Finding Theme

THEMESSAGE

Theme: The life lesson or moral of the story, it is the message the author is trying to convey through their writing.

1. Calm

2. Blue

3. Sad

4. Problems ahead

What mood/ theme does this represent?

1. Red- bright

2. Destruction

3. Unknown

4. Teamwork

What mood/ theme does this picture represent?

1. There will always be something you don’t have

2. You have to be willing to try

3. Work hard for what you want

4. There is no common theme

What is the common theme of these quotes?

Word Cloud

What are some examples of theme that you know of? Answer with 1 or more examples

"Hard work pays off"

• Discuss - what do you think this quote means?

• Can you think of a movie or book where this lesson applies?

• Can you give an example of what this lesson looks like?

  I will spin the wheel for share-alouds!

  3 minutes

Poll

Are main Idea and theme the same thing?

• Yes

• No

• Main Idea: A clownfish searches for his son.

• Theme: Parents must learn to trust their children

Finding Nemo

• Main Idea: A kind girl is mistreated by her stepfamily but finds happiness.

• Theme: Kindness and patience are rewarded.

Cinderella

• Theme = the life lesson or moral of the story.

• Main Idea = what the story is about (specific to the story).

Multiple Select

One difference between theme and main idea is.....

• Different stories can have the same theme but not the same main idea.

• The main idea is what the story is mainly about , while the theme is what you learned from the story

• The main idea is a summary of the text's events while the theme is just the last sentence

• The theme is always stated directly in the text while the main idea is not

I wear a mask, so all can see,
The version of myself that’s free.
Yet deep inside, behind my face,
A part of me feels out of place.

I drop the mask, and take a stand,
My true self reaching out a hand.
No need to hide, no need to flee,
The bravest thing is being me.

1. ​What does the mask symbolize?

2. How does the speaker feel in stanza 1 compared to stanza 2?

3. What is the life lesson taught in this poem?

4. What lines best support the theme?

   
   

Poll

CFU- Theme is always stated in the text.

• Yes, I can find a sentence in the text that has the theme written.

• No, you infer what theme is in your own words based on what is learned throughout the story.

Word Cloud

A single drop, a tiny stone,
A gentle word, a kindness shown.
A ripple spreads, so far, so wide,
Touching hearts on every side.

You never know what words can do,
The good that may return to you.
So speak with love, and cast your stone,
Let kindness shine, and love be known.

What words from stanza 1 help the reader identify the theme?

Multiple Choice

What theme was the author trying to convey in this poem?

• The theme of kindness and the ripple effect of positive actions.
• The theme of despair and hopelessness.
• The theme of greed and selfishness.
• The theme of isolation and loneliness.

Multiple Choice

What is the theme of this passage?

• Overcoming anxiety and the importance of preparation.
• The importance of musical talent.
• The joy of performing in front of an audience.
• The benefits of practicing daily.

Multiple Choice

What is the theme of this passage?

• Success comes from luck and chance.
• Hard work is overrated in achieving goals.
• Talent alone guarantees victory.
• Persistence and dedication lead to success.

Multiple Choice

The author conveys the theme through the use of-

• Characaters' actions

• Word choice

• Dialogue

• imagery

Open Ended

What is the message the author is trying to convey in this poem?

Answer with RACE

Multiple Choice

Suzy’s comments influence the

theme because they show that she _

• Does not like the other students

• Does not want others to notice her

• Would like for people to leave her alone

• Would like to be more popular

Multiple Choice

What action on the field trip supports Suzy’s

comments about being invisible?

• She stands back and just watches.

• She wants to feel a shark against her fingers.

• She thinks the tank is too crowded.

• She listens to the bearded aquarium worker.

Word Cloud

What is the overall theme of this selection? Answer in 1 or 2 words

Open Ended

Write what you have learned about theme.

Do you have any questions about theme?

Identifying common themes

Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb, failed over 1,000 times before he finally created a working design. Instead of giving up, he saw each failure as a lesson.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” he once said.

Because of his dedication, Edison’s invention changed the world.
Today, lightbulbs illuminate homes, schools, and cities, all because he refused to quit.

His story shows that success doesn’t come easily—it comes from hard work and learning from mistakes.

Non- Fiction

Lena wiped the sweat from her forehead as she knelt in the dirt, pulling weeds from her tiny vegetable garden.

“You’re wasting your time,” her younger brother, Mateo, said. “It’s just dirt and seeds.”

Lena didn’t listen. Every day, she watered, weeded, and made sure her plants got plenty of sunlight. Weeks passed. Nothing. Then, one morning, green sprouts poked through the soil.

By the end of the summer, Lena carried a basket full of tomatoes and cucumbers into the house. She grinned at Mateo. “Still think I wasted my time?”

Mateo grabbed a cucumber and took a bite. “Okay, okay. You win.”

Fiction

​What is a common theme accross these two texts?

Identifying common themes

In 1967, women were not allowed to run the Boston Marathon. But Katherine Switzer wanted to prove that women were just as strong as men.

She registered using her initials, K.V. Switzer. On race day, she started running alongside the other marathoners. But a race official noticed her and tried to push her off the course!

Katherine didn’t quit. She kept running, finishing all 26.2 miles. Her bravery helped change the rules, and now women compete in marathons all over the world.

Her story proves that reaching your goals is important, even when others doubt you.

Non- Fiction

Maya stood at the edge of the diving board, her toes gripping the rough surface. Below, the water sparkled, waiting.

Her friends had already jumped, laughing as they resurfaced. “Come on, Maya!” they called.

Her heart pounded. What if she belly-flopped? What if she couldn’t swim back up fast enough?

She took a deep breath. One step. Then another. And then—she leaped.

The cool water wrapped around her like a hug. She kicked her way to the surface, gasping and grinning.

“You did it!” her best friend cheered.

Maya laughed. “Let’s do it again.”

Fiction

​What is a common theme between these texts?

Word Cloud

A theme the previous stories had in common is____________

Multiple Choice

One way to find common themes between texts is to....

• Find what they have in common.

• Think about words they had in common.

• Think about their shared experiences/ ideas.

• Two texts cannot have the same theme.