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PPT
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Curated OER

What is Theme?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
What is theme, and how can you find themes in literary works? These and other questions are answered by a colorful and engaging presentation that not only defines the term but also provides easy to understand examples. The slides...
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Worksheet
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Curated OER

To Kill a Mockingbird: Theme

For Students 8th - 9th
So many themes are expertly woven through Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. On the first page, scholars will read five themes, selecting an incident and a quote to highlight that theme. On page two, they use chapters 29-31 to...
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Curated OER

Dr. Seuss and Universal Themes

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Discover some of the themes of Dr. Seuss's major books. They see that despite being written for young people, Dr. Seuss' books contain powerful messages and important themes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Same Theme, Different Story Using Fox by Margaret Wild

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Middle schoolers work with themes in this instructional activity, which is based on Fox by Margaret Wild. Because the book has multiple themes, it is a great way to transition into exploring literary analysis and writing stories. A Six...
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PPT
Curated OER

Exploring Themes in Literature: The Oral Tradition

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Are you are considering a unit on Beowulf or Superman, on myths, or tricksters? Here's a great overview you can use to launch a study of universal themes and archetypes. The focus here is on the oral tradition, but the concepts apply to...
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Organizer
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Curated OER

Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird

For Students 8th - 9th
Can you name the most important themes in To Kill a Mockingbird? Help your class study seven themes throughout their reading of the classic. They search for examples linking to education, bravery/cowardice, racial prejudice, social class...
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Curated OER

Thinking About Theme

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
Writers use the literary element of conflict to develop their theme. Use the conflict between the Johnny and the ScreeWees in Terry Pratchett’s Only You Can Save Mankind to model how a major theme is revealed. The conflict between the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theme Matters

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fifth graders read to find the purpose of a piece of writing. They explore the theme of Bridge to Terabithia through events in the story. Furthermore, they consider how they would find a theme and examine a new text for its theme.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deciding Theme

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Read aloud to your class the fable "The Lion and the Mouse" as you explore characters' choices and the effects they have on a story. Apply what is discussed to finding a theme of the chapter "Not Giving Up" from The Wizard of Oz. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 3: A Poem's Theme

For Teachers 5th Standards
Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems by Barbara Rogasky is the foundation of this lesson plan on theme identification. Critical thinkers read three different poems from the book then attempt to find the message the author is sending her readers....
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Printables
Curated OER

Elements of Fiction

For Teachers 1st - 8th
The metaphor of a pot of soup and a series of colorful templates remind young writers of the elements that make for a rich story. Pepper the plot with carrot/character, potato/point of view, corn/conflict, tomato/theme, and season with...
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PPT
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Curated OER

A Theme Is...

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Colorful contemporary images contained in a PowerPoint presentation will capture the attention of class members and model for them the how to distinguish between the subject and the theme of a work. A great want to introduce this...
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PPT
Curated OER

Elements of Fiction

For Teachers 4th - 5th
A wide variety of information regarding the elements of fiction is presented in this PowerPoint. Viewers are directed to trace their hand on a blank piece of paper and label each finger with one of the 5 elements of fiction. Additional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

High School Literary Paragraph Development

For Teachers 10th
You can cover literary elements, writing organization, and proofreading skills in this SMART board lesson. Using student paragraphs from a previous assignment, the class reviews the best examples of writing. A SMART board activity guides...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Literary Devices

For Teachers 8th Standards
Eighth graders identify figurative language and poetry in this literary analysis lesson. Using Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and a YouTube video for "The Walrus and the Carpenter," young readers complete a literary device...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching "Theme" with Children's Literature

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this exercise, learners examine the difference between a theme, topic, and moral. After a class discussion on the definition of literary themes, the instructor reads The Cello of Mr. O by Jane Cutler. Next, individuals analyze the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Compare and contrast the themes of two works by J.R.R. Tolkien. High schoolers read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, Then they write an essay that compares the themes found in each novel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Farm: Symbolism and Theme

For Teachers 11th - 12th
If you want some help with teaching themes and symbols in Animal Farm, this may be beneficial. After a class discussion about possible themes, class members write a paragraph explaining which they believe is the most important. Next,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Themes Across Texts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Read various texts to compare the themes across each text. Learners write a journal entry describing the most beautiful scenery they've seen and use a map of the United States to locate the Sequoia National Park and Muir Woods. They then...
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Writing
Curated OER

Animal Farm: Theme of Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

For Students 8th - 11th
"Four legs good, two legs bad..." Focusing on the themes from George Orwell's Animal Farm, this reading comprehension worksheet prompts middle schoolers to respond to several short answer and essay questions. They may also complete their...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Identifying Theme

For Students 7th - 8th
What's theme, and can texts of every length have one? Explore the themes of fives short reading passages with your middle school class. Encourage them to highlight specific places in the text where they recognized the theme. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thinking about Theme

For Teachers 6th - 7th Standards
Sixth graders explore theme in science fiction texts by examining how plot conflicts are resolved. This resource focuses on Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, but the approach and guiding questions could apply to a variety of texts.
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IPDAE

Themes in Short Stories

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
"What is the theme of this story?" The very question can spark fear in the minds of readers and incinerate confidence. Here you will discover an exercise that shows how writers use the tools of setting, plot, conflict, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Story Matches the Given Theme?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Model for young learners how to determine the theme of a story. Read aloud Aesop’s The Fox and the Stork. Chart the plot and the main idea of the fable, showing class members how these elements support the theme. Fable titles for guided...

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