1. Theme
Where can we find theme??

2. Analogy: Making a connection between two things that have some similarities/ common traits.

3. A theme is a message that an author is trying to express through their work. It is the deeper meaning in the text that might not be obviously stated.
Create own meaning: “if you were to tell a friend what a theme is in your own words how would it be?”
Define: Stated

4. Remind them about “Infer” definition

5. NOW
in your words!
Go back and show slide with List of theme criteria

6. Ideas, Topics and Details
Hope
Jealousy
Friendship
Family
Love
Do not mistaken with main ideas topics and details: Looking at major subjects in texts.. Themes is made up of all these things and make sense out of them.
Think of ideas, subjects and details as clues to solving a case. The case that is themes!
Subjects and topics are the big ideas. Obvious idea that are being discussed that can be used as clues to the meaning.
Use these obvious things to create or find the theme.
Make cards that students can choose randomly that have topic or subject ideas- we will work on them together as a class.

7. Technique For Finding The Theme
If you are stuck in trying to figure out what the author could mean use these questions to help:
How did the character react to obstacles
What important decisions did the character(s) make?

8. Step 1: Read
Step 1: read : “stone soup”

9. List Topics/ Ideas/ Details
Step 2:
List Topics/ Ideas/ Details
List topics or ideas that you think are important to the story

10. - Choose ONE of your topics/ ideas/ subjects
Step 3:
- Choose ONE of your topics/ ideas/ subjects
- Fill in the blank to find your theme
“ The author believes that___________________ (your topic/ idea/ subject) ____________________________
_____________________________________________
-Now remove “The author believes that” and...
The author believes WHAT about ____________ (your topic/ idea/ subject)

11. TADA! You have your theme! You have got your theme!
[ examples of themes}
The lion king: revenge, duty, friendship- “ Revenge will lead to destruction and self-harm” or “Duty is inevitable and you cannot run away from it. Accept it with pride.”
Pinocchio: wanting what you can’t have- “You will not find happiness seeking what you cannot have”

12. How do we know what the author
THINKS
BELIEVES OR ?
But….
(use booklet to guide students through questions)

13. Love is important. Loyalty is good. Friendship is awesome.
Incomplete Themes
Love is important.
Loyalty is good.
Friendship is awesome.
BUT WHY????
Don’t be vague - you

14. Why is All this important?
-Important part of response writing
- understanding what the author intended to learn something from what you read
*****[insert slide that lists the reason why next]
END OF CLASS 1

15. Response Writing
Themes are an important part of response writing. You will need to know how to identify and come up with themes so you are able to write about your understanding of a text.
Better Understanding
Themes help you find messages and understand what you read/ consumer. Reading does not always relate to literature. You can read different forms of media like music, art, film and poetry. When you find themes you are viewing the full picture of whatever you are reading.
List reasons

16. Topic VS Theme START CLASS 2: Topic vs theme game
List of topics and subjects and a list of themes- have them jump up if it’s a theme and sit down if it’s a topic
And then how they can be used with the trick

17. Friendships can influence the person you become
Kindness
Love
Friendships can influence the person you become
Courage will get you past fears
Loyalty is built on trust and honesty
Evils of Racism
Respect Nature

18. CLIP
The fox and the mouse :
Spellbound:
In a heart beat:

19. Tortoise and The Hare Short Story
Aesop fable : The tortois and the hare

20. Song: Upside Down by Jack Johnson
(Place lyrics on the slide- or hyperlink it to an image)

21. Theme Activity!