Teaching point of view can feel a bit like jumping into a choose-your-own-adventure book. Which narrator are we following? Who’s telling the story? Is it you, me, or someone with omniscient powers? With the Common Core weaving it across multiple grade levels, it’s a must-teach skill—and dare we say, a fun one too.
Teaching point of view goes beyond asking students whether a story is written in first or third person. Strong readers begin to notice how an author’s choice of narrator shapes the information readers receive, the emotions they experience, and even which characters they trust.
This lesson moves students through that progression. They’ll first learn to recognize first-, second-, and third-person narration, then compare the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective, and finally analyze why an author chose a particular point of view. Along the way, they’ll use engaging organizers, real-world examples, games, mentor texts, and classroom discussions that make this abstract skill much easier to understand.
Standards Snapshot
Here’s a quick peek at what’s expected:
- 4th Grade: Compare and contrast first- and third-person narration.
- 5th Grade: Analyze how a narrator’s point of view shapes the description of events.
- 6th Grade: Explain how authors develop the narrator’s or speaker’s perspective.
I’ve put together six easy-to-implement activities that will help students think critically, laugh occasionally, and (gasp) enjoy exploring narrative perspective.
What Students Will Learn
Many point-of-view lessons stop after teaching students to identify first-, second-, and third-person narration. This lesson goes a step further by helping students think like readers and writers.
Students learn to:
- recognize first-, second-, and third-person narration
- identify the pronouns used with each point of view
- compare when each perspective is commonly used in fiction and nonfiction
- evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each narrator
- distinguish between third-person limited and third-person omniscient narration
- explain how an author’s choice of narrator affects the reader’s understanding of the story
By the end of the lesson, students aren’t just labeling point of view—they’re analyzing how perspective shapes a story.
Get the Free Lesson Handout
This printable lesson includes everything you need to teach point of view from introduction to application. Inside you’ll find graphic organizers, anchor charts, classroom activities, printable and digital resources, and discussion ideas that help students move beyond simply identifying the narrator to analyzing why an author chose that perspective.
Point of View Teaching Ideas
Activity #1 – Build a Strong Foundation with Graphic Organizers
Before students can analyze point of view, they need a solid understanding of how each perspective works. The printable organizers guide students through first-, second-, and third-person narration one step at a time.
For each point of view, students explore:
- common pronouns
- where the perspective is commonly used
- advantages and disadvantages
- examples from fiction and nonfiction
The completed organizers become excellent study guides and notebook references students can use throughout the year.
Activity #2 – Ad Slogans: Point of View Hits the Real World
Let’s be real—kids perk up when they hear the word “commercial.” Tap into their pop culture radar by sorting advertising slogans by POV. This quick, brain-boosting activity gets students thinking about narration in a real-world context.
Here are a few to get you started:
- “Have it your way.” (Burger King) → 2nd person
- “We do chicken right.” (KFC) → 1st person
- “Oh, what a relief it is!” (Alka-Seltzer) → 3rd person
It’s fast. It’s fun. And bonus—it won’t involve grading a stack of paragraphs.
Activity #3 – Compare How Point of View Changes the Reading Experience
Once students understand the basic definitions, they’re ready to compare perspectives.
Use the printable anchor chart to discuss questions such as:
- Which point of view lets readers know a character’s thoughts?
- Which narrator is most objective?
- Why might an author choose third-person limited instead of first person?
- How would the story change if it were written from another perspective?
These discussions help students move beyond identification and into literary analysis.
Activity #4 – PowerPoint with Hatchet (Because Brian Has Thoughts Too)
Teaching Hatchet by Gary Paulsen? Use the included PowerPoint to guide students through excerpts from the novel and explore its narrative style. The slides are easy to tweak and tailor to your class’s needs. Survival gear not included.
#5 – Game Time & Music Breaks
If you want to add some digital fun, there are great online resources to reinforce your point-of-view lessons. One of my favorites is the Point of View Millionaire Game on Quia, where students answer point-of-view questions in a fun, interactive format.
Flocabulary’s Point of View Song is another hit in the classroom. It helps students review different perspectives in a catchy way.
#6 – Anchor Chart Inspiration
Sometimes students need to see the difference between points of view. Try rewriting the same short passage in first, second, and third person. Place all three versions side by side on an anchor chart.
Extend the Lesson
Challenge students to examine the different types of third-person narration.
Have them determine whether a passage is:
- third-person limited
- third-person omniscient
- third-person objective
Then ask students to justify their answers with evidence from the text. This small extension prepares students for more advanced literary analysis while reinforcing close reading skills.
Helping Students Think Like Authors
Understanding point of view isn’t just about recognizing pronouns. It’s about understanding how an author’s narrative choices shape a reader’s experience.
When students compare different perspectives, discuss why authors choose certain narrators, and analyze how point of view influences a story, they become stronger readers and more thoughtful writers.
Whether you’re introducing point of view for the first time or reviewing it during a novel study, these activities provide engaging ways to help students master an important reading skill.
👉 Download the free lesson handout to access the organizers, anchor charts, printable activities, and digital resources featured in this lesson.
See the product that inspired this post.
Our Story Elements Series offers engaging activities in both digital (Google Slides) and printable formats, easily convertible to PowerPoint for offline use. It includes a vocabulary list with definitions, a multiple-choice quiz, question stems by grade level, video lessons with organizers, and various activities. Check out the previews of each book in the bundle, covering Point of View, Characters and Settings, Plot Development, and Theme.
