Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

In the Classroom: Point of View in Expository Literature

I’ve discussed point of view in nonfiction writing many times before on this blog, most recently here. But today I’m suggesting an activity to introduce your students to first, second,
and third person point of view in finely-crafted expository texts.

 

First, read aloud and discuss portions of The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea by Brenda Z. Guiberson, Bone by Bone by Sara Levine, and Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman. After organizing the class into small groups,
give each team a packet of sticky notes and three to five expository books with
various points of view.

Here are some suggestions:
—I, Fly by
Bridget Heos
—Creature Features by Steve Jenkins
—If You Hopped Like a Frog by David Schwartz
—Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins
—Pink Is for Blobfish by Jess Keating
—Tiny Creatures by Nicola Davis

Then invite students to classify the books by point of view
and label each one with a sticky note.

When the teams complete this task, encourage
each group to rotate to a different table, leaving their books behind. Students
should review the books at their new table and discuss how the previous group
classified the books. If they disagree with the previous group, they should add
a second sticky note explaining their rationale.

Repeat this process until each group has
reviewed all the books. Then have a brief class discussion about books that
have multiple sticky notes on them.

CCSS.ELA—Literacy.CCRA.R.6:  Assess how point
of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

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