Point of view is a tricky skill for our students. A lot of the skills we teach in 4th and 5th grade are new to our students and this is one of them. So, that makes it challenging to get some of our students to understand it quickly and then move to the deeper levels required. This post will share a few point of view activities that will hopefully give you a few more tools in your toolbox to teach this skill.
Free Point of View Bookmark
Each year, I try to always create a textbook of sorts (interactive reading notebooks) to help my students organize all of their learning and remember the skills and terms. But I also like to give my students small reminders of what we are learning. This makes it a little more engaging for them. I have found that anytime we can make it a little different (even in small ways), it helps with retention of the skills.
One way I do this is through giving my students bookmarks to use that are also mini-posters for the reading skill we are practicing that week.
There are a few versions included so choose the ones that works best for your grade level and standards. The bookmark shown above gives the reader a definition of point of view, a breakdown the two main types used for literature stories, a brief description of perspective, and then a way for students to organize their thoughts.
Link to download this free bookmark for point of view and the other point of view resources later in this post – look for the heading “Download Free Point of View Activities Here”.
Free Point of View Activity Graphic Organizers or Mats
Once students understand what point of view is and can identify the point of view of a story, it is time to dig deeper with the skill and increase the rigor.
Here are some ways to take the skill of point of view further (which skills you choose to go deeper with will depend on your standards and state testing requirements):
- using text evidence to support the point of view (i.e. proving that the text is written using 1st person point of view by using text details)
- exploring how the story would be told differently if from another point of view (1st person written as 3rd person and vice versa)
- exploring how the story would be told differently from another narrator or another perspective (For example, how an argument or disagreement might be retold differently from the other character and why those details would vary).
One way to do this is to use graphic organizers or work mats paired with carefully selected texts (I use the texts from my point of view teaching resource that were specifically written for the purposes of diving into the point of view and perspective of stories).
There are a variety of organizers included in the free download (link to download in the section titled “Download the Free Point of View Activities Here”). I have included several different varieties so you choose the ones that work best for your students (and your grade level standards) or use several to differentiate (especially if you use these in reading groups).
The mats are very flexible and can be used with page protectors and dry-erase markers, as traditional graphic organizers, or even with post-it-notes. They can also be printed on colored cardstock and laminated for future use (this is perfect for use with expo markers or post-it notes).
These organizers can be used with guided reading books, read alouds, students’ independent books or texts specifically written for analyzing the point of view and its influence.
Free Point of View Resource – Tracking the POV Printable and Booklet
The next resources can be used with any stories or books to track and record point of view. This is an excellent way of spiraling this skill throughout the year or the weeks following initial instruction.
Here are two versions included:
Printable Version
I use this version the most to track the point of view of the stories we read in guided reading and read alouds. I like to use this after teaching point of view as a way to spiral the skill and apply it to new books.
Booklet Version
This version is a great way to have the students apply the skill of point of view to their independent reading. I make these point of view booklets for the students to use while they are reading. For each story or book that they read, they complete a new page in their booklet.
Using the booklets makes it a bit more engaging for the students. It can also be used in a reading center with stories that you know will be good practice for the skill (I use the ones included in my Teaching Point of View Resource). Each time that students visit the center, they can read a new story and complete a page in their booklets.
You can also use the booklet to have students record and track the point of view of books read in guided reading or whole-group.
Download the Free Point of View Activities Here
Click the animated image below and then enter your email address in the pop-up. You’ll be able to download the resource immediately and it will also be sent to your inbox.
Recommended Point of View Resources
If you are tired of searching for activities and resources to teach point of view to the rigor required, I cannot recommend this resource enough. It includes so many resources that you likely won’t even be able to use them all. There are teaching posters, graphic organizers, so many texts to use (individual and paired), and SIX small group activities! It is truly a one-stop shop for point of view activities!
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More Point of View Blog Posts and Freebies
Read Alouds and Mentor Texts for Teaching Point of View
Reading Sorts – There’s a free point of view reading sort in this free set of reading sorts. They make a perfect re-teaching activity or reading center.
THANK YOU! As a student teacher, I needed a resource that would engage my students, as well as help me teach them! This is exactly what I needed. The fact that you made it available for free was a blessing as well – 12 weeks with no paycheck has taxed my ability to purchase resources. Thank you again!