Lesson Plan
Shifting Perspectives
Students will be able to identify how different factors (background, experiences, emotions) influence individual perspectives and articulate various viewpoints on a given scenario. This will help students develop empathy and reduce judgment in their daily interactions.
Understanding that people see things differently based on their unique lives helps us be kinder, more understanding, and better problem-solvers. This skill is crucial for building positive relationships and navigating the world around us.
Audience
4th and 5th Grade Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Through interactive stories, group discussions, and a creative activity, students will explore the concept of perspective.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Shifting Perspectives Slide Deck, What's Your Angle? Reading, Picture This! Activity Cards, and Open Minds Discussion Prompts
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review all lesson materials: Shifting Perspectives Lesson Plan, Shifting Perspectives Slide Deck, What's Your Angle? Reading, Picture This! Activity Cards, and Open Minds Discussion Prompts.
- Prepare the Shifting Perspectives Slide Deck for presentation.
- Print and cut out the Picture This! Activity Cards.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready for use.
Step 1
Introduction: What Do You See?
5 minutes
- Begin with a quick interactive question: "If two people look at the same object, do they always see the exact same thing? Why or why not?" (e.g., a cloud, an abstract painting).
- Introduce the concept of 'perspective' – explaining it as how someone views or understands something, like looking through their unique "lens."
- Show the first slide of the Shifting Perspectives Slide Deck and pose the question: "What do you see in this picture?" (Use an optical illusion if possible, or a picture with multiple interpretations). Discuss initial responses.
Step 2
Exploring Perspectives Through Story
15 minutes
- Introduce the What's Your Angle? Reading.
- Read the story aloud to the class, or have students read it independently or in pairs.
- After the reading, use the Shifting Perspectives Slide Deck to prompt discussion: "How did Character A see the situation? How did Character B see it? What factors might have influenced each character's view?" (e.g., their age, what they already knew, how they felt).
Step 3
Activity: Picture This!
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Distribute the Picture This! Activity Cards to each group. Each card will have a scenario or an image.
- Instruct each group to choose one card and discuss how different people (e.g., a child, a parent, a teacher, an animal, someone from a different culture) might view or react to the situation on their card.
- Encourage them to think about why these perspectives might differ (e.g., needs, feelings, prior experiences).
- Have each group share their card and a few different perspectives they discussed with the whole class.
Step 4
Discussion & Wrap-up: Open Minds
10 minutes
- Bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion using the Open Minds Discussion Prompts.
- Use the prompts to solidify understanding: "Why is it important to try and understand other people's perspectives? How can understanding different perspectives help us in school or with friends?"
- Conclude by emphasizing that having an "open mind" means we're willing to consider how others see things, even if we don't agree, and how this makes our community stronger.
Slide Deck
Shifting Perspectives: Seeing Through Different Lenses
How do you see the world?
Welcome students! Today, we're going to explore how we all see the world a little differently. Think about looking through a camera lens – different lenses can change how a picture looks. Our experiences are like lenses!
What Do You See?
Look closely at this image. What stands out to you first?
What do you notice?
Ask students what they see in the picture. Guide them to understand that different people might focus on different details or interpret it in varied ways. This sets the stage for discussing individual perspectives. (Consider using an actual optical illusion image if available for this slide).
What is Perspective?
It's how you see or understand something.
Everyone has their own unique 'lens' through which they view the world!
Introduce the term 'perspective' as 'how someone sees or understands something.' Emphasize that it's like looking through their unique pair of glasses or 'lens.' Ask: 'What factors might change someone's lens?' (e.g., feelings, what they know, their experiences).
Story Time: Different Views
We're going to read a story and think about how different characters might have different views of what happens.
Transition to the story. Explain that the next activity involves listening to or reading a story and thinking about how the characters involved might see the same situation differently. Distribute or display the reading material.
Thinking About the Story
How did Character A see the situation?
How did Character B see the situation?
What might have influenced their views? (Think about their feelings, what they knew, or what happened to them before the story.)
After the reading, use these questions to guide a class discussion. Focus on identifying the different viewpoints and the reasons behind them. Encourage students to cite examples from the story.
Activity: Picture This!
In your groups, you'll get a card with a picture or scenario.
Discuss how different people might see or react to it.
Remember to think about why they might see it that way!
Explain the group activity. Students will work in small groups with activity cards, discussing how various people would react to different scenarios. Remind them to think about 'why' these perspectives might differ.
Open Minds Discussion
Why is it important to try and understand other people's perspectives?
How can understanding different perspectives help us in school or with friends?
What does it mean to have an 'open mind'?
Bring the class back together. Facilitate a discussion based on the activity and these guiding questions. Reinforce the importance of empathy and considering others' perspectives in daily life.
