Finding Themes Review

• Respect your elders.

• Don't steal.

• Don't be lazy.

• Help others because what goes around comes around.

Brady knew he was not the best athlete on the baseball team. Everyday he would go outside and practice throwing and hitting with his Dad. The other kids on the team just seemed to know what they were doing all the time. Brady had to really think about what he should be doing on the field. Where should he throw the ball? When does he steal? But Brady kept practicing and improving. By the end of the season he won most improved

award. What was she going to do? What is the theme?

• Money can't buy happiness (or friends).

• Helping others

• Practice and persistence pay off.

• Don't put things off to the last minute

When you are trying to identify a story's theme, you look mostly at...

• characters

• setting

• plot

• all of the above

When you are trying to identify a story's theme, it is good to use details related to:

• plot

• setting

• character

• all of the above

How do you find themes in a story?

• Name the story's main problem

• Notice how the problem is solved

• Ask yourself how the characters change from the beginning to the end

• all of the above

Benny and Danny were twins. Each week, they each

got five dollars in allowance. Benny always spent all of his allowance on candy and small toys. Every so often, Danny bought some candy, but he saved most of his money in a piggy bank that he kept on his nightstand by his bed. Sometimes, Danny did extra chores around the house to earn more money. He always put his earnings into his bank.

The months passed and soon school was out for summer. One day, Danny asked his parents to take him to the bike store. He had saved enough money for a new bike! Danny picked out a red bike with blue handlebars. His parents were so impressed with how much he had saved that they bought him a helmet and a bike lock.

Danny spent the summer riding his new bike around

the neighborhood with his friends. Since he did not

have a bike, Benny spent most of his summer alone

at home.

• Be there for your brother.

• You shouldn't spend your money on candy.

• You can buy better things if you save your money.

• Danny is smarter than Benny.

Which sentences best describe a theme?

• One theme of "The Three Little Pigs" is the value of hard work. The pigs work hard.

• One theme of "The Three Little Pigs" is the value of hard work. Not all of the pigs work hard.

• One theme of "The Three Little Pigs" is the value of hard work. The wolf blows the two houses down.

• One theme of "The Three Little Pigs" is the value of hard work. The pig that took his time to build the strongest house survives the wolf attack, while the two pigs that rushed to build their houses end up having their homes destroyed.

What do themes look like in novels?

• several different themes sometimes falling under one main theme

• a main idea with supporting details throughout the book

• a conflict that the main character has to face and resolve

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story
• Just read the beginning of the story
• Think about what the character has learned
• Read the ending of the story

What is the theme of this story? 

• Don't be greedy.
• Work together.
• Respect your elders. 
• Don't steal.