First Person and Third Person
A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on comparing first- and third-person narrations and the different points of view they allow.
First Person and Third Person is a free 40-minute Grade 4 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RL.4.6 — compare first-person and third-person narration. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 4
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RL.4.6
Grade 4 · Reading: Literature
RL.4.6
Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
Objective
Students will be able to identify the narration and say what it lets the reader know and what it hides.
Students are successful when they can
- Identifies first or third person.
- Says what the narration gives access to.
- Says what it cannot show.
What you need
- Two extracts, one of each narration
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — who is speaking?
5 min- Read four openings. Identify the narration of each.
- The pronouns give it away in seconds.
Teach — access and blind spots
13 min- Take the first-person extract. Name what the reader gets: one head, completely.
- Name what is hidden: everybody else's head, and anything the narrator did not see.
- Do the third-person extract: more coverage, less depth.
- Rewrite two sentences from one into the other and say what was lost and gained.
- Say the trade: no narration gives everything.
“You know exactly what she thinks and nothing about anyone else. That is the deal.”
Guided practice — rewrite and compare
12 min- Pairs rewrite a paragraph in the other narration.
- They list what was gained and what was lost.
- They say which they would choose for this story.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the point-of-view page.
- Both extracts are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take one thing a first-person narrator cannot tell you.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Says first person is more honest.
Why: It sounds like a person telling you directly.
Fix: A first-person narrator can be wrong or lying. Direct access is not accuracy.
Says third person knows everything.
Why: It often does.
Fix: Third person limited exists and is common. Check whose head you actually get.
Identifies the narration and stops.
Why: Labelling is the familiar task.
Fix: Always follow with access and blind spot. The label alone tells you nothing about the reading.
If they are not there yet
- Rewrite two sentences rather than a paragraph.
- Extracts with obvious narration.
If they finish early
- Find a third-person narration limited to one character.
- Write a scene where the narration hides something crucial.
- Compare two first-person narrators in one book.
Exit ticket
What narration is this, and what can it not show you?
What to look for: A named blind spot. A label alone means the access-and-blind-spot pair needs restating.
Printable practice for RL.4.6
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- First Person and ThirdRead the text, then answer the questions.
Questions about First Person and Third Person
How long does the First Person and Third Person lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does First Person and Third Person teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6 — RL.4.6, Reading: Literature for Grade 4: “Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.” In plain terms, compare first-person and third-person narration.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Two extracts, one of each narration and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: says first person is more honest; says third person knows everything and identifies the narration and stops. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “What narration is this, and what can it not show you?.” A named blind spot. A label alone means the access-and-blind-spot pair needs restating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with First Person and Third Person?
Yes — 1 printable RL.4.6 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is First Person and Third Person free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RL.4.6 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.