Understanding Characters’ Perspectives in Stories
Understanding Characters’ Perspectives in Stories Objective: Students will be able to describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described in a story by reading a short story and discussing the narrator’s perspective.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the narrator or speaker in a story.
- Explain how the story changes based on who is telling it.
- Describe how the narrator’s feelings or thoughts affect the story.
Materials Needed
- Copy of a short story appropriate for 7-year-olds (suggested: ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ by Beatrix Potter)
- Paper and pencils
- Chart paper or whiteboard for notes
Key Vocabulary
- Narrator
- The person or character who tells the story.
- Point of View
- The perspective from which the story is told; who is telling the story.
- Perspective
- How someone sees or understands what is happening.
Detailed Activities
Read and Discuss the Story
- Read the chosen short story aloud to your child or have them read it aloud.
- Pause at key points to ask who is telling the story and how they might feel.
- Discuss how the narrator’s feelings or thoughts might change how events are described.
Draw the Narrator’s Perspective
- Ask your child to draw a picture showing what the narrator might be seeing or feeling during a part of the story.
- Have your child explain their drawing and how it shows the narrator’s point of view.
- Write a few sentences with your child describing how the narrator’s perspective influences the story.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson helps your child understand that stories can be told from different points of view which can change the way the story feels.
- Encourage your child to think about how they would tell a story differently if they were the narrator.
- You do not need to be an expert; simply reading together and asking questions will support your child’s learning.
Assessment Questions
- Who is telling the story you just read?
- How does the narrator’s point of view change the way the story is told?
- Can you think of a different way the story might sound if someone else was telling it?
Extension Ideas
- Read another short story with a different narrator and compare how the story changes.
- Have your child retell the story from the point of view of a different character.
- Write a short story together where your child chooses the narrator and explains why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try using simple examples from everyday life, like telling a story from your child’s perspective and then your own, to highlight how stories can change depending on who is telling them.
Aim for about 15 to 20 minutes of reading, which can be broken up with discussion to keep your child engaged.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may confuse the narrator with the author; clarify that the narrator is the voice telling the story within the book.
- Students might think all narrators tell stories the same way; emphasize how feelings and thoughts change the telling.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use shorter stories or picture books with clear narrators.
- Ask yes/no or multiple-choice questions about who is telling the story.
For Advanced Students:
- Introduce the idea of first-person vs. third-person narrators.
- Have them write a short paragraph from the perspective of a minor character.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 15-20 minutes reading and discussing the story.
- Use 10-15 minutes for the drawing and writing activity.
- Allow time for questions and review at the end.
Standards
- 7.RL.4 — undefined
Printable Worksheet
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