Teaching Theme Worksheets Theme Task Cards Theme Posters 3.2 4.2

Are your students struggling to find the theme of a story? Let's face it, this is one of the most difficult standards to teach and one of the hardest for students to grasp. Your approach to teaching theme is key and this toolkit provides ALL the essential resources, strategies, and activities you need at your fingertips to assist your students easily and successfully determine themes in literature.

This theme toolkit is chock-full of engaging meaningful activities relevant and valuable to your students' ability to independently determine theme and central message as well as summarize stories during the process.

With so many resources, you can scaffold or differentiate your instruction the way you see fit to best meet your students' needs.

In this print and digital toolkit, you get:

✅ An introduction to teaching theme and message. This understanding is key to effective instruction that guides students in the right direction with this expectation.

✅ Theme Anchor Chart that can be displayed all year and will become students’ go-to reference for helping them think about the big ideas and central messages found in the many stories they read.

✅ Theme Definition Mini-Posters- defining each theme (compliments the anchor chart)

✅ Theme Student Bookmarks for student reference

✅ Double-Sided Flipbook- can be used with any story using the Somebody, Wanted, But, So method for summarizing literature

✅ 2 Journal Response Prompts (4 student copies to a page)

✅ Colored theme graphic organizers (for retelling and determining theme and message) Make them into a poster and laminate so you can be used as a tool for modeled lessons throughout the year. It can be reused with each read aloud lesson.

✅Theme blackline masters of the graphic organizers for student copies that can be used…

• ✍ during modeled lessons
• ✍ as a writing response task to your read aloud (once students have had practice with it)
• ✍ during students’ independent reading time (with self-selected stories)
• ✍ as they listen to a story at a center or online
• ✍ as a formative assessment task with any passage or story

✅ Readers’ Notebook Theme Vocabulary templates for learning theme vocabulary such as compassion, perseverance, etc.

✅ Character Quote Bubble Activities- Students apply their knowledge of themes by creating character quotes

✅ 3 Mini-assessments to check understanding of theme vocabulary, identify themes of story scenarios, and a written response check for theme and message to be used with any story

✅ Determining Theme Open Response and Rubric that can be used with any story

✅ 3 completed story samples to have at your fingertips as you begin to guide students through the process during your modeled lessons. (The Empty Pot, Seven Spools of Thread, & Ant and Grasshopper)

✅ Theme Vocabulary Activities to help your students grasp vocabulary through application and real-world connections

✅ 3 Center Task Activity: (scaffolded from knowledge-base to application)

• Matching Themes with Their Definitions
• Matching Themes with Character Quotes
• Matching Themes with Various Messages

Each center Task includes:

• ✏️ Center task directions for students (Colored Copy)
• ✏️ A set of Task Card Matches (in two versions: a colored version & a blackline version)
• ✏️ Student answer form (labeled with the common core standards)
• ✏️ Answer key
• The task cards are already mismatched on each page for your convenience. Copies can be given to students as is, and they can cut and match accordingly.

Note: This toolkit provides multiple approaches to finding the theme & central message using questioning strategies, organizers, and activities that guide students' thinking.

With almost 3,000 classrooms using this resource, see what teachers and students ❤️love❤️ about this essential Theme & Message Toolkit:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Carissa D. wrote- "This is an INCREDIBLE source for theme and message! It is the best one I have seen and I have researched a lot on what the most successful way to teach theme and the author’s message. My kids were so engaged during our week long focus on theme and message. 100% of my students were able to identify the theme and message of two stories on their Friday assessment. Thank you!!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Dana H. wrote- "Loved both your recounting and message structures. Your centers were also amazing for getting the kids to really apply their understanding of the traits that were included. I bought this late in the year, so some pieces were review. I can't wait to restructure my use of the these resources next year so they flow naturally. Thanks for all this work!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Julie H. wrote- "Theme is so hard for 9 year olds, who have limited life experiences, to grasp. This made it more concrete. Thanks!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Danielle B. wrote- "Just like with your character trait resource, I LOVE your task cards. I use them whole group to introduce and practice the skill and then I keep them in our literacy center area, so the kids can revisit them more independently. I keep the posters hung while we are working on the concept and they are simple enough for the kids to really refer back to. This is a wonderful purchase!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Charlene V. wrote- "Love this resource for third grade! The scaffolds are perfect with vocabulary support for themes and graphic organizers to lead student through deep thinking about central message. I've been so impressed with the sophistication of their responses with these tools! Thank you!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Virginia T. wrote- "I used this resource to help my students understand theme. The graphic organizers are wonderful! My students were able to track their thinking effectively and develop good theme statements. Great resource!"

Teaching Theme using cursive posters: (over 50 posters)

Teaching Themes Bundle

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Copyright © Cherie Marie- Teaching with Intentionality

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