Author:
Cori Stanley
Subject:
English Language Arts
Material Type:
Activity/Lab, Assessment
Level:
Middle School
Tags:
  • Language Arts
  • Middle School
  • Narrative Writing
  • Perspective
  • Stargirl
  • Viewpoint
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Downloadable docs

    Circle of Viewpoints - Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

    Circle of Viewpoints - Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

    Overview

     

    Circle of Viewpoints helps students identify the different perspectives that could be present in or affected by what has just been read, seen, or heard. This routine relies on the ability of students to identify different perspectives that are presented around a topic. It will create greater awareness of how others may be thinking and feeling, thus reinforcing that people think differently about the same things. This activity will be a prewriting activity to set them up to write a narrative essay using the novel Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. 

    Circle of Viewpoints - Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli - Prewriting for Narrative Essay

    Subject: Language Arts

     

    Topic: Narrative Writing/Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 

     

    Grade Level: 7th Grade 

     

    Circle of Viewpoints Resource Link 

     

    Example of Circle of Viewpoints 

     

    Circle of Viewpoints Graphic Organizer

     

    Circle of Viewpoints helps students identify the different perspectives that could be present in or affected by what has just been read, seen, or heard. This routine relies on the ability of students to identify different perspectives that are presented around a topic. It will create greater awareness of how others may be thinking and feeling, thus reinforcing that people think differently about the same things.

    Process:

    1. Set Up: Students will have finished the novel Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Students will also have been introduced to writing a narrative. They will be choosing one scene from the novel and be telling that event from another point of view. 

    2. Identify Viewpoints: Work with students to generate a list of viewpoints. This can be people directly involved with the scene/event from the novel or others that were not directly involved. 

    3. Select a Viewpoint to Explore: 

      1. I Do: The teacher will choose a character and scene from the novel to model the Circle of Viewpoints Activity. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

      2. You Do Together: Students will get with a partner and choose another character and scene to complete the Circle of Viewpoints Activity. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

      3. You Do Independently: Students will then choose a different character from what their teacher and partner have chosen to complete the activity a 3rd time. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

    4. Share the Thinking: Students will use a gallery walk activity to walk around and read others' viewpoints. Students will have sticky notes to respond, add to, etc. others ideas. They will be required to respond to AT LEAST 5 other students' viewpoints. To end the activity a few students will share out their Circle of Viewpoints

     

    PROMPTS TO RESPOND TO: 

    Respond to the "I am thinking..." prompt: I am thinking of (character's name) and when he/she is (scene). 

    Respond to the "I think... " prompt: Ask students to take on a character of their viewpoint and describe the topic from that perspective. Suggest these prompts "What does this character think about the event or situation?", "What is their take?", "What do they think of this?" Allow students time to think about this and imagine what this person or thing could be considering.

    Respond to the "A question I have from the viewpoint... " prompt: Ask students to imagine what this person or thing might be puzzled or curious about and create a question from that viewpoint. Provide time for them to generate and or record ideas. You may want to model what it looks like to think or ask questions that go beyond the surface of the topic.

     

    TECHNOLOGY

    • Characters could all be listed on different Google Slides and an image of the graphic organizer or boxes on each slide - Each partnership/student then is assigned a different slide to complete that character’s viewpoint 

    Jamboard could also be used for this using the same procedure. With Jamboard students could use the stick note feature to add other ideas to others slides/Jamboards.  

    Resources: 

         Example of Circle of Viewpoints 

         Circle of Viewpoints Graphic Organizer

    1. Select a Viewpoint/Scene to Explore: 

      1. I Do: The teacher will choose a character and scene from the novel to model the Circle of Viewpoints Activity. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

      2. You Do Together: Students will get with a partner and choose another character and scene to complete the Circle of Viewpoints Activity. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

      3. You Do Independently: Students will then choose a different character from what their teacher and partner have chosen to complete the activity a 3rd time. Using the prompts provided below & the graphic organizer seen above. 

    2. Share the Thinking: Students will use a gallery walk activity to walk around and read others' viewpoints. Students will have sticky notes to respond, add to, etc. others ideas. They will be required to respond to AT LEAST 5 other students' viewpoints. To end the activity a few students will share out their Circle of Viewpoints

     

    PROMPTS TO RESPOND TO: 

    "I am thinking..." prompt: I am thinking of (character's name) and when he/she is (scene). 

    "I think... " prompt: Describe topic from character's viewpoint

           "What does this character think about the event or situation?"

           "What is their take?"

           "What do they think of this?"

    "A question I have from the viewpoint... " prompt: Imagine what this person or thing might be puzzled or curious about and create a question from that viewpoint.