Unit 1, Week 3
Novel Study: Theme
Objectives:
● Determine a theme of a text.
● Cite textual evidence to support the analysis of what the text says explicitly.
● Cite textual evidence to support the analysis of inferences drawn from the text.
Lesson 1: Identifying and Understanding Theme
Opening questions for discussion: Can anyone tell me the theme of the fable, The Boy That Cried Wolf? (Or insert any fable that your students may know. If they have never been exposed to a fable read one aloud.) What was the moral of the story The Boy That Cried wolf? In fables, the moral is the theme of the story.
T will explain and discuss how theme in fiction is its view about life and how people behave. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself.
I DO:
What is theme? Theme is the central message that the author wants you to learn or know. Theme is a broad idea about life. Theme can be tricky because it is not usually stated and must be inferred.
T will contrast Theme with Plot or Main Idea. (Students frequently confuse theme with the plot or main idea.) On the board or chart paper:
● Determine a theme of a text.
● Cite textual evidence to support the analysis of what the text says explicitly.
● Cite textual evidence to support the analysis of inferences drawn from the text.
Lesson 1: Identifying and Understanding Theme
Opening questions for discussion: Can anyone tell me the theme of the fable, The Boy That Cried Wolf? (Or insert any fable that your students may know. If they have never been exposed to a fable read one aloud.) What was the moral of the story The Boy That Cried wolf? In fables, the moral is the theme of the story.
T will explain and discuss how theme in fiction is its view about life and how people behave. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself.
I DO:
What is theme? Theme is the central message that the author wants you to learn or know. Theme is a broad idea about life. Theme can be tricky because it is not usually stated and must be inferred.
T will contrast Theme with Plot or Main Idea. (Students frequently confuse theme with the plot or main idea.) On the board or chart paper:
T explains strategies that students can use to uncover the theme:
· Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.
· Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to the theme.
· What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning may they have?
WE DO:
Before viewing the video, have students write the questions down and answer as they watch the video. Start video at 00:00 and end at 2:31. Go to link YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM
Why is theme important?
What is this definition of theme?
Does the theme only apply to the story you’re reading? Why or why not?
How is a subject and theme different?
YOU DO:
S will continue in small groups, completing graphic organizer. S will share out with peers and the class.
· Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.
· Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to the theme.
· What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning may they have?
WE DO:
Before viewing the video, have students write the questions down and answer as they watch the video. Start video at 00:00 and end at 2:31. Go to link YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM
Why is theme important?
What is this definition of theme?
Does the theme only apply to the story you’re reading? Why or why not?
How is a subject and theme different?
YOU DO:
S will continue in small groups, completing graphic organizer. S will share out with peers and the class.
Exit Slip: What is the theme? How is theme different than subject? How can you discover the theme in a story?
Lesson 2: Understanding Theme of The Giver
I DO:
T will model using The Giver, choosing one possible theme using textual evidence to support his/her theme using 3 guiding questions/statements:
WE DO:
Students in partnerships will use the 3 questions to determine one possible theme and cite textual evidence that supports that theme. T will monitor and guide discussions.
YOU DO:
Students will fill out the graphic organizer and pick another possible theme.
Exit slip: One question I still have about theme is…
Lesson 3-4: Looking deeper into theme
While viewing video clip, have students take notes on the video, using the following guiding questions:
How to find one of the main themes
A. See what happens to the main character.
a. What happens to the main character?
i. Readers usually identify with the main character, especially if s/he is the protagonist
ii.
iii.
iv.
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
i. Good way:
ii. Bad way:
iii.
iv.
c. Symbolism
i.
ii.
iii.
B. Watch for statements of theme.
a.
b.
c.
C. Look at the title for clues.
a.
b.
c.
D. Look at the conflict.
a.
b.
c.
I DO:
T will model revising her themes developed yesterday, connecting the video suggestions of how to find a MAJOR theme. T might present a think aloud asking herself (aloud):
A. See what happens to the main character. (I want to look more deeply at Jonas’s character.)
a. What happens to the main character? (As Jonas starts to receive the memories of the Giver, those memories becomes his, the Giver loses them. He begins to feel the happiness of some memories and the horrors of others. I can find more than three pieces of text that support the theme that memories are important.)
