Understanding Characters and Their Points of View
Understanding Characters and Their Points of View Objective: Students will be able to describe in depth a character, drawing on specific details in a text, and explain how the character’s point of view influences their actions and the story.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and describe a character using details from the story.
- Explain how a character’s point of view affects their actions.
- Use text details to support answers about characters.
Materials Needed
- A short story or book appropriate for 4th grade (examples: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B. White or a chosen short story)
- Paper and pencils
- Character chart worksheet
- Crayons or colored pencils
Key Vocabulary
- Character
- A person, animal, or figure in a story who takes part in the action.
- Point of View
- The way a character sees or thinks about what is happening in the story.
- Details
- Specific pieces of information from the story that help us understand characters and events.
Detailed Activities
Reading and Character Exploration
- Read the selected short story aloud together with your child, pausing to discuss important parts of the story.
- Ask your child to name the main character and share what they notice about them.
- Use the character chart worksheet to list details about the character’s feelings, actions, and thoughts.
Understanding Point of View
- Explain what point of view means using simple examples, such as how different people might feel or think about the same event.
- Ask your child how the main character might feel in a certain part of the story and why.
- Discuss how the character’s feelings and thoughts influence what they do next in the story.
Drawing and Writing About the Character
- Have your child draw a picture of the main character based on what they imagine from the story.
- Encourage your child to write a few sentences describing the character’s point of view using details from the story.
- Review the drawing and writing together, praising their use of story details.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson helps children think deeply about characters, improving comprehension and empathy.
- Encourage open-ended discussions about feelings and thoughts to help your child connect with the story.
- Keep the reading sessions interactive and fun to maintain your child’s interest.
Assessment Questions
- Who is the main character in the story?
- What are three things you learned about this character?
- How does the character feel in the story? What makes you think that?
- Why do you think the character acted the way they did?
Extension Ideas
- Read a different story and compare the main characters’ points of view.
- Create a simple puppet or mask of the character and act out a scene from their point of view.
- Write a short story or diary entry imagining what the character might do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try using real-life examples, like how they might feel differently than a friend about the same event, before connecting it to the story.
Pick a story with clear characters and simple emotions that your child enjoys. Short stories or picture books are great for this purpose.
Encourage drawing or verbal storytelling as alternatives, gradually supporting writing as they gain confidence.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may confuse the narrator’s point of view with the character’s point of view.
- Students might focus only on physical descriptions rather than feelings or thoughts.
- Some children may have difficulty connecting character details to their actions.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use picture books and focus on one character at a time.
- Provide sentence starters to help with writing.
- Use gestures and drawings to support understanding.
For Advanced Students:
- Ask them to compare two characters’ points of view.
- Encourage writing a short story from the character’s perspective.
- Introduce concepts of first-person and third-person point of view.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 15 minutes reading and discussing the story.
- Use 15 minutes for the character chart and discussion about point of view.
- Use the final 15 minutes for drawing and writing activities.
Standards
- 4.RL.6 — Describe in depth a character, drawing on specific details in a text, and explain how the character’s point of view influences their actions.
Printable Worksheet
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