Theme

What is the theme of a story?

• the mood of the story

• The story's setting

• What the author wants to teach the reader

• What the narrator says in the story

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

Lucy is a superhero. There is an evil villain approaching Lucy's small-town of Gray. Lucy hears of this news, and she instantly begins training so she can defeat him.

What theme can we take away from this summary of a story?

• Friendship is important.

• Treat others how you would like to be treated.

• You must work hard to reach your goals.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Three butterflies notice an overturned honey pot. Two of the butterflies decide to land in the honey and start eating it. But the oldest butterfly stays back. The two butterflies tease the older butterfly, but then get stuck in the honey. What is the moral of this story?

• Overeating leads to illness.

• The first to try something gets rewarded.

• Some treats aren't worth risking your safety.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.3

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.
What is the theme?

• be persistent
• be honest
• always share with others
• respect your family

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.5

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.
What is the theme?

• share with your neighbor
• work before you play
• be respectful
• don't be greedy

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?

• Be honest.
• Don't be greedy.
• Always share your things with others.
• Be respectful to others.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.5

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.5

All Cameron wanted to do with his life was be a singer. He didn't pay attention in school and he spent all of this 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 Cameron 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 Cameron's plan; he wasn't any good at singing. Cameron 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 to 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 Cameron dropped out of high school to focus on his music career, the years passed and the doors never opened.

• No matter what your dream or goal in life is, always get an education because you never know what might happen.

• Always listen to what people say about you

• Never give up on your dreams

• You don't necessarily need an education to get ahead in life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.3

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 in the hallway, he caller 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 planning 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. 

• Don't go to parties if you think you'll be tricked
• Being mean to people will let you know that you like them
• Always be honest about your feelings, say and do what you think and feel
• Treat people kindly 

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.3

Which of the following is a NOT a theme?

• Lying may have consequences.

• Mrs. White pleaded with Mr. White to wish for their son to be alive.

• Never judge those based on their appearances.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2