Fourth Grade Theme

Theme

• main idea of the text

• what the author wants to teach you

• a guess about the text

• what the text explicitly stated

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.

• share with your neighbor

• be respectful

• don't be greedy

• work before you play

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been. What is the theme?

• Be honest

• don't be greedy

• always share your things with others

• be respectful with others

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he would die of thirst. Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

What is the theme

• be persistent

• be honest

• respect your family

• always share with others

What is the theme of this story?  

• Eat your vegetables.

• Don't brag. Be modest. 

• Don't talk to strangers. 

• Necessity is the mother of invention.

• Differences

• Family

• Teamwork

• Never give up

What is the theme of this story? 

• Necessity is the mother of invention.

• Don't steal.

• Respect your elders.

• Slowly but surely wins the race.

What is the main difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA.

• Theme is a universal lesson and main idea is what a story is about.

• Theme is what a story is about and main idea is the universal lesson it teaches

What is a theme?

• My opinion on a story

• A summary of a story

• The main idea of a story

• The lesson or moral of a story

• A story

Which of the following could be a theme?

• Treat other people as you want to be treated.

• Stanley and Zero found the treasure.

• Stanley and Zero found the treasure because they were determined.

• If you are determined, you can find a buried treasure.