Activity Overview
In this activity, students will examine the author’s point of view and make inferences based on details from the text.
In this example, the text reveals Mr. Popper’s feelings, Mrs. Popper’s thoughts, and the penguin’s feelings:
- Mr. Popper’s Feelings: "Mr. Popper's heart was frozen with terror."
- Mrs. Popper’s Thoughts: "Mrs. Popper... dimly realized that the penguin was going in and out of the refrigerator pretty frequently, she thought nothing of it at first."
- Penguin’s Feelings: "And the penguins, hearing their voice, scuttled up on the deck and stood there beside the Admiral and Mr. Popper. Then they solemnly lifted their flippers and waved..."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard showing the author's point of view Mr Popper's Penguins.
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify the points of view in the story - thoughts and feelings count!
- Find a quote that illustrates each point of view.
- Illustrate the quote with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
First person point of view. First person is when “I” am telling the story. The character is in the story, relating his or her experiences directly.
Second person point of view. The story is told to “you.” This POV is not common in fiction, but it’s still good to know (it is common in nonfiction).
Third person point of view, limited. The story is about “he” or “she.” This is the most common point of view in commercial fiction. The narrator is outside of the story and relating the experiences of a character.
Third person point of view, omniscient. The story is still about “he” or “she,” but the narrator has full access to the thoughts and experiences of all characters in the story.
Create a storyboard that identifies each point of view and describes each using a written explanation and an illustration.
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 19 Points | Beginning 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify the Points of View | The student identified all points of view the author employed in the novel correctly. | The student identified most of the points of view. | The student did not identify the correct point of view, |
| Written Explanations | Text descriptions clearly explain the points of view used in the novel and described the differences in their perspectives. | Text descriptions explain the points of view, but may lack clarity. | Text descriptions do not accurately describe the points of view. |
| Storyboard Images | Illustrations show scenes clearly connected to the point of view and perspective described and use visual elements to show a difference between perspectives. | Illustrations show scenes connected to the point of view and perspective described but may be simplistic or lack detail. | Scenes do not clearly describe the points of view employed in the novel. |
| Effort and Editing | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. Spelling and grammar are correct. | Most of the sections of the storyboard were at least attempted and work is presentable. The text contains some errors in spelling and/or grammar. | Storyboard is unfinished and/or disorganized. The text contains many errors in spelling and/or grammar. |
Activity Overview
In this activity, students will examine the author’s point of view and make inferences based on details from the text.
In this example, the text reveals Mr. Popper’s feelings, Mrs. Popper’s thoughts, and the penguin’s feelings:
- Mr. Popper’s Feelings: "Mr. Popper's heart was frozen with terror."
- Mrs. Popper’s Thoughts: "Mrs. Popper... dimly realized that the penguin was going in and out of the refrigerator pretty frequently, she thought nothing of it at first."
- Penguin’s Feelings: "And the penguins, hearing their voice, scuttled up on the deck and stood there beside the Admiral and Mr. Popper. Then they solemnly lifted their flippers and waved..."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard showing the author's point of view Mr Popper's Penguins.
- Use the template provided by your teacher.
- Identify the points of view in the story - thoughts and feelings count!
- Find a quote that illustrates each point of view.
- Illustrate the quote with appropriate characters, scenes, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
First person point of view. First person is when “I” am telling the story. The character is in the story, relating his or her experiences directly.
Second person point of view. The story is told to “you.” This POV is not common in fiction, but it’s still good to know (it is common in nonfiction).
Third person point of view, limited. The story is about “he” or “she.” This is the most common point of view in commercial fiction. The narrator is outside of the story and relating the experiences of a character.
Third person point of view, omniscient. The story is still about “he” or “she,” but the narrator has full access to the thoughts and experiences of all characters in the story.
Create a storyboard that identifies each point of view and describes each using a written explanation and an illustration.
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 19 Points | Beginning 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify the Points of View | The student identified all points of view the author employed in the novel correctly. | The student identified most of the points of view. | The student did not identify the correct point of view, |
| Written Explanations | Text descriptions clearly explain the points of view used in the novel and described the differences in their perspectives. | Text descriptions explain the points of view, but may lack clarity. | Text descriptions do not accurately describe the points of view. |
| Storyboard Images | Illustrations show scenes clearly connected to the point of view and perspective described and use visual elements to show a difference between perspectives. | Illustrations show scenes connected to the point of view and perspective described but may be simplistic or lack detail. | Scenes do not clearly describe the points of view employed in the novel. |
| Effort and Editing | Work is complete, thorough, and neat. Spelling and grammar are correct. | Most of the sections of the storyboard were at least attempted and work is presentable. The text contains some errors in spelling and/or grammar. | Storyboard is unfinished and/or disorganized. The text contains many errors in spelling and/or grammar. |
How Tos about Point of View in Mr Popper\'s Penguins
Engage students with a point of view role-play activity
Role-playing brings the story to life and helps students internalize different perspectives. By acting as Mr. Popper, Mrs. Popper, or a penguin, students gain a deeper understanding of each character's feelings and thoughts.
Assign roles to students for each main character
Choose students to represent Mr. Popper, Mrs. Popper, and a penguin. Assigning roles gives each student a specific perspective to focus on and prepares them to share their character's point of view.
Guide students to prepare short monologues using text evidence
Ask each student to create a brief speech expressing their character’s thoughts and feelings, using quotes or details from the story. This builds text-based reasoning and supports close reading.
Facilitate a classroom performance and discussion
Invite students to perform their monologues in character. Afterward, discuss how each point of view differs. Encourage the class to compare interpretations and reflect on how the story changes from each perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions about Point of View in Mr Popper\'s Penguins
What is point of view in 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'?
Point of view in 'Mr. Popper's Penguins' refers to the perspective from which the story is told and how the author reveals the thoughts and feelings of different characters, like Mr. Popper, Mrs. Popper, and the penguins.
How can students identify different points of view in a story?
Students can identify different points of view by looking for clues about what each character thinks or feels, such as direct quotes or actions that reveal their perspectives within the text.
What are examples of character perspectives in 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'?
Examples include Mr. Popper’s fear (“Mr. Popper's heart was frozen with terror”), Mrs. Popper’s confusion, and the penguins’ excitement as they wave their flippers. These quotes show how each character experiences events differently.
How do you create a storyboard showing point of view in 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'?
To create a storyboard, select key quotes that reveal character thoughts and feelings, then illustrate each scene with the appropriate characters and settings to visually represent their perspectives.
Why is understanding point of view important for students reading 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'?
Understanding point of view helps students analyze how each character experiences the story, deepening comprehension and encouraging empathy for diverse perspectives.
More Storyboard That Activities
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
