1. Point of View Who’s Telling the Story?
By: Sheldon Jordan
Welleby Elementary, Fourth Grade

2. Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.6 Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.

3. Objectives Students will learn the definition of point of view.
Students will understand how point of view can influence a story.
Students will practice finding the point of view of several paragraphs.

4. What is Point of View?
Point of view is all about the voice behind the story.
We have to figure out who is telling the story.
We often have to use inferences to figure out the character’s point of view (who is telling the story).
Depending on the point of view (who is telling the story) the story may change.
When giving the definition of point of view use a talking hand gesture to emphasize voice.
Point out that when siblings argue they usually have different points of view. The way that they explain the story to their parents will usually be different than the way their siblings would tell the same story. Same goes for an argument with a classmate. The story to the teacher will be different depending on who’s telling the story.

5. Example: The Three Little Pigs
The Original Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Told from the Pigs’ Point of View
There was a big, bad wolf
He huffed and puffed and blew their houses down
He wanted to eat them
Told from the Wolf’s Point of View
The wolf was nice and all he wanted to do was borrow some sugar.
His sneezes made the houses fall down, he didn’t blow them down.
He only ate the pigs because they were already dead.
You can show these clips and have students discuss the differences
The Original 3 Little Pigs
The Real Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Discussion: How did the stories differ based on who was telling the story?

6. First Person Point of View
Means that a character in the story tells the story
Keywords (Pronouns)
“I”, “Me” “We” or “My”
Example: Yesterday, I took a trip to the market. As I turned the key and pulled out of my driveway, I couldn’t help but notice the dog in my yard.
Means that it is told from the author’s own point of view. When you read, it is as if you are in the story.

7. Second Person Point of View
Used to address the reader
Keywords (Pronouns)
“You”, “Your”, Yours
Example: Before you go to school, make sure to walk your dog and brush your teeth. Don’t forget your book bag or to lock the door behind you.
It’s almost as if the author is talking to you or telling you to do something.

8. Third Person Point of View
A narrator outside of the story tells the story.
Keywords (Pronouns)
“He”, “She”, or “They”
The author may also use the character’s name.
The moose was getting ready to walk out into the road. He moved his head to the left and turned right. There was not a car in sight. He began to cross the road.
This is told as if the author is not in the story. It is as if the author is watching the characters and telling what he, she or they are doing.

9. Third Person Point of View
Limited
Omniscient
A narrator outside of the story tells the story.
Uses “he”, “she”, or “they”
The narrator knows how one character feels.
A narrator outside of the story tells the story.
Uses “he”, “she”, or “they”
The narrator knows what the characters are thinking.
There are different types of third person point of view. What is the root word in limited? Students should say limit. What does limit mean? A restriction is size or amount. You can only have so much. So you can think about that when you here limited point of view. You are restricted to having the point of view of only one character. Omniscient has the latin roots omni which means all and scientia which means all knowledge. If you put them together omniscient means all knowledge or or knowledge of all. So you can think of 3rd person point of view omniscient as having the knowledge of all of the characters.
Have students compare and contrast the two different types of 3rd Person Point of View. Have students fill in a compare and contrast graphic organizer.

10. Practice

11. Read each paragraph and determine the point of view.
I am getting ready to go to the store, but I forgot my keys in the house. Now I have to go back in and get them. The cold breeze is sending a chill up my spine. Maybe I will grab a coat while I’m inside.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

12. Read each paragraph and determine the point of view.
I am getting ready to go to the store, but I forgot my keys in the house. Now I have to go back in and get them. The cold breeze is sending a chill up my spine. Maybe I will grab a coat while I’m inside.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

13. What’s My Point of View?
You are going to the dentist today. You have to have your mouth checked for cavities. Don’t be scared, the doctor will take good care of you!
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Second Person
Third Person Omniscient

14. What’s My Point of View?
You are going to the dentist today. You have to have your mouth checked for cavities. Don’t be scared, the doctor will take good care of you!
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

15. What’s my Point of View?
There are a lot of reasons I don’t like to sleep in the same room as Fudge. I found that out two months ago when my bedroom was painted. I had to sleep in Fudge’s room for three nights because the paint smell made me cough.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

16. What’s my Point of View?
There are a lot of reasons I don’t like to sleep in the same room as Fudge. I found that out two months ago when my bedroom was painted. I had to sleep in Fudge’s room for three nights because the paint smell made me cough. -Peter from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

17. What’s my Point of View
For on thing he talks in his sleep. He must be scared of something. He screamed saying that a monster was after him and the woke up to run to the bathroom.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

18. What’s my Point of View
For on thing he talks in his sleep. He must be scared of something. He screamed saying that a monster was after him and then woke up to run to the bathroom.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

19. What’s my Point of View?
Fudge at the flowers, he had to be feeling sick. Mom was nervous as she dialed the doctor’s number. The doctor listened carefully and finally laughed. He must have been relieved to find that Fudge had only eaten flowers. Mom hung up the phone, gave Fudge some medicine, and took a deep sigh. She must have had enough excitement for one day.
Ask the students what clue words helped them to figure out the point of view? Mom, Fudge, The doctor. He, she. We get a chance to see how mom, the doctor, and fudge are feeling but the author uses the pronouns he and she to describe the characters. This makes it third person omniscient.
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

20. What’s my Point of View?
Fudge ate the flowers, he had to be feeling sick. Mom was nervous as she dialed the doctor’s number. The doctor listened carefully and finally laughed. He must have been relieved to find that Fudge had only eaten flowers. Mom hung up the phone, gave Fudge some medicine, and took a deep sigh. She must have had enough excitement for one day.
Ask the students what clue words helped them to figure out the point of view? Mom, Fudge, The doctor. He, she. We get a chance to see how mom, the doctor, and fudge are feeling but the author uses the pronouns he and she to describe the characters. This makes it third person omniscient.

21. What’s my Point of View?
He was happy to be going to Grandma’s house. He had not seen her in over a year, and there was nothing like grandma’s love. He sat quietly in the back of his parent’s car looking out the window wondering if Grandma would be happy to see him too.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

22. What’s my Point of View?
He was happy to be going to Grandma’s house. He had not seen her in over a year, and there was nothing like grandma’s love. He sat quietly in the back of his parent’s car looking out the window wondering if Grandma would be happy to see him too.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

23. What’s my Point of View?
She went down to the attic afraid because there was a huge storm brewing outside. Grandma was on her way down but move slowly as she was afraid she might fall. The two of them huddled together in a corner and held on for comfort. For the first time since hearing about the storm, they both felt ready to face it.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?
First Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient

24. What’s my Point of View?
She went down to the attic afraid because there was a huge storm brewing outside. Grandma was on her way down but moved slowly as she was afraid she might fall. The two of them huddled together in a corner and held on for comfort. For the first time since hearing about the storm, they both felt ready to face it.
Ask students what clue words help them to figure out the author’s point of view?

25. On Your Own
Write an alternate ending to the The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
Use Third Person Omniscient Point of View to describe the feelings of all characters.
Be sure to include lots of juicy details.
Must be at least one paragraph.
You can change this to match your style or a different story. Students can write from any point of view and can write more or less based on your grade level.
(A quiz to see if students mastered the concepts)