Description
Have your students dive into “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes with Character Collabs, a fun, engaging, and collaborative character analysis project that brings this powerful short story to life. This resource also supports alternate spellings of the title, including “Thank You Ma'am.”
In this activity, students analyze Mrs. Jones and Roger using multiple methods of characterization to explore personality traits, motivations, choices, and personal growth. Through close reading, inference, and textual evidence, students develop a deeper understanding of Hughes’s themes of compassion, trust, responsibility, and the impact of kindness.
Students present their analysis on a collaborative poster, transforming literary analysis into a creative and memorable experience. This hands-on approach boosts comprehension and retention while strengthening critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. The completed posters also serve as meaningful classroom displays that reinforce character development and theme.
Everything you need for smooth implementation is included, featuring a comprehensive teacher guide, clear student directions, a holistic rubric, and a brainstorm character analysis worksheet to support thoughtful planning. You’ll also receive blank coloring pages for each character, answer keys, an example of a completed project, and digitally colored sample posters for every character. Editable versions of the directions, rubric, and brainstorm worksheet are provided for easy customization.
Each poster is made up of six pieces of paper that can be printed on standard copy paper or cardstock and assembled into a final display measuring 28” x 15” once completed.
Perfect for middle school and high school ELA, this Thank You, Ma’am character analysis project transforms Langston Hughes’s timeless story into an engaging, collaborative learning experience students won’t forget.