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Finding the Theme

Sixth graders learn what a theme is, how it differs from a one-word topic, and how to uncover a story's message from what characters do, choose, and learn, and check what they know.

Grade 6Literature45 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define theme.
  • ✓Tell theme from topic.
  • ✓Find theme from clues.
  • ✓State it as a sentence.
Essential Question

A story's topic is easy to name; its message takes thought. What is a theme, and how do you uncover it from a story?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Theme Check · Interactive

Theme Check

Project this and answer each question about uncovering a story's theme — read the explanation after each one.

💡 Check what you know about finding themeTry it
Answer each question about uncovering a story's theme.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — What's the Message?

5 min

Many stories are about friendship, but each sends its own message about it. How do you find that message?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a story's topic.
  • Ask its lesson.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Theme Check

12 min

Students answer questions about theme.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Theme Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Topic to Theme

13 min

Students turn topics into themes.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a story topic.
  • Ask what it shows about that topic.
  • Write a theme sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Ask.
  • Write.
4

Create — Find a Theme

15 min

Students find a theme with evidence.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a story you know.
  • State its theme in a sentence.
  • Give evidence from the story.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • State.
  • Give.
5

Reflect — Topic vs Message

5 min

Students reflect on theme.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • How is a theme different from a topic?
  • Where do you find theme clues?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
RL.6.2

Determine a theme and how it develops.

CCSS
RL.6.1

Cite text evidence to support analysis.

CCSS
RL.6.3

Analyze how characters and plot reveal theme.

CCSS
RL.6.10

Read and comprehend literature closely.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Topic vs theme cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The topic is ___ ; the theme is ___ .”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with fable morals.
  • Turn one topic into a theme together.
  • Review one idea at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find competing themes in a text.
  • Trace how a theme develops.
  • Support a theme with three quotes.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Topic/theme cards
  • 💻Theme Check
  • 📖A short story
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

themethe message or lesson a story conveystopicthe subject a story is about, often one wordmessagethe idea about life a story sharesmorala lesson, especially in a fableevidencedetails from the text that support a pointcentral ideathe main point of a textinferencea conclusion drawn from cluesuniversaltrue for many people across situations
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How is a theme different from a topic?
A topic is usually one word (like 'friendship'); a theme is a full message about life (like 'true friends stand by you').
QUESTION 2
Where do you find clues to a story's theme?
In what the characters do, choose, and learn, and in how the story turns out.
QUESTION 3
How should you state a theme?
As a full sentence about life, and back it up with evidence from the story.

Create: find a theme.

Have students pick a story they know, state its theme in a sentence, and give evidence from the story, so theme becomes an idea they can defend. A printable theme worksheet is in the English Language Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Finding the ThemeFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Finding the ThemeQuiz
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1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Finding the ThemePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: central idea, evidence, inference, message, moral, theme, topic, universal
  1. a lesson, especially in a fable
  2. details from the text that support a point
  3. a conclusion drawn from clues
  4. true for many people across situations
  5. the idea about life a story shares
  6. the main point of a text
  7. the message or lesson a story conveys
  8. the subject a story is about, often one word

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How is a theme different from a topic?
  2. Where do you find clues to a story's theme?
  3. How should you state a theme?
Answer key — Part A: 1) moral · 2) evidence · 3) inference · 4) universal · 5) message · 6) central idea · 7) theme · 8) topic
Part B: 1) A topic is usually one word (like 'friendship'); a theme is a full message about life (like 'true friends stand by you'). 2) In what the characters do, choose, and learn, and in how the story turns out. 3) As a full sentence about life, and back it up with evidence from the story.