You've Got This!
Understanding different perspectives makes you a more empathetic, fair, and awesome person! Keep practicing your 'open mind' skills!
Conclude the lesson by summarizing the main takeaway: actively considering others' perspectives helps us to be more empathetic, less judgmental, and build a stronger community.
Reading
What's Your Angle? The Playground Bench
Maya loved to draw. Her favorite spot was a quiet bench at the edge of the playground, right under a big oak tree. She loved the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves, making dancing shadows on her sketchbook. For Maya, the bench was a peaceful, inspiring place where she could create her art.
One sunny Tuesday, Maya arrived at the playground, sketchbook in hand, ready to draw the fluffy clouds. But when she got to her bench, Sam was already sitting there, looking grumpy. Sam loved to play soccer, and he usually spent recess kicking the ball with his friends.
"Hey, Sam!" Maya called out, a little disappointed that her usual spot was taken. "What are you doing here?"
Sam sighed. "Coach made us sit out for ten minutes. I guess I have to wait here," he mumbled, kicking at a loose pebble with his shoe. For Sam, this bench was a boring, punishment spot, far away from the fun.
Maya sat next to him, opening her sketchbook. "It's actually a great spot," she said, pointing to a particularly interesting cloud. "Look at that cloud! It looks like a dragon."
Sam glanced up. "A dragon? I just see a cloud. I wish I was playing soccer." He slumped back, crossing his arms. To Sam, the cloud was just a cloud, and the bench was just a place he had to be.
Maya started sketching. "See? If you add a pointy nose here, and some wings..." She showed him her drawing. "Sometimes, if you look at something a different way, it changes."
Sam still looked a little bored, but he leaned in to see Maya's drawing. Maybe the bench wasn't just a punishment, and maybe a cloud wasn't just a cloud. But for now, all he really wanted was to be back on the field.
Activity
Picture This! Activity Cards
Instructions: In your groups, choose one card. Read the scenario or look at the picture. Discuss how different people might see or react to it. Think about why their perspectives might be different (e.g., their age, feelings, past experiences, what they need).
Card 1: The Last Slice of Pizza
Scenario: There's only one slice of pizza left in the box. Four friends are at a sleepover. One friend is very hungry because they missed dinner. Another friend just had a big snack. A third friend doesn't really like pizza but doesn't want anyone else to go without. The fourth friend loves pizza and always wants more.
Discussion Prompts:
- How might the very hungry friend see the last slice?
- How might the friend who just ate a big snack see it?
- How about the friend who doesn't really like pizza?
- How might the pizza-lover see it?
- What would be a fair way to decide who gets the slice, considering everyone's perspective?
Card 2: A Rainy Day at Recess
Scenario: It's pouring rain outside, so recess has to be indoors in the classroom instead of on the playground.
Discussion Prompts:
- How might a student who loves playing outside see the rainy day?
- How might a student who prefers quiet activities like reading see the rainy day?
- How might the teacher see the rainy day?
- What feelings might each person have about indoor recess?
Card 3: The New Class Pet
Scenario: Your class is getting a new pet: a guinea pig! Some students are really excited, some are a little nervous about taking care of it, and one student is allergic to guinea pigs.
Discussion Prompts:
- How might the excited students see the new pet?
- How might the nervous students see the new pet?
- How might the allergic student see the new pet?
- What challenges and joys might the guinea pig bring, from different viewpoints?
Card 4: Lost and Found Box
Scenario: A student accidentally left their favorite hat on the playground. Another student found it and put it in the lost and found box. The student who lost it is worried it's gone forever. The student who found it is proud they helped.
Discussion Prompts:
- How might the student who lost the hat feel and think?
- How might the student who found the hat feel and think?
- How might the school principal view the lost and found process?
- What does this tell us about how the same event can make different people feel different things?
Discussion
Open Minds Discussion Prompts
Instructions: Let's come back together and talk about what we've learned today. Remember, there are no wrong answers when we're thinking about how people feel or see things – it's all about understanding!
Prompt 1: The Power of Perspective
- Why is it important to try and understand other people's perspectives?
- Can you think of a time when understanding someone else's point of view changed how you felt or acted?
Prompt 2: Real-Life Lenses
- How can understanding different perspectives help us in school, like when we're working on a group project or listening to a classmate's idea?
- How can it help us with our friends or family?
Prompt 3: What Does an "Open Mind" Look Like?
- What does it mean to have an "open mind"? What does it feel like to have an open mind?
- What are some things we can do to practice having an open mind in our daily lives?
Prompt 4: Making Our Community Stronger
- How does considering everyone's perspective make our classroom, our school, or even our family a better place?