Lesson Plan

There’s No I in Theme-work!

That’s right! The theme applies to everyone! Use this interactive lesson to teach your students how to find the theme of a fictional text.
Need extra help for EL students? Try the Problem and Solution Practice pre-lesson.
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Need extra help for EL students? Try the Problem and Solution Practice pre-lesson.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to find and articulate the theme of a fictional text as a general life lesson.

The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
EL adjustments

Introduction

(2 minutes)
Find the Theme Flowchart
  • Tell students that today we are going to look for the central lesson, or theme, in a fictional story.
  • Go over the definition of theme with the class. Discuss how a theme is similar to the moral of the story. It is a central lesson or idea that is revealed through the events in a story. Note that a story may have more than one theme.

Beginning

  • Provide a definition for the key term "fiction" in (L2) and/or in students' home language (L1).

Intermediate

  • Have ELs discuss what they know about fictional stories with a partner and then share out as a whole group. Allow them to use L1 or L2.
  • Provide a word bank for students to use when discussing what they know about fictional stories.