Worksheet for teaching perspective and point of view using a story about a child leaving for college.

Let's analyze each paragraph from the worksheet to determine the Point of View and Perspective, and then answer the final question about how these perspectives affect the storytelling.

---

Paragraph 1:

> *"As I walked through my bedroom door, my mom came to stand beside me. The walls, once decorated with posters, and the bookshelves once covered in toys and games, were now barren. Only two boxes remained—an old collection of toys and one last box ready to go with me to college. Mom gasped and threw her arms around me as she saw the empty room. My excitement dampened when I realized how sad my mom was to see me go. I couldn't believe today was the day I would be leaving for college, and even though I was excited, I sure was going to miss my family."*

#### Point of View:
First Person
(Use of "I", "my", "me" — the narrator is directly involved in the events.)

#### Perspective:
The child’s perspective (the student leaving for college)
This is from the viewpoint of a young adult who is preparing to leave home for college. The emotions are mixed—excitement and sadness—and focus on personal feelings about leaving and seeing their mother's reaction.

---

Paragraph 2:

> *"When I walked into my oldest child's bedroom, I was shocked to see the bare walls and empty shelves. It felt like yesterday that I was looking into this same room watching him play happily with his favorite toys, zooming Buzz Lightyear through the air. Today, there are only two boxes left. As I hug him tightly, I whisper in his ear that I wish I could always be with him. My heart breaks to see my boy going off to college, and I'm not sure how I'll get along without him here at home. I'm reassured when he tells me that I'll always be with him. I just can't believe my dear son is leaving today."*

#### Point of View:
First Person
(Again, uses "I", "my", "me"—the speaker is directly involved.)

#### Perspective:
The parent’s perspective (mother of the child leaving for college)
This paragraph shifts to the mother’s emotional experience. She reflects on memories, feels sorrow, and expresses fear and love. Her focus is on loss and the emotional impact of her child growing up and leaving.

---

Paragraph 3:

> *"Peeking through the cardboard box, Woody could see Andy coming through the door, followed closely by his mom. He watched eagerly, excited to see what would happen. When mom began to cry while hugging Andy, Woody knew something was wrong. He quickly realized that he would be leaving, separated from his friends stuffed in the box sitting on the floor. Woody turned his head away from the sad scene and came face to face with an old picture of himself, Andy, and his best buds. His eyes lowered, and his heart sank with sadness."*

#### Point of View:
Third Person Limited
(The narrator describes Woody’s thoughts and feelings but does not use “I.” The focus is limited to Woody’s internal experience.)

#### Perspective:
The toy’s perspective (Woody, the stuffed cowboy)
This is told from the point of view of a toy (Woody) who has emotions and awareness. He experiences joy, confusion, realization, and sadness. This anthropomorphic perspective adds emotional depth and allows readers to empathize with the toy's feelings about being left behind.

---

Final Question:

> How do the different perspectives affect how each story is told?

#### Answer:

Each paragraph presents the same event—the departure of a child for college—but from a completely different perspective, which changes the tone, emotion, and meaning of the story:

- In Paragraph 1 (child’s perspective), we feel the mixed emotions of excitement and sadness from the person leaving. The focus is on personal growth and the bittersweetness of change. We understand the child’s awareness of their mother’s pain, showing empathy.

- In Paragraph 2 (parent’s perspective), the emotion centers on loss, love, and nostalgia. The parent sees the child as a child still, despite the child’s maturity. This perspective emphasizes family bonds and the emotional cost of parenting.

- In Paragraph 3 (toy’s perspective), the story becomes symbolic and emotional, representing the child’s belongings and memories. Woody’s sadness mirrors the child’s own emotional journey. This unique viewpoint humanizes objects, making the transition more poignant and universal. It highlights themes of belonging, memory, and abandonment.

Together, these three perspectives show how one event can be experienced differently by various people (and even objects). The shift in point of view deepens our understanding of the emotional complexity of growing up and leaving home. Each voice adds layers of meaning, allowing readers to connect emotionally from multiple angles.

---

✔ Summary Table:

| Paragraph | Point of View | Perspective |
|---------|---------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1 | First Person | Child leaving for college |
| 2 | First Person | Parent (mother) |
| 3 | Third Person Limited| Toy (Woody) |

These differing perspectives create a rich, multi-layered narrative about separation, love, and change.