Point of View

Unit: Exploring Time and Space

Lesson 8 of 20

Grade: 6th
Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 30 students

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
- Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
- Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify the point of view (first person, third person limited, third person omniscient) used in a short story excerpt.
Analyze how the narrator's perspective shapes the reader's understanding of events and characters.
Participate in collaborative discussions to compare different points of view and their effects.
Reflect on how changing the point of view alters a narrative’s meaning.

Materials

Copies of a short story excerpt (200–300 words) with a clear point of view (prepared by teacher)
Whiteboard and markers
Chart paper with notes on point of view types
Student notebooks/journals
Sticky notes

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Details
0–5 min	Hook & Introduction	- Begin with a quick informal poll: “Who here has ever told a story about a vacation or a game? Did you tell it as ‘I’ or using ‘he/she’?” - Introduce today’s topic: narrative point of view. Write key terms on the board: First person, Third person limited, Third person omniscient. Briefly define each.
5–15 min	Read & Identify Point of View	- Distribute a short story excerpt written in first person. - Silent reading (5 min). - On whiteboard, list details and clues that show it’s first person (using "I", sharing feelings, limited knowledge beyond narrator). - Quick check: ask students to underline or highlight “I” statements in their copies.
15–25 min	Group Activity: Comparing Perspectives	- Break class into 6 groups of 5 students. - Each group receives a second version of the same excerpt rewritten in third person limited or omniscient point of view. - Groups read aloud and discuss: 1. Who is telling the story? 2. What new information do you get that wasn’t in the first person version? 3. How do your feelings about the characters change? - Groups record their answers on chart paper.
25–35 min	Class Discussion & Synthesis	- Groups present their findings (3–4 min each). - Guide discussion on how point of view changes understanding: - What can an omniscient narrator do that a first person narrator cannot? - How does first person make the story feel more personal? - Teacher helps students link narrative perspective to deeper insight into characters and plot development.
35–42 min	Individual Reflection Writing	- Students take 7 minutes to journal their reflection: “If you were to retell a real event in first person or third person, which would you choose and why? How might the story feel different for your listeners or readers?” - Encourage specific examples and reasoning.
42–45 min	Exit Ticket & Wrap-up	- On sticky notes, students write one thing they learned about point of view and one question they still have. - Collect sticky notes to inform next lesson.

Differentiation

For English Language Learners (ELLs): Provide glossaries with simple definitions and examples of point of view terms. Use visuals depicting “I” vs. “he/she/they” perspectives.
For advanced students: Challenge them to rewrite a brief scene from one point of view into another for homework.
For students needing support: Partner them with peers during group discussions and provide sentence starters (e.g., “The narrator uses ‘I’ which means…”, “This point of view lets us know that…”).

Assessment

Formative:
- Observation of group discussions and guiding questions.
- Sticky note exit tickets for understanding and questions.
Summative:
- Individual reflection writing evaluated for clear reasoning on point of view effects and proper use of vocabulary.

Extension Idea

Students create two short, paired narratives (2-3 sentences each) describing the same event from two different points of view. Share in next class to compare.

Teacher Notes

Encourage students to think about how their voices matter in storytelling and how changing the narrator changes the story’s meaning.
Use expressive reading techniques to highlight how tone can shift with viewpoint.
Reinforce collaborative listening skills during group presentations.

This engaging, investigative lesson not only aligns with Common Core ELA standards but actively involves students in analyzing narrative structure—key for critical reading and writing skills in middle school.

Teaching Instructions