Third Person Limited Point of View

I begin this lesson by introducing a Promethean Flip Chart of the definition and  examples of Third Person Limited. I show a video of ▶ J.K. Rowling reading the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because it is an example of third person limited.  Students discuss and cite examples from her reading that supports it third person limited perspective.  I stop the video at strategic points to discuss this evidence. We discuss how the narrator tells the story from Harry's point of view.

Because my students are high level readers, I decided that it is important they know how to distinguish POVs, including first, second, and third person. My students will encounter complex POVs in the higher level texts that they will read, so it makes sense to amp up teaching this standard for when they encounter the complexities of POV in their higher level texts. In fact, Common Core Standards usually addresses this concept in fourth grade, and many of my high achieving and gifted students are reading at fourth grade or higher levels.

Students share their ideas and take turns providing their Third person limited explanation with regards to the Harry Potter series.  It seems to be a great example of third person limited.  Although it is written in third person, it is told from Harry's view point.  I ask students to complete a Third Person Limited Graphic Organizer in order to map out their ideas and cite examples as supportive evidence.  Students are informed that they will share out their Harry Potter graphic organizer when completed.

Students take turns orally presenting their graphic organizers.  Students gave reasons and examples to support that this text is written from a third person limited perspective.  Sharing knowledge through oral communication as well as actively listening to others' reasoning is part of common core because collaboration is key to understanding.