard next to the chart, or add a speech bubble that says what Marcus might be thinking right before he hits the crack. The drawing should take only a couple of minutes and help him remember the ideas.
teaching tip ✦
If Theo has trouble naming the obstacle, reread the last two paragraphs together and ask him to picture what could go wrong. If he races ahead and wants to write a whole new ending, let him add one or two sentences after the chart so he stays excited for tomorrow's lesson.
Printable worksheet
What the Character Wants
5 problems · answer key included
this took Arbor about a minute
Your child’s year, written like this
Theoisn’t real. Arbor writes these for your kid: their name, what they love, and where they actually are in each subject.