New
New
Year 6

Adopting different perspectives

I can switch between third person and first person perspectives in writing and I can use a range of techniques to write a detailed internal monologue.

New
New
Year 6

Adopting different perspectives

I can switch between third person and first person perspectives in writing and I can use a range of techniques to write a detailed internal monologue.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Narratives are often written in the third person, but we can switch perspectives during a narrative.
  2. Including first person perspectives allows us to show the protagonist's thoughts.
  3. An internal monologue is a type of first person writing focused on the protagonist's inner thoughts.
  4. We can use a range of language techniques to lend internal monologue an informal tone.
  5. We can include sensory details to show more of the protagonist's emotions.

Keywords

  • Third person perspective - the 'he/she/it/they' perspective

  • First person perspective - the 'I/we' perspective

  • Past tense - tells the reader the action happened before now

  • Present tense - tells the reader the action is happening now

  • Internal monologue - the inner voice of a character - their thoughts to themselves, not spoken aloud

Common misconception

Pupils may think that any piece of first person writing is internal monologue.

Internal monologue is first person writing that focuses on the inner thoughts of the person.

You may wish to read the relevant sections of the book aloud to the children for inspiration, but encourage them to make the writing their own by coming up with their own ideas for what Addie may feel and think.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2020 Knights Of edition of ‘A Kind of Spark’ written by Elle McNicoll, illustrated by Kay Wilson, for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these will not form part of the build-up of a story?
Correct answer: the main character is introduced
Correct answer: the central problem of the story is resolved
the main character encounters obstacles
the tension increases
Q2.
Which of these events fall into the build-up of 'A Kind of Spark'?
The plaque is unveiled.
Correct answer: The class visit the tree where the witches were hanged.
Miss Murphy rips up Addie's work.
Correct answer: Addie goes to Keedie's university.
Q3.
Which of these events from the build-up comes first?
Audrey brings in the thesaurus.
Keedie and Nina arrive.
Correct answer: Addie is in the office with Miss Murphy.
Nina says she will report Miss Murphy.
Q4.
Which of the following best describes an 'internal monologue'?
a character's inner actions
Correct answer: a character's inner thoughts
the conversations a character has
Q5.
Which of the following is most likely to be a piece of Miss Murphy's internal monologue?
You're a rude and disrespectful girl!
Correct answer: Why on earth is Mr Allison interfering in this?
Girls like you don't belong in this school.
Q6.
Which character's internal monologue might include the following idea? 'I just don't believe Miss Murphy has Addie's best interests at heart; I think I need to intervene.'
Nina
Correct answer: Mr Allison
Emily
Keedie

6 Questions

Q1.
Which pronouns are most likely to appear in the first person perspective?
Correct answer: I, me, my, mine
he, him, his
Correct answer: we, us, our, ours
they, them, their, theirs
Q2.
Which of these sentences use a third person perspective?
Correct answer: Addie stepped away from the looming tree.
I backed away nervously.
We handed out leaflets by the bookshop.
Correct answer: Addie and Audrey handed out leaflets by the bookshop.
Q3.
Which tense and person is used here? 'Addie looked on in horror as Miss Murphy crumpled her work.'
first person
Correct answer: third person
Correct answer: past tense
present tense
Q4.
Which tense and person is used here? 'I can't believe no-one else is upset by what Mr Patterson is saying.'
Correct answer: first person
third person
past tense
Correct answer: present tense
Q5.
Which features of an internal monologue are shown here? 'The lights are almost blindingly bright. But no-one else seems to notice.'
repetition
Correct answer: informal sentence opener
rhetorical question
Correct answer: details about senses
Q6.
Why is including details about senses particularly important in our narrative?
because Addie has extra senses
Correct answer: because Addie's senses can sometimes be overwhelmed
because it is very interesting for the reader