Determining Theme of a Poem

“Ah, ha! Gotcha!”

People say, whenever April

Rolls around. A ritual of trickery.

It’s always the same. We say,

“Look!” when nothing’s there. Everyone

Forgets for a second that today is not like

Other days. It seems that no

One tells the truth today. Do you

Like to play tricks? So do I.

Don’t look now. There’s

A hairy spider on your head. Ah, ha! Made

You look!

Please, don’t get mad. I’m

Only kidding around. Nothing serious.

Eek! Why did you say there was a spider on

Me?

What is the main topic of the poem?

• Spiders will land on your head.

• Friends sometimes make friends mad.

• April Fool's Day is a day for trickery.

• April Fool's Day is a holiday everyone forgets to celebrate.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

“Ah, ha! Gotcha!”

People say, whenever April

Rolls around. A ritual of trickery.

It’s always the same. We say,

“Look!” when nothing’s there. Everyone

Forgets for a second that today is not like

Other days. It seems that no

One tells the truth today. Do you

Like to play tricks? So do I.

Don’t look now. There’s

A hairy spider on your head. Ah, ha! Made

You look!

Please, don’t get mad. I’m

Only kidding around. Nothing serious.

Eek! Why did you say there was a spider on

Me?

What is the theme of "April Fool's Day?"

• Pay attention, there are spiders all around you.

• Those that play tricks on other get tricks played on them.

• Always tell the truth.

• Holidays are important events and need to be remembered.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;

Or surely you'll grow double:

Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;

Why all this toil and trouble?

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:

Come, hear the woodland linnet,

How sweet his music! on my life,

There's more of wisdom in it.

She has a world of ready wealth,

Our minds and hearts to bless—

Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,

Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

Enough of Science and of Art;

Close up those barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.

What is the theme of the poem?

• One can only gain wisdom from studying books, art, and science

• There is only so much wisdom from a book; you must experience life

• Friends are like books; some are scientific and some are artsy

• Sweet music is best heard outdoors near the woodlands

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;

Or surely you'll grow double:

Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;

Why all this toil and trouble?

Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:

Come, hear the woodland linnet,

How sweet his music! on my life,

There's more of wisdom in it.

She has a world of ready wealth,

Our minds and hearts to bless—

Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,

Truth breathed by cheerfulness.

Enough of Science and of Art;

Close up those barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.

Which word describes the theme of the poem?

• sadness

• frustration

• adventurous

• anxiety

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

My dad gave me one dollar bill

"Cause I'm his smartest son,

And I swapped it for two shiny quarters

"Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters

and traded them to Lou

For three dimes--I guess he don't know

That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates

And just cause he can't see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,

And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs

Down at the seed-feed store,

And the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheeks

And closed his eyes and shook his head-

Too proud of me to speak!

What is the theme of the poem?

• Money is hard to come by so take care of it.

• Trading money with others always makes you richer.

• A dollar bill is worth more when it comes from a Dad.

• Having more does not always mean you have more.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

My dad gave me one dollar bill

"Cause I'm his smartest son,

And I swapped it for two shiny quarters

"Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters

and traded them to Lou

For three dimes--I guess he don't know

That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates

And just cause he can't see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,

And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs

Down at the seed-feed store,

And the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheeks

And closed his eyes and shook his head-

Too proud of me to speak!

Which line from the poem best supports the theme?

• I went and showed my Dad.

• Closed his eyes and shook his head

• Just then came along old bind Bates

• Down at the feed-seed store

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9