Mini-Lesson

Point of View

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will identify different points of view.

1. Have a volunteer stand up in front of the class. Hand the student a one-, a five-, and a ten-dollar bill. Ask: If you were purchasing a $4 gallon of milk, which of these would you give to the cashier? (Have the student hold up the correct bill for the class to see). Then, have the student repeat the task, this time with his or her eyes closed. Point out that there is no way to tell the difference between the three bills without seeing them. Ask: What problems might this cause for a person with impaired vision?

2. Tell students that a federal court decided on Tuesday that paper money should be changed so that blind people can distinguish between different bills. Pass out copies of the timeforkids.com story, A Victory for the Blind. Divide the class into two groups. As they read the article, have one group underline reasons why U.S. paper money should be changed, and have the other group underline reasons why it should not be changed.

3. Have students share their findings. Ask: What have other countries done to make paper bills distinguishable for the blind? Why do some blind people disagree with the court's decision?

Extend Learning: Encourage students to take a stance on the issue. Have them write persuasive letters to the Department of the Treasury, arguing their point of view. Use the Persuasive-Letter Organizer to help them get started.