Point of View lesson plan

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Lesson: Point of View

Objective: To help students identify point of view.

Level: Upper elementary, middle school, and high school

Preparation: If desired print out copies of the story below.

Procedure:

Tell the story of the “Six Blind Men and the Elephant” then make a chart or pass out a handout (See Point of View worksheet)

The story:

Once upon a time there were six blind men who all lived in the same town. One day the circus came to town and the men went to see the elephant. But how could they?
The first man said, “We can feel him.”
“That’s a great idea!” said the rest
So each man went to feel the elephant.
The first man touched the elephant’s big, flat ear. He felt it move slowly back and forth.
“Oh” he said, “An elephant is like a giant fan!”
The second man touched the elephant’s leg. “Oh, an elephant is like a tree!”
The third man felt the tail and said, “No you are both wrong. The elephant is like a rope”
But the fourth man disagreed. He felt the elephant’s pointed tusk and said, “Ouch! An elephant is like a spear”
“No” said the fifth man, “Can’t you tell an elephant is like a wall.” He was feeling the elephant’s huge side.
The sixth man grabbed hold of the elephant’s tusk. “You are all wrong! An elephant is like a snake!”
The men continued to argue, each one certain he was right. It’s a fan” No a tree” Surely a rope” No, it’s a snake!” You’re wrong. I’m right!” Finally they got tired of shouting at each other and they all went home. So none of them ever found out what an elephant really was.

After reading the story ask your students what the men could have done differently to discover what an elephant is really like. Discuss the importance of listening to different points of view other than your own. We don’t have to accept everything we hear, but we need to listen with an open mind. Brainstorm a list of all the physical and social differences that shape our points of view. Post these so they can use them to fill in the sheet.

Some ideas:

Age                  religion                    family loyalty         neighborhood/school
Race                politics                     attitudes                  strengths
Gender            peer group               experiences             handicaps
Nationality      social class              emotional state        personality

Follow Up Discussion Question

Ask students why people might have different points of view. What would the world be like if everyone thought exactly the same thing? Choose a topic that your class has particular points of views about - such as the type of music they would like played in the cafeteria during lunch and make a chart showing where they stand. Brainstorm a list of famous people who held particular points of view on a selected issue.

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