Theme Lesson

Theme

Open Ended

Which two sentences from the story show that it is more satisfying to think of others rather than yourself? Type them below and explain.

The smile of gratitude on the little girl's face made Clare's heart soar.

The paper fell away to expose a delicate doll wearing a long, flowing dress.

Clare was excited to be one doll closer to a full set.

"What did you get for me?" Clare asked eagerly, grabbing the colorful package by her plate.

"I had hoped you would enjoy the doll you were just given before wanting another one," Mom said with a shake of her head.

Multiple Select

The New Doll by Barbara Paulsen

"Happy Birthday Clare!" Mom said as she slid a steaming pile of pancakes smothered in syrup in front of Clare. "What did you get for me?" Clare asked eagerly, grabbing the colorful package by her plate. "Clare!" Mom began in a tone of disapproval, but Clare was already ripping open the wrapping paper. The paper fell away to expose a delicate doll wearing a long, flowing dress. "Oh, she is just what I wanted!" Clare said, jumping up to hug her mom. "Now I just need the Patricia doll." "I had hoped you would enjoy the doll you were just given before wanting another one," Mom said with a shake of her head. "Hurry up and eat." Clare was excited to be one doll closer to a full set. As they stopped at a light, Clare's gaze was caught by a man and little girl sitting on a park bench. The little girl was holding a doll with a broken leg and matted hair, sadly twisting its broken leg to try to make it fit back together. Clare looked thoughtfully at her beautiful new doll, knowing what she would want someone to do if she were in the little girl's place. "Mom, can you pull over please?" Clare said suddenly. After the car had slowed to a stop, Clare jumped out and ran to the little girl, handing her the new doll without a word. The smile of gratitude on the little girl's face made Clare's heart soar. Mom smiled her approval as Clare sat back down. "That's my girl," she said. Directions: Select ALL the correct answers.

Which two themes are found in the passage?

• Every cloud has a silver lining.

• You can't always get what you want.

• It is better to give than to receive.

• Do to others what you want done to you.

Multiple Choice

Which two sentences from the passage show that winning isn't everything?

• When Howard saw Donovan cross the finish line, he thought, Why should I even bother finishing? I lost.

• He passed some of the other runners and crossed the finish line in fifth place.

• Howard felt proud that he did not give up. He was glad that he had good friends who encouraged him.

• That race was longer and harder than I thought it would be.

The theme is the most important idea or message in a story. The theme will say something about life or human nature. Sometimes the theme is a moral or short lesson about life. The theme is often repeated in the story. Sometimes the author does not tell you the theme. Instead, you have to figure it out from the text.

What is the

theme?

Answer: Slow and steady wins the race.

​ Explanation: The author did not tell you what the theme is in this story. You have to figure it out. The tortoise was very slow, yet he kept going at a steady pace and won the race. The theme is, "Slow and steady wins the race."

Multiple Choice

What is the story's message?

• People are sometimes in the wrong place at the wrong time.

• People are sometime too afraid to take any action.

• People are sometime capable of more than they thought.

• People are sometimes not able to do what is expected of them.

Multiple Choice

Another message of this story is that?

• When you are afraid, you can always run away.

• Sometimes you must show courage even though you are afraid.

• You will be rewarded if you are honest and kind.

• If you are cowardly and weak, you will win against evilI

Multiple Choice

Which statement can be made based on the passage?

• When you do something bad, something bad will happen to you.

• There is nothing that is more important than money.

• When buying something expensive, check more than one store.

• You can always trust the people who are related to you.

Multiple Choice

What is one theme found in the story?

• Those who work the least complain the most.

• Working with a positive attitude gets the work done more quickly

• Try to do the least amount of work as possible.

• Everyone should work together to make tasks easier.

Multiple Choice

The Bear and the Two Travelers

Two men were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and hid in the branches. The other fell flat on the ground. The Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelled him all over. The man held his breath and pretended he was dead. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was gone, the other traveler came down from the tree, and asked his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

What is the message of this story?

• Trouble shows you who your friends really are.

• You can always depend on your friends.

• We all have to take care of our own problems.

• It is more important to be brave than smart.

Multiple Choice

The Goose With the Golden Eggs

One day a farmer went to the nest of his goose and found a yellow and glittering egg. He took it home and soon found that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing happened, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs. Then one day he thought, "Why should I settle for one golden egg a day when I could get all the gold at once?" So he killed the goose and opened it. But he found nothing inside. And now all he had was a dead goose. adapted from http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/cgi/aesop1.cgi?sel&TheGooseWiththeGoldenEggs

The message of this story is-

• if you take good care of animals they will make you rich.

• geese never lay more than one egg at a time.

• if you have a lot of money you should give some away.

• if you are greedy you may end up with nothing.

Multiple Choice

The Wind and the Sun

The Wind and the Sun were arguing about who was stronger. Suddenly, they saw a traveler coming down the road, and the Sun said, “I see a way to decide our argument. Whichever of us can cause that traveler to take off his cloak shall be the winner. You begin.” So the Sun hid behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveler. He blew cold, rough, and powerful winds. But the harder he blew, the more closely the traveler wrapped his cloak around him. The Wind gave up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone happily in all his glory upon the traveler. The traveler felt warmed by the gentle Sun and took off his cloak. adapted from "The Wind and the Sun" by Aesop

What is the theme of this story?

• A person should always travel with a cloak.

• The Sun is more powerful than the Wind

• Being gentle works better than being rough.

• People like warm weather more than cold weather.