Determing Theme/Main Ideas by Kelsey Castrigano https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv CCSS ELA-Litarcy. RL.4.2. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. en-us 2017-09-18 07:32:50 UTC 2017-09-25 17:31:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Spatial kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188351292 Complete the visual map below for any story.
]]> 2017-09-18 07:40:46 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188351292 Linguistic kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188351884 Read the short story task cards to practice determining themes.]]> 2017-09-18 07:43:45 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188351884 Bodily-Kinesthetic kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188352669 Complete the project below called "Theme-in-a-Bottle."
Project Idea: Theme-in-a-Bottle
Looking for an interesting project that showcases this learned skill? Here's one of my favorites, which has students writing letters in a bottle from a character's point of view! 


Materials

  • Two-liter plastic soda bottle or some other unbreakable see-through container
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Markers, crayons, colored pencils
  • Tissue paper
  • Glue

Directions

  1. Tell students that a character in the text wants to share what he or she has learned as a result of his or her experiences through the course of the story. The character has decided to send a message in a bottle or some other appropriate container. 
  2. Have each student decorate a container with symbols and scenery appropriate to the novel and its theme.
  3. Ask students to write a letter from the character's point of view. This letter should express the main character's feelings about the life lessons he or she has learned. At the beginning of the letter, state the theme they think the text conveyed. In the body of the letter, have students incorporate three points that support their ideas.
  4. Tell students the bottle they create will be given to a student in another class who will judge if they presented three points that connect to their theme.
  5. Tell students to be creative! Be neat! And make sure to write as the character in the novel would.
]]> 2017-09-18 07:47:09 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188352669 Musical kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188536002 Listen to and watch the music video below. The song will help you understand how to find the main idea of any text.]]> 2017-09-18 15:57:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188536002 Interpersonal kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188543752 Group Work; In groups of about 4, read the story "Thank you, Mr. Falker," then discuss and answer the following questions on the worksheet.]]> 2017-09-18 16:12:06 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188543752 Intrapersonal kelseycastri https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188543845 Individual Work; Read the short stories on the worksheet below and answer the corresponding questions. ]]> 2017-09-18 16:12:17 UTC https://padlet.com/kelseycastri/gepwabd5v8bv/wish/188543845