- Definition
Perspective is how someone sees or thinks about something, like their point of view. It can be clearly stated (explicit) or hinted at (implicit).
One child might see a big dog and feel scared, while another child sees the same dog and feels excited to play.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Perspective is like how you and a friend might see the same toy differently — you notice its cool wheels, but your friend notices its shiny color.
Ask your child: How do you think the other person in this story feels?
Common mix-up: Kids may assume their view is the only one. The key idea is that everyone sees the world from their own special spot, and that's okay.
Examples
- You might love a rainy day for the puddles, but your friend might be sad their game is cancelled.
- A character who wants to share all the toys has a different perspective from a character who wants to keep them.
perspective is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+118 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
