Determining the Theme

Which of the following choices does NOT describe theme?

• the message of a story
  

• the lesson in a story

• the main idea and details of the story

• the moral to a story

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Jennifer sat next to Cindy in math class. Although they didn’t know each other well, Jennifer enjoyed her friendly smile. The other kids, however, always teased Cindy for wearing clothes with rips in them and having shoes with holes. It always made Jennifer feel bad when she heard them do that. One day Jennifer overheard Cindy tell their teacher that her dad had just lost his job and she was sorry but her family just didn’t have the money to buy the supplies needed for the math project. That night, Jennifer counted all of the money she had saved in her bank. The next morning, she got to her classroom early and gave the money to her teacher. She said that she didn’t want Cindy to feel left out and she wanted her teacher to use the money to buy the supplies for Cindy’s project. Her teacher smiled, gave her a hug, and said that she was very proud of her!

What is the best theme for this story?

• Honesty

• Cooperation

• Compassion

• Loyalty

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which 2 things that happened in the story helped you decide on this theme?

• Jennifer sat next to Cindy in math class.

• Jennifer felt bad when she heard the other kids teasing Cindy.

• Jennifer gave up her own money to pay for Cindy’s supplies.

• It always made Jennifer feel bad when she heard them do that.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Even though they were sisters, Suzie and June were nothing alike. If Suzie wanted to jump rope, June wanted to play hopscotch. If June wanted to watch soap operas, Suzie wanted to watch talk shows. Tensions rose to the point that the girls could no longer stand one another’s company. It seemed that they had nothing in common, until the day that progress reports came out. While riding the bus home from school, the girls—startled by how upset the other looked—realized that they were both failing a subject. Suzie was failing math and June was failing reading. Since both girls wanted to pass their classes, they got to talking and agreed to help one another. So everyday after school for the next few weeks, Suzie tutored June in reading and then June tutored Suzie in math. By the time report cards were distributed, Suzie and June were passing all of their classes. The girls were delighted, but their mother was happiest of all. Not just because her daughters passed their classes, but because they had learned to be good sisters.

What is the best theme for this story?

• honesty

• cooperation

• friendship

• acceptance

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which 2 things happened in the story that helped you decide on this theme?

• The girls recognized that they had different strengths and weaknesses.

• Suzie wanted to hopscotch, and June wanted to jump rope.

• They were riding a plane home.

• The girls agreed to tutor each other in their weak subject.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Kyle liked Lucy more than any other girl in the school, but he had an odd way of showing it. When she walked ahead of him in line, he kicked at her shoe. When she passed him on the school yard, he called her “lame Lucy.” He even wrote a mean word on her homework during the bus ride to school. But what puzzled Lucy the most was receiving an invitation to Kyle’s birthday party. Figuring that he was just playing a mean trick on her, Lucy decided not to go, and while Kyle eagerly awaited Lucy’s arrival, Lucy talked on the phone to Jacob. When Kyle finally realized that Lucy was not coming to his party, he was crushed. He decided that the next time he liked a girl, he would just come right out and tell her!

What is the best theme for this story?

• honesty

• cooperation

• friendship

• acceptance

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which 2 things that happened in the story helped you decide on this theme?

• Lucy talked on the phone to John.

• He called her "Lame Lucy".

• Kyle realized that by not telling Lucy he liked her, he lost out on her company.

• Kyle pretended to not like Lucy by playing tricks on her.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

All Victor ever wanted to do with his life was be a singer. He didn’t pay attention in school and he spent all of his time at home watching music videos online and impersonating his idols. His mother tried to teach him the value of getting an education and having a backup plan, but Victor would respond the same way every time, “Mom, I won’t need to know any of that boring old stuff when I’m famous. You’ll see.” But there was one major problem with Victor’s plan: he wasn’t any good at singing. Victor wanted to be a singer so badly, that he didn’t notice the pained look on the faces of those who endured his singing. Because he wanted to be a singer so badly, when honest people told him to find something else to do with his life, he accused them of being “jealous haters” and ignored their advice. After Victor dropped out of high school to focus on his music career, the years passed and he became discouraged and poor.

What is the best theme for this story?

• It is important to study hard and you will most likely succeed.

• You should always do what you want to do; even if people tell you not to.

• It is more important to tell the truth than to be afraid of getting in trouble.

• Sometimes it pays to listen to the advice of others if they are trying to help you.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which 2 things that happened in the story helped you decide on this theme?

• Victor tried out for the football team.

• His mother was trying to help him see the value of an education.

• Victor ended up discouraged and poor; not a successful singer.

• Victor ended up encouraged and rich; a successful singer.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Match the theme with its best definition/description.

Theme- Honesty

• working together to accomplish a common goal

• the state of being truthful

• ability to use items on hand to help solve a problem

• feeling of duty/responsibility

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9