Design for Learning

Instructor: Victoria Rivera

Lesson Title: Theme
Curriculum Area: Language Arts

Grade Level/Cooperating Teacher: 4th, Logan

Date: April 14, 2015
Estimated Time: 60 minutes

Standards Connection:
AL 4th ELA: 2.) Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text;
summarize the text. [RL.4.2]
AL 4th ELA: 11.) Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key
details; summarize the text. [RI.4.2]
Learning Objective(s):
Students will be able to correctly identify the main idea and theme of a given passage.
Learning Objective(s) stated in kid-friendly language:
Today, boys and girls, we are going to be learning about how theme and main idea are different
from each other.
Evaluation of Learning Objective(s):
The teacher will provide the students with a passage. Along with the passage, the teacher will
provide three options for the students to choose from. These options will help them decide which
is theme and which is main idea. One of the options will not be used in this assessment. Students
must correctly determine both the theme and the main idea in order to be considered proficient.
Engagement:
Ok, boys and girls, I would like you all to clear off your desk and put everything away so you
can focus on the lesson. The teacher will pull out the book Fly Away Home. The teacher will not
read this book because this book was read in a previous lesson. Does everyone remember
reading this book? Students will respond with yes. Would anyone like to tell the class what this
book is about? A student will raise their hand and respond with an answer. Very good! What are
some main events in the book? Does anyone remember? The students will respond. What were
the characters doing in this book? Students will respond. Awesome! Im happy to hear that you
all were paying such good attention last week. Ok, I would like you all to keep this book in mind
as we continue throughout the lesson.
Learning Design:
I. Teaching:
Today, boys and girls, we are going to be learning about how theme and main idea are different
from one another. I know that these two terms may be a review but it never hurts to have more
practice. I have a quick question for you guys, Does anyone ever get these two terms confused?
Students all respond with yes. Why do you think we get these terms messed up? A student will
respond that the definitions of the words are similar to each other and they both relate to a

specific passage or book. I know that these two terms may seem similar, but they are actually
very different! The teacher will refer to the anchor chart. As you can tell from the anchor chart,
these two terms are related to different aspects of the story. The theme of a story is the moral,
message, or lesson that we need to understand about a story. When the author is writing a story,
he or she is trying to send a message to their audience about what they want them to understand
about the story. The author usually has the theme in mind before they write their story. Themes
are usually a one-word answers but sometimes they can be a few words. Some common themes
that are used in stories are: jealousy, bravery, friendship, its okay to be different, hard work
pays off, overcome obstacles, do the right thing, and kindness. Can any think of any more
possible themes? Students will raise their hands and respond. Good! I like hearing all of your
answers. Now that we understand what theme means, lets look a little bit closer about what the
main idea is. The main idea of a story tells what it is mostly about. Instead of one-word answers
for theme, the main idea of a story is usually a one-sentence response. Some examples of main
ideas are: Even though Tim was afraid of heights, he still went on the rock wall, Kayla spent
hours on her project and got an A+, Jack and Jill were total opposite, but they were both
excellent kids, and no matter what happened, Rachel and Jesse were always there for each other.
These are all great examples of what a main idea should look like. Now, Lets think about the
book that we discussed earlier and what the theme and main idea of the story are. The teacher
will pull out the book from the engagement portion of the lesson to act as a visual for the content
of the book. Can anyone think about possible themes for this book? The teacher will call on
students that raise their hands. She will make a running list under the labels of theme and main
idea once the students have provided their input. As each student responds, the teacher will write
down the theme they think goes along with the book. If the children have a hard time starting, the
teacher will use the theme never giving up, hope, or sticking by each other through thick
and thin. After the students have provided input, the teacher will ask the students about main
idea. Ok class, now lets think about the main idea of the story. The teacher will call on students
that are quietly raising their hand. The teacher will add their suggestions to the running list on the
board. After the teacher has gathered enough student responses, she will ask the students to vote
which theme and main idea they think best represents the book. The teacher will circle the choice
with the most votes. After this is complete, the teacher will move into the practice portion of the
lesson.
II. Opportunity for Practice:
Now that we have a good understanding of the difference between theme and main idea, I would
like you all to complete the activity that I am passing out to you. The teacher will pass out the
cards that go along with the activity. Ok class, since you were so well behaved the last time I
taught I am going to allow you to work with a partner to complete this activity. The teacher will
put the students with a partner. The teacher will then project the activity under the ELMO
camera. Before you begin, I would like you all to listen to my instruction. You are given two
labels, theme and main idea, and you are also given two definitions that go along with each
term. As a class, we are going to determine which definition goes under each label. The teacher
will allow a student to come to the ELMO camera and place one of the definitions under the
correct term. The teacher will call on another student to do the same with the other term. Now
that I have done the first part for you, you are going to need to correctly match each card under
the correct label. You will need to read each card carefully to determine if the card needs to go
under the label of theme or main idea. You should have an equal number of cards under each

label. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me and I will be happy to help. Once
everyone has finished, we will take turns coming to the ELMO camera and we will correctly
place each card under the correct label.
III. Assessment
Once the students have completed the practice portion of the lesson, the teacher will move into
the assessment. Ok class, now that we have worked a little but more with theme and main idea, I
would like you all to work on your own to determine the main idea and theme of the passage I
have given you. Next to the passage, you will find three options for you to choose from, one of
these options will be for theme, another will be for main idea, and another will not be used. I
would like for you all to write main idea, theme, or none on the space next to each option. When
you have finished, please turn your paper over and wait until everyone is finished. When I have
given you your passage you may begin. The teacher will pass out the assessment.
IV. Closure:
At the end of the lesson, the teacher will review the answers to the assessment. She will post the
assessment on the ELMO camera and will discuss with the students which option was the main
idea of the passage, and which idea was the theme of the passage. Ok class, now that we have
completed our assessment, lets go back and see if our answers were correct. Would anyone like
to share with the class which option you believe is the main idea? A student will raise their hand
and respond. Very good! Does everyone agree with her answer? Students will respond. Can you
explain to the class why you selected this option for your answer? The student will defend your
answer! I like the way you defended your thinking. Would anyone like to share what the theme of
the passage is? A student will raise their hand and respond. Very good! Does everyone agree?
Students will respond. Can you please defend your thinking for the class? The student responds.
Great job everybody! I hope we learned a lot about the difference between theme and main idea.
Materials and Resources:
ELMO camera
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
Worksheet for practice
Anchor Chart
Pencils
Assessment
Differentiation Strategies (including plans for individual learners):
For the students in the green, the teacher will allow these students to create an original
story. They must follow each stage of the writing process. After they have written their
story, they must determine the main idea and theme of their written piece.
For students in the red, the teacher will conference with each student individually and
will reteach content to students if necessary. The teacher will use task cards, similar to the
ones used for the assessment. This will help the children practice how to pick out the
main idea and theme of a passage.

NAME: ______________________________________

Directions: Identify which statement is the main idea and which is the
theme.
Janes cousin smirked and said, Its not a lie if you dont tell. Turning
away, she sneakily slipped the Snickers bar into her coat pocket. Jane
felt her face turn red as her heart pounded with fear. She never
thought of stealing, much less being a witness to such a crime. Winona
skipped off, whistling as she waved goodbye to the gas station clerk.
Jane ran quickly to catch up, but then stopped suddenly in front of the
clerk. She slowly walked over to the clerk, explained that her cousin
must have forgotten to pay, and insisted on paying for the candy bar.
It was Janes last dollar bill, but she proudly handed it over to the
clerk. She felt good about what she had done and looked forward to
sharing the candy bar with Winona. After splitting the Snickers bar,
Winona said See, its not a lie if you dont tell. Jane replied with a
smile But, you told me.

A. Janes cousin stole a candy bar, but she decided to make right
and pay for it.______________________
B. Honesty is the best practice._____________________
C. Jane paid for the candy bar Winona stole.
___________________

Theme!

The message, lesson,

or moral of a story.!

Main I dea!

What the story

is mostly about.!

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www.teachingwithamountainview.com

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www.teachingwithamountainview.com

www.teachingwi thamountainview.com

Reflection:
I taught this lesson for Dr. Hilsmier at Tarrant for my fourth grade classroom. My teacher
told me that she wanted me to teach the concept of theme to the students before they had testing
in the following weeks. In my lesson, I taught theme, but I also taught main idea. Noticing the
students in my class, I noticed that these students were frequently confusing the two terms. I used
an anchor chart to compare these two terms alongside each other. Using the anchor chart I
provided the students with definitions for both terms and examples that supported each. Students
were able to see how the two terms compared to one another and how different they truly are.
Prior to teaching this lesson, I read the book Fly Away Home to the students. I used this book
that we had previously read in class to determine the theme and main idea. We worked through
this together for the teaching portion of the lesson. I asked students to give me possible themes
and main ideas to write down on the board. Students were also asked to defend their answer to
the class about why that theme or main idea could accompany this book. We would then vote to
determine which was the best theme and main idea to use with the book. Most of the students
picked the theme of struggling for the book and picking the main idea of the two main characters
struggling through life and living in an airport. For the practice portion of the lesson, students
were given cards that they needed to sort into the categories of theme or main idea. They could
complete this activity with a partner. Students were able to work together and share their thinking
with their partner. They were able to share ideas and provide insight to which card would be
theme and which would be main idea. The students responded very well to the lesson. They
managed their behavior well and were engaged with the content and class discussion. If given the
opportunity to do this over, I do not think that I would. The students respond well the lesson and
were able to grasp the differences between the terms theme and main idea.