Finding Theme

What is theme?

• A lesson or moral in a story

• what the text is mainly about

• how the author feels about the text

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

What is the difference between theme and main idea?

• Main idea is what the text is mainly about and theme is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is what the text is mainly about and Main idea is the lesson or moral in the story

• Theme is specific to characters in the story and main idea is not

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

A theme should be a statement, not just one word. 

• TRUE
• FALSE

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story
• Just read the beginning of the story
• Think about what the character has learned
• Read the ending of the story

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

Baylee wanted to be friends with Alexis. She knew Alexis loved dancing, so Baylee asked her if she wanted to make a dance routine up at recess. She thought if she pretended to like dancing that Alexis would like her better. Baylee tried her best, but dancing was just not her thing. Alexis could tell Baylee was not having fun, so she asked her if she wanted to go play tag. Baylee smiled with excitement. What is the theme?

• Loyalty

• Friendship

• Money can't buy happiness (or friends)

• Be yourself

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.2

Mark had so many toys, but he would not share with his sister. He hid all his toys in his closet so she could not play with them. When his mother came looking for Mark and his sister, she could only find his sister. She handed her a plate of cookies to enjoy. Mark was sure his sister would not share the cookies since he was not sharing his toys. But his sister knew the right thing to do was to share. Mark was so happy that his sister gave him a cookie, that he shared his toys with her. What is the theme?

• Friendship

• Helping others

• Do the right thing and people will follow.

• Practice and persistence pay off.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.2

Sandy had a huge Social Studies project do on Monday. She did not even start it yet, but she knew it would not take her long. So she decided to go out with her friends to the movie on Friday night and then sleepover her other friends on Saturday night. When she got home Sunday morning her stomach was hurting her. She did not feel quite right. Her mother felt her forehead, and it felt warm. She was coming down with something, and just could not concentrate on her Social Studies project. What was she going to do? What is the theme?

• Money can't buy happiness (or friends).

• Helping others

• Do the right thing and people will follow.

• Don't put things off to the last minute

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

Brady knew he was not the best athlete on the baseball team. Everyday he would go outside and practice throwing and hitting with his Dad. The other kids on the team just seemed to know what they were doing all the time. Brady had to really think about what he should be doing on the field. Where should he throw the ball? When does he steal? But Brady kept practicing and improving. By the end of the season he won most improved

award. What was she going to do? What is the theme?

• Money can't buy happiness (or friends).

• Helping others

• Practice and persistence pay off.

• Don't put things off to the last minute

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

How can the reader find the theme?

• Look for repeated words

• Think about changes in the character's behavior

• Look at the first paragraph only

• Think of a one word subject

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.2

A story can have more than one theme.

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9