The Happy Man's Shirt

What is the theme of the story?

• Be happy in the skin you are in

• Happiness is something that cannot be bought.

• Being happy means you cannot embrace new challenges.

• Keeping happy people near you is valuable.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the following actions that develops the theme does the king first take to help his son?

• He asks a priest to be his bishop.

• He issues a decree for help.

• He models his actions on a happy king.

• He asks a happy man for his shirt.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What do the interactions between the king and the young man reveal about the young man? How do their interactions further the theme?

• The young man is happy with who he is and what he has in life.

• The young man does not know what would make him happy.

• The young man wants something from the king.

• The young man only says he is happy when really he is not.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which event best furthers the theme that the king is willing to do anything to help his son?

• The king sends ambassadors all over the world to find a happy man.

• The king goes hunting because he is at his wit's end.

• The king asks the young man to come to the capital.

• The king asks his son probing questions about what is wrong.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What does the king learn from the men the ambassadors bring him to him and how does this further the theme?

• They are all happy but still need more.

• There is no such thing as being truly happy.

• They do not want to give the prince their shirt.

• They are just looking to better themselves.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What would be the best question to ask yourself after reading the passage to help you determine how the story events developed the theme?

• Why was the prince unhappy?

• What is the key to happiness?

• What lesson did the prince learn?

• How did the king learn a lesson?

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is a real-life connection you can make to aid in understanding the theme of the story?

• The way most kings cannot really help their children.

• The way most people are on a constant quest for happiness.

• The way most people do not listen to what they are told.

• The way most children do not obey their parents.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The actions of the king lead the reader to infer--

• he wants his son to be happy but not at his own expense

• he thinks his son is going to die unless he finds love

• he does not understand what the wise men meant

• he is not a very capable king and needs the help of advisors

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Basketball tryouts are getting ready to start and Seth walks in the gym. Adam starts laughing and says, "Are you kidding me?" Michael reminds his friend Adam that he should worry about his own performance and leave Seth alone. Nevertheless, Adam continues to taunt Seth throughout the tryouts. Seth, who has been practicing for months, tries his best and makes the team. Meanwhile, Adam, who is too focused on making fun of Seth, misses several easy lay-ups and free-throws. In the end, Seth makes the team while Adam does not.

Think about Adam and Seth and what the theme of their story is. Write 3-5 sentences that state the theme and how Adam and Seth's interactions and the story events led you to this conclusion.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2