Central Idea and Theme

What is the best definition of THEME?

• A universal truth, moral, or idea that the author wants to express. 
• The location and time of the story
• The events that occur in the story
• The author's reason for writing a story

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
• You can severely break your leg while crossing the street.
• Life is short; make the most of it.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."

What is the objective summary?

• Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.

• Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.

• Mark is the best skater at the park.

• Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!

What is the central idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. Today explorers still carry and eat this food.
What is the passage mostly about?

• who uses pemmican today
• what can be put into pemmican
• how pemmican was prepared by Native Americans.
• why people eat pemmican today

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

What is the central idea of the passage?

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

• Leopards are losing their homes

• The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

• The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

What is the central idea of the passage?

Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

• The light bulb was an important invention

• Thomas Edison was an important inventor

• Thomas Edison was an excellent student

• Creating inventions is a difficult process

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

• Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2