Teaching Point of View With Two Bad Ants

Overview

Featured Resources

From Theory to Practice

 

OVERVIEW

This lesson provides students with the opportunity to use illustrations and text to develop an understanding of the point of view of the characters. Students read the story Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg, work in pairs to analyze the illustrations and text, and compare and contrast points of view. After rereading the story, students apply their knowledge of point of view by writing a short story from an ant's perspective.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

Stapleless Book: This handy tool allows students to use their creativity when they write about going on adventures from the point of view of an ant.

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FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Giorgis, C., & Johnson, N.J. (2002). Multiple perspectives. The Reading Teacher, 55(5), 486–494.

"One of life's biggest challenges is accepting that there are numerous interpretations and that there is rarely one right way to view the world. Literature can introduce characters who have learned to accept that different viewpoints exist, demonstrating how they persevere when faced with difficulties. Books can also change readers' perspectives about what they already know and extend their knowledge through new ways of seeing familiar things."

 

Emery, D.W. (1996). Helping readers comprehend stories from the characters' perspectives. The Reading Teacher, 49(7), 534–541.

• Young readers often focus primarily on what is happening in stories, and they also need to consider why things happen to gain a better understanding of point of view.
  
  
• By understanding stories from different points of view, readers learn how to link the events in a story causally.

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