Understanding Point of View in Stories
Understanding Point of View in Stories Objective: Students will be able to identify the narrator’s point of view in a story and explain how it influences the story’s meaning.
Learning Objectives
- Define what point of view means in a story.
- Identify whether a story is told from first person or third person point of view.
- Explain how the narrator’s point of view affects how the story is understood.
Materials Needed
- A short story appropriate for 8-year-olds (print or digital)
- Notebook or paper
- Pencil
- Chart paper or whiteboard
Key Vocabulary
- Point of View
- The perspective from which a story is told.
- Narrator
- The person or character telling the story.
- First Person
- A story told by a character using ‘I’ or ‘we’.
- Third Person
- A story told by someone outside the story using ‘he,’ ‘she,’ or ‘they’.
Detailed Activities
Read and Identify Point of View
- Read the chosen short story aloud together or have the student read it independently.
- Ask the student to listen or look for clues about who is telling the story.
- Discuss whether the narrator uses ‘I’ or ‘we’ (first person) or ‘he,’ ‘she,’ or ‘they’ (third person).
- Write the point of view on the chart paper or whiteboard.
- Talk about how knowing who tells the story helps understand the characters and events better.
Drawing and Writing
- Ask the student to draw a picture of the narrator or imagine themselves as the narrator.
- Have the student write 2-3 sentences explaining what the narrator sees or feels in the story.
- Encourage the student to use first or third person words based on the story’s point of view.
- Share and discuss the drawing and sentences together.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson uses simple language and activities to help your child understand point of view.
- Encourage your child to think about who is telling the story and how that changes what they learn about characters and events.
- You do not need to be an expert; just listen, read together, and ask questions to support learning.
Assessment Questions
- Who is telling the story in the story you read?
- Is the story told using ‘I’ or ‘he/she’? What does that tell you about the point of view?
- How does the narrator’s point of view help you understand the story better?
Extension Ideas
- Read another short story and compare its point of view to the first story.
- Write a short story from two different points of view (first and third person).
- Watch a short video or animated story and discuss the narrator’s point of view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try rereading the story together and pointing out the pronouns used. Sometimes reading aloud helps hear who is telling the story.
Yes, you can split reading and drawing activities across days to keep the child engaged and avoid fatigue.
Yes, you can read the story aloud to them and guide them through the questions and activities.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may confuse the narrator with the author.
- Students might think all stories are told from the first person.
- Some may believe the narrator’s opinion is the same as the story’s truth.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use simpler stories with clear first or third person narration.
- Read the story aloud and pause to explain pronouns and narrator clues.
- Use visual aids such as picture cards showing ‘I’ and ‘he/she’ pronouns.
For Advanced Students:
- Have students compare how the story might change if told from another point of view.
- Encourage writing a brief story from two different points of view.
- Discuss how point of view affects the reader’s feelings about characters.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 20 minutes reading and discussing the story.
- Use 15 minutes for drawing and writing activities.
- Reserve 10 minutes to review, ask assessment questions, and discuss.
Standards
- 8.RL.6 — Identify and describe the narrator’s point of view and how it influences the story’s meaning.
Printable Worksheet
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