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Students learn about perspective by realizing that people can see the same thing in different ways.
Have you ever looked at a fluffy cloud and seen a hopping bunny, but your best friend saw a fire-breathing dragon? How can you both be looking at the same cloud and see something totally different?
Imagine you are holding a toy block. If you look at the top, you might see a flat square. But if your friend looks from the bottom, they might see a different color! This is called perspective. Perspective is the way you see something based on where you are or how you think. Even though there is only block, there are different ways to see it. Neither person is 'wrong.' You are both just seeing the block from a different spot!
Quick Check
If you and a friend look at the same cloud and see different shapes, does one of you have to be wrong?
Answer
No, you both have different perspectives!
Have you ever wondered why you love the color blue, but your friend loves the color red? Or why you love scoop of chocolate ice cream, but they want scoop of strawberry? Our brains and hearts like different things. This is another kind of perspective. Our past experiences—like a fun birthday party with red balloons—might make us like one thing more than another. It makes the world more colorful when we share our different favorites!
1. Sam loves cold weather and chooses mint ice cream because it feels 'cool.' 2. Lily loves sunshine and chooses orange sherbet because it looks like the sun. 3. They are both eating ice cream, but they chose different flavors because of what they like!
Quick Check
Why might two friends have different favorite colors?
Answer
Because they have different experiences and their brains like different things.
Sometimes, we can feel happy while someone else feels sad about the exact same thing. Imagine it starts to rain. You might be happy because you get to wear your shiny yellow boots and jump in puddles! But your friend might be sad because they wanted to play catch outside. To understand them, you have to imagine 'walking in their shoes.' This means trying to feel what they feel. If you have rainy day, you can have very different feelings!
1. A class decides to throw a surprise party for a teacher. 2. Most students are excited and shouting. 3. One student, Leo, covers his ears because he doesn't like loud noises. 4. To help Leo, the other students realize his perspective is different and they decide to do a 'silent cheer' instead.
1. You are at the park and see a very tall slide. 2. You feel brave and think, 'This looks like fun!' 3. Your little brother looks up and thinks, 'This looks scary!' 4. You realize that because he is smaller, the slide looks much bigger to him. 5. You hold his hand to help him feel better. You used your 'perspective glasses' to see why he was afraid!
What is 'perspective'?
If you see a '6' on the ground and your friend sees a '9', what should you do?
True or False: It is possible for two people to feel differently about the rain.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, look at a household object (like a toaster or a chair) from the floor, then from a chair. Does it look the same?
Practice Activity
Ask a family member what their favorite season is. If it is different from yours, ask them 'Why?' to learn their perspective!