Learning Activity

Introduction to Narrator's Point of View

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

3, 4

Overview

The teacher will show a video that provides entertaining examples of first- and third-person point of view, then lead a discussion about the differences between these two narration styles.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

ELA21.3.28

Identify the narration of a literary text as first person or third person.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.3.28

Vocabulary

  • Identify
  • Narration
  • Literary text
  • First person
  • Third person

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Literary text can be narrated from a first person or third person point of view.
  • Pronouns used by the author can indicate the narrator's point of view.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the narration of a literary text as first person or third person.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • In first person narration the narrator is a character in the story and is telling the story from their perspective. The pronouns I, me, we, or us are often used.
  • In third person narration, the narrator is not part of the story and the characters never acknowledge the narrator's presence. The pronouns he, she, it, or they are often used.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

ELA21.4.17

Identify the narrator’s point of view in a literary text and explain how it differs from a character’s perspective.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.4.17

Vocabulary

  • Narrator
  • Point of view
  • Literary text
  • Perspective

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrator is the speaker who is telling the story.
  • Different characters in a story can have different perspectives, or viewpoints.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the narrator's point of view in a literary text.
  • Explain how the narrator's point of view is different from a character's perspective.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Narrators and characters can have different points of view and perspectives within the same story.

Phase

Before/Engage
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students will explain the difference between first- and third-person point of view.

Activity Details

1. Students will need a sheet of notebook paper and a pencil or pen. Ask the students to listen carefully for the two types of point of view that are discussed in the video. Tell students to write these down when they hear them.

2. Show the video using the digital tool (3:01 minutes). 

3. After showing the video, ask student volunteers to list the two types of point of view that were discussed in the video (first-person and third-person). Write these on the board, creating two columns.

4. Next, ask student volunteers to describe the differences they noticed between the first- and third-person narration of the video. Add these notes to the class list to describe the difference between first- and third-person. Encourage students to add these notes to their paper.

5. Lastly, ask students to write a final statement on their paper regarding the difference between first- and third-person point of view. This should be at least one complete sentence.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Use the class discussion to assess student understanding and correct any misconceptions.

At the conclusion of the activity, take up each student's paper as an exit slip to evaluate their understanding of the skill.

Variation Tips

After presenting this activity, the teacher can follow up with an additional video clip, Point of View - Introduction to Reading Skills (1:42 minutes). This video is presented in a similar manner as the digital tool, however, it focuses on the particular pronouns that provide clues about the narrator's point of view within a text. The teacher can have students add these pronouns to their two-column chart created in the activity. 

 

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The teacher will need the ability to show an internet video with sound, and an interactive whiteboard, traditional whiteboard, or chart paper to create a list visible to the class. 

Digital Tools / Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AnYSohfjAg

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

habradley
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