1 How do we find theme? I can determine and summarize the theme without stating my own opinion. ask: “What is theme?” Respond on slates.

2 What is theme? Theme is the message that connects all the pieces together.

3 Theme connects reading to real life.

4 Think of a water droplet landing in a pond. Click on the water droplet for a video link.

5 Like the ripples a water droplet makes, finding the theme helps us connect outward, past the details and main idea.

6 Think again of the possible details and main idea from this page.

7 Theme connects to real life. details main idea theme trees give off oxygen trees are good for our environment Let’s help the environment

8 to story link to closure Theme in Three Easy Steps Step 1: Find the “big idea” or general topic in the text. Step 2: Find out what the characters say or do related to the topic. Step 3: What is important to learn about the “big idea” or topic? Write a general statement or life lesson that is not specific to the text you have just read. This is the theme