Here's a hands-on, creative way to practice identifying the theme in a story, and it's just in time for Valentine's Day! This is an engaging activity where your students read a story and determine the hidden message of the story. The finished products make a unique bulletin board or fun school hallway display! It can also be used as a novel entry in an interactive notebook!

Students read four short stories. After reading each story, your students will determine the theme. This craftivity provides differentiation in instruction, based on your students' needs. You can either have your students write the theme independently, or you can give them a list of ten choices, and students have to choose the theme that matches their story.

I chose the analogy of theme-filled cupcakes because it is such a great visualization that students can associate with the definition of theme. Like the crème filling in a cupcake, you usually can’t see the theme explicitly stated in a story. Rather, it’s the “hidden message” in the story.

My hope is that when my students see the word “theme” in the future (perhaps even on a standardized test!), they will recall this experience of making “theme-filled cupcakes” and remember that they need to determine the hidden message in the story.

The document includes student-friendly directions (with photos) that can be projected for students to refer to throughout the work time! An answer key is also included.

Check out the preview!

You can also purchase this as part of the following ELA Craftivity BUNDLE. February Craftivity BUNDLE: Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Black History Month

If you are looking for more products for teaching theme, check these out!
Teaching Theme 1 week {BUNDLE}: Power Point, Task Cards, Theme-Filled Cupcake Craftivity, Worksheets, and Lesson Plans
Teaching Theme: An Introduction Power Point
Identifying Themes: Three Worksheets
Theme Task Cards (16 passages with two options for responses)
Teaching Theme by using Fables: A Lesson Plan and Worksheet


By Deb Hanson 2014

**Check out my blog! Crafting Connections