![Using Perspective with "Autumn Gardening"](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-srcsets/kristy-littlehale/using-perspective-with--autumn-gardening-.png "Using Perspective with "Autumn Gardening"")
Activity Overview
The interesting point of “Autumn Gardening” is that it provides a very different perspective of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima than most students in the United States have heard. Most know the bombs brought an end to World War II, but many do not realize at what cost. Mariko’s flashbacks give a very detailed, human take on the effects of living through an atomic bomb, and many students likely will begin to wonder about other perspectives on world events.
“Autumn Gardening” is a great way to teach perspective in literature. A way to have fun with perspective is to have students also read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. After reading Jon Scieszka’s version of this famous children’s tale, have students take a story they are familiar with, either from a movie, a book, or a child’s tale like the one above. Have them use the Storyboard Creator to do a plot diagram of the same tale told from the bad guy’s perspective. For example, from Sleeping Beauty, the students might choose Maleficent; from Little Red Riding Hood, students might choose the wolf, and so on.
Example Storyboard of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- The Wolf is on trial, fighting for his life. This whole thing has been a misunderstanding! He didn't murder anyone!
- You see, the Wolf was just trying to make a cake for his granny, and he had a terrible cold. He ran out of sugar for the cake, so he had to go find some!
- He came to the First Little Pig's house and as he knocked on the door, he sneezed! The house was made of straw, so it fell over... and killed Mr. Pig. The Wolf was hungry, so he wasn't going to let a ham dinner go to waste!
- The Wolf set off again in search of sugar and came to the Second Little Pig's house. Same deal: sneeze, the house was made of sticks, ham dinner. Still no sugar for granny's cake!
- Finally, he came to the Third Little Pig's house. Luckily, his house was made of brick, so it didn't fall when the Wolf had another sneezing attack. However, the Third Pig made a derogatory remark about Wolf's granny, so the Wolf tried to break in and fight him.
- The Wolf was arrested, and he says that the media made up the whole "murder" story because searching for sugar for a cake didn't sound very exciting. The Wolf claims the real story is: he was framed!
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
Summarize the plot of the story from the bad guy's perspective.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In each description box, write part of the summary from the perspective of the antagonist.
- Illustrate each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, items, and dialogue.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
The interesting point of “Autumn Gardening” is that it provides a very different perspective of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima than most students in the United States have heard. Most know the bombs brought an end to World War II, but many do not realize at what cost. Mariko’s flashbacks give a very detailed, human take on the effects of living through an atomic bomb, and many students likely will begin to wonder about other perspectives on world events.
“Autumn Gardening” is a great way to teach perspective in literature. A way to have fun with perspective is to have students also read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. After reading Jon Scieszka’s version of this famous children’s tale, have students take a story they are familiar with, either from a movie, a book, or a child’s tale like the one above. Have them use the Storyboard Creator to do a plot diagram of the same tale told from the bad guy’s perspective. For example, from Sleeping Beauty, the students might choose Maleficent; from Little Red Riding Hood, students might choose the wolf, and so on.
Example Storyboard of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- The Wolf is on trial, fighting for his life. This whole thing has been a misunderstanding! He didn't murder anyone!
- You see, the Wolf was just trying to make a cake for his granny, and he had a terrible cold. He ran out of sugar for the cake, so he had to go find some!
- He came to the First Little Pig's house and as he knocked on the door, he sneezed! The house was made of straw, so it fell over... and killed Mr. Pig. The Wolf was hungry, so he wasn't going to let a ham dinner go to waste!
- The Wolf set off again in search of sugar and came to the Second Little Pig's house. Same deal: sneeze, the house was made of sticks, ham dinner. Still no sugar for granny's cake!
- Finally, he came to the Third Little Pig's house. Luckily, his house was made of brick, so it didn't fall when the Wolf had another sneezing attack. However, the Third Pig made a derogatory remark about Wolf's granny, so the Wolf tried to break in and fight him.
- The Wolf was arrested, and he says that the media made up the whole "murder" story because searching for sugar for a cake didn't sound very exciting. The Wolf claims the real story is: he was framed!
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
Summarize the plot of the story from the bad guy's perspective.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In each description box, write part of the summary from the perspective of the antagonist.
- Illustrate each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, items, and dialogue.
- Save and Exit
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Finding Perspective Using “Autumn Gardening”
Incorporate primary sources to deepen perspective lessons
Gather and share firsthand accounts—such as survivor interviews, diaries, or letters—from historical events discussed in class. Discuss these sources with students to help them connect emotionally and understand how different perspectives shape narratives.
Facilitate a classroom debate on multiple viewpoints
Assign students different roles or perspectives related to a story or historical event. Organize a structured debate where each student advocates for their assigned perspective, fostering critical thinking and empathy.
Guide students to compare news coverage of the same event
Select two or more news articles covering the same event from different sources or countries. Read them together and analyze how language and details differ. This activity helps students recognize bias and the importance of perspective in storytelling.
Encourage personal reflection through journal writing
Ask students to write a journal entry imagining themselves as a character from the text or a real person affected by the event. Prompt them to focus on feelings, motivations, and reactions to deepen understanding of diverse perspectives.
Frequently Asked Questions about Finding Perspective Using “Autumn Gardening”
How can I use “Autumn Gardening” to teach perspective in literature?
“Autumn Gardening” offers students a unique view on the atomic bombings of Japan, making it ideal for teaching perspective. Have students analyze Mariko’s flashbacks and compare them to typical U.S. narratives, then guide them in exploring other stories from alternative viewpoints.
What are some engaging activities to help students understand point of view using familiar stories?
Let students pick a well-known story and retell it from the antagonist’s perspective, using tools like the Storyboard Creator for plot diagrams. This encourages empathy, creativity, and critical thinking about different points of view.
Why is it important for students to explore different perspectives on historical events?
Exploring multiple perspectives helps students develop critical thinking and empathy. It challenges assumptions, deepens understanding of complex events, and equips students to analyze bias in sources.
What is the Storyboard Creator and how can it help with perspective lessons?
The Storyboard Creator is a digital tool for illustrating and summarizing stories. It lets students visually map out plot events from a chosen character’s perspective, deepening their grasp of point of view in literature.
Can you give an example of retelling a classic story from a villain’s perspective?
For example, in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, the Wolf claims he’s misunderstood and only searching for sugar for his granny. Students can try this approach with other tales, like telling Sleeping Beauty from Maleficent’s point of view.
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Autumn Gardening
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