These lessons would take place during your launch your study of multiple perspectives. Students should have a general idea of what perspective means prior to teaching these lessons. For much more information, pick up a copy of Teaching Interpretation: Using Text-Based Evidence to Construct Meaning, and see Chapter 3.
Minilesson #1- Take a class survey about a topic such as “Should schools serve dessert at lunch?” Discuss the different points of view in the class. Discuss the possible differences between opinion and perspective.
Minilesson #2- Minilesson #2- Read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Ask students to identify text evidence that supports the wolf’s perspective on the events in the story and whether or not they feel this evidence provides new insight.
Minilesson #3- Use a text such as Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. Generate a list of the characters in the text, and have students record their thoughts about different characters’ perspectives. Discuss the characters’ perspectives as a class.
Minilesson #4- Use a video clip of a documentary or news reporting that demonstrates different perspectives on a compelling topic such as animals in captivity, global warming, or another issues students are interested in. Ask students to identify the various perspectives represented and those that are missing. Ask students to cite text evidence that helps them interpret these perspectives.
Minilesson #5- Read the author’s note in Encounter by Jane Yolen. Ask students to consider people/groups who have been historically and are traditionally left out of stories and to ask why. Encourage students to read texts like Encounter, through the lens of power, race, inequality, gender, etc. What do we learn when we interpret texts through these lenses?
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