Character trait wheel

40 traits

About this wheel

Spin the wheel to pick one of 40 character traits for a story, a drama game or a writing lesson. The list has 14 positive traits such as brave and curious, 13 negative ones such as bossy and forgetful, and 13 neutral ones such as shy and playful.

Spin twice or three times to build a random character: one spin for a main trait, another for a flaw, and a third for a quirk. Writers can then give that character a name, a problem and a place to live. In drama, each student spins a trait and acts out ordering a snack or waiting for a bus, while the class guesses the word.

The mode is Allow repeats, so the same trait can come up again. Choose Everyone once to give each student in a group a different trait. Use Fullscreen to show the wheel on the board, and press the Space bar to spin.

All 40 character traits

Positive

  1. Brave
  2. Kind
  3. Curious
  4. Honest
  5. Generous
  6. Loyal
  7. Patient
  8. Cheerful
  9. Clever
  10. Creative
  11. Determined
  12. Polite
  13. Helpful
  14. Thoughtful

Negative

  1. Grumpy
  2. Bossy
  3. Stubborn
  4. Forgetful
  5. Impatient
  6. Jealous
  7. Careless
  8. Greedy
  9. Sneaky
  10. Nosy
  11. Boastful
  12. Fussy
  13. Moody

Neutral

  1. Shy
  2. Quiet
  3. Energetic
  4. Dreamy
  5. Serious
  6. Talkative
  7. Daring
  8. Playful
  9. Cautious
  10. Independent
  11. Dramatic
  12. Competitive
  13. Adventurous

Questions

How do I build a random character?

Spin three times: once for a positive trait, once for a negative trait and once for a neutral trait. Then write a short paragraph about a character with all three.

Can I use only positive traits?

Yes. Delete the 13 negative and 13 neutral lines from the list box and the wheel keeps the 14 positive traits. Useful for a kindness or character-education lesson.

How can students show a trait in drama?

Give each student a spin, then they act out a simple scene such as lining up for lunch in that trait without saying the word. The class guesses it in 3 tries.

Can I add traits from our novel?

Yes. Type one trait per line in the list box, for example a word from your class novel such as "Resourceful". Save to My Wheels keeps your edited list in this browser.