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Exploring how different people can look at the same thing and see something different.
Imagine you and a friend are looking at the exact same clouds. You see a fluffy dragon, but your friend sees a giant piece of popcorn! Who is right? The truth is, you both are!
Have you ever wondered why people like different things? Perspective is the way you see or think about something. It is like a pair of glasses that everyone wears, but everyone's lenses are a little bit different. Your perspective is shaped by where you are standing, what you are doing, and even how you feel. For example, if you are standing at the bottom of a hill, the hill looks feet tall. But if you are a bird flying high above, that same hill might look like a tiny inch bump on the ground!
Quick Check
In your own words, what does 'perspective' mean?
Answer
Perspective is the unique way a person sees or thinks about something based on their own situation.
Because we all have different perspectives, the same event can mean two totally different things. Imagine a sudden rainstorm. A farmer might look at the rain and feel joyful because their thirsty crops finally get a drink. However, a soccer player might look at the same rain and feel disappointed because their big game was canceled. The rain is just rain—it isn't 'good' or 'bad' until someone looks at it from their own point of view.
Let's look at two perspectives on a new puppy jumping up to say hello: 1. Perspective A (The Toddler): The puppy looks giant and scary. The toddler might cry because they are small. 2. Perspective B (The Owner): The puppy looks cute and friendly. The owner laughs because they know the puppy is just playing.
Quick Check
Can two people be 'right' even if they disagree about how an event feels?
Answer
Yes, because they are experiencing the event from different perspectives.
Why does perspective matter? If we only look at things from our own side, we might miss the truth. Imagine three people touching different parts of an elephant while wearing blindfolds. One touches the trunk and thinks it's a snake. One touches the leg and thinks it's a tree. One touches the tail and thinks it's a rope. Only by talking to each other can they realize they are all touching the same elephant! When we listen to others, we get more 'pieces' of the puzzle.
The school wants to build a new playground. 1. The Students' Perspective: They want huge slides and climbing walls for maximum fun. 2. The Teachers' Perspective: They want clear spaces so they can see everyone and keep them safe. 3. The Solution: By combining both perspectives, the school builds a playground that is both fun and safe. If they only listened to one group, the playground wouldn't work for everyone!
A vase breaks in the living room. 1. Person A sees Person B standing next to it and thinks, 'They were being careless!' 2. Person B was actually running over to catch the vase after the cat knocked it over. 3. The Challenge: To solve this, Person A must ask, 'What did you see happen?' instead of just being angry. This uses empathy to understand a different perspective.
If you are standing on a balcony looking down at a car, and your friend is standing on the sidewalk looking at the same car, do you have the same perspective?
Why is it helpful to hear someone else's perspective during an argument?
True or False: An event like a 'snowstorm' can be both good and bad at the same time depending on who you ask.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the story of the 'Blind Men and the Elephant.' What was the main lesson of that story?
Practice Activity
The next time you disagree with a friend or sibling, stop and ask them: 'What do you see that I might be missing?'