PDF and PowerPoint of model text, plus accompanying lesson plan
KS2
Years 3-6
This lesson from master storyteller Pie Corbett explores point of view and narrative voice. By rewriting a key event from a different character’s point of view, children can practise adopting that character’s narrative voice.
Exploring different points of view adds real depth to a reading of any meaty novel. There are often multiple viewpoints: the characters, the narrator, but also how different readers might view a text.
Developing narrative voice
In this lesson plan, students will read a short chapter from The Midnight Fox several times. They’ll look for clues about what the characters are thinking, feeling and doing.
Encourage children to consider how those inner thoughts might sound if spoken or written by the character. This is an important step in developing narrative voice.
You can then use the activities included in the resource to develop the idea of multiple points of view. Children will work towards writing a paragraph or two from the POV of one of animal characters in the story.
To help tune the children into rewriting an incident from a different point of view, activities include:
Back-to-back roleplay: In pairs, Partner A (a friend or relative) and Partner B (a character from the novel) sit back-to-back and make a phone call, with Partner B recounting a key incident from the character’s perspective using evidence from the text. This activity supports oral rehearsal of narrative voice before writing.
Change the text type: Retell a key event from the novel in a different form, such as a diary entry, letter, or newspaper report.
Close reading for clues: Read the text carefully, highlighting or underlining key details to support the chosen alternative text type. Encourage children to look for emotional cues or distinctive ways the character speaks or thinks – these can shape the narrative voice.
Descriptive list poem: Pause at a pivotal moment in the story and co-create a sensory-based list poem with prompts like “I can see…”, “I can hear…”, “I can feel…”, to explore the character’s thoughts and emotions in depth.
What is The Midnight Fox about?
The two model texts show the same event from Chapter 17 of Betsy Byers’ classic The Midnight Fox. Published in 1968, it’s a gentle story of a boy who goes to live in the country for two months whilst his parents go on a cycling holiday.
The countryside does not suit Tom at all and, away from home, he feels isolated and lonely. Unfortunately, he’s scared of animals too.
However, his discovery of a rare black fox and her cub changes his life. But, of course, foxes are not wanted on farms and the tension builds from the moment his uncle says “…you and I’ll go after the fox.”
In Chapter 17, Tom has just climbed out of the house, broken open the rabbit hutch and let the baby fox free.
This is a book that runs deep, exploring relationships, loneliness and our connection with the natural world with sensitivity.
More Pie Corbett resources
Browse a wide range of Pie Corbett KS2 stories and activity ideas.
Pie Corbett is an education consultant, poet and author known for Talk for Writing. His most recent book is Catalysts: Poems for Writing. Visit his website at talkforwritingshop.com