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
c. Symbolism
B. Watch for statements of theme. (On top of page 77 the Giver explains, ““Simply stated, “ he said, “although it’s not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all the memories I have within me. Memories of the past.” If this is the Givers “only” job, than memories are important.)
C. Look at the title for clues. (I’m not sure that the title can help me too much. Although in reading the book, the Giver gives Jonas the memories.)
D. Look at the conflict. (There is great conflict within the Giver to pass painful memories to the Receiver, Jonas, because of the tremendous pain Jones’s predecessor experienced, but he has little choice.)
(For all these reasons, I think that one major theme is the importance of memory. I will find at least 3 textual pieces of evidence that supports my claim that one theme is the importance of memory.)
WE DO:
S will work within groups think through another possible theme. Have students discuss and write using the prompts below:
A. See what happens to the main character.
a. What happens to the main character?
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
c. Symbolism
B. Watch for statements of theme.
C. Look at the title for clues.
D. Look at the conflict.
YOU DO:
Write in your notebooks, explaining one of the themes of The Giver. Use textual evidence to support your claim. Use any notes of the group discussion to help you write your essay.
Lesson 2: Understanding Theme of The Giver
- T will review the concept of theme and discuss/recap what S discovered in lesson 1.
- T will show video from YouTube: Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM start on 2:21 through 6:13
- Students will practice choosing theme and evidence to support it.
I DO:
T will model using The Giver, choosing one possible theme using textual evidence to support his/her theme using 3 guiding questions/statements:
- What is one possible theme the author is trying to convey?
- What generalizations about the world, Jonas’s world, can we make?
- Can I find at least three pieces of textual evidence that will support my theme?
WE DO:
Students in partnerships will use the 3 questions to determine one possible theme and cite textual evidence that supports that theme. T will monitor and guide discussions.
YOU DO:
Students will fill out the graphic organizer and pick another possible theme.
Exit slip: One question I still have about theme is…
Lesson 3-4: Looking deeper into theme
- T will review the concept of theme and discuss/recap what S discovered in lesson 1.
- T will show video from YouTube: Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM start on 6:14 through 9:40.
- Students will practice choosing theme and evidence to support it.
While viewing video clip, have students take notes on the video, using the following guiding questions:
How to find one of the main themes
A. See what happens to the main character.
a. What happens to the main character?
i. Readers usually identify with the main character, especially if s/he is the protagonist
ii.
iii.
iv.
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
i. Good way:
ii. Bad way:
iii.
iv.
c. Symbolism
i.
ii.
iii.
B. Watch for statements of theme.
a.
b.
c.
C. Look at the title for clues.
a.
b.
c.
D. Look at the conflict.
a.
b.
c.
I DO:
T will model revising her themes developed yesterday, connecting the video suggestions of how to find a MAJOR theme. T might present a think aloud asking herself (aloud):
A. See what happens to the main character. (I want to look more deeply at Jonas’s character.)
a. What happens to the main character? (As Jonas starts to receive the memories of the Giver, those memories becomes his, the Giver loses them. He begins to feel the happiness of some memories and the horrors of others. I can find more than three pieces of text that support the theme that memories are important.)
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
c. Symbolism
B. Watch for statements of theme. (On top of page 77 the Giver explains, ““Simply stated, “ he said, “although it’s not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all the memories I have within me. Memories of the past.” If this is the Givers “only” job, than memories are important.)
C. Look at the title for clues. (I’m not sure that the title can help me too much. Although in reading the book, the Giver gives Jonas the memories.)
D. Look at the conflict. (There is great conflict within the Giver to pass painful memories to the Receiver, Jonas, because of the tremendous pain Jones’s predecessor experienced, but he has little choice.)
(For all these reasons, I think that one major theme is the importance of memory. I will find at least 3 textual pieces of evidence that supports my claim that one theme is the importance of memory.)
WE DO:
S will work within groups think through another possible theme. Have students discuss and write using the prompts below:
A. See what happens to the main character.
a. What happens to the main character?
b. Does the main character change over the course of the book?
c. Symbolism
B. Watch for statements of theme.
C. Look at the title for clues.
D. Look at the conflict.
YOU DO:
Write in your notebooks, explaining one of the themes of The Giver. Use textual evidence to support your claim. Use any notes of the group discussion to help you write your essay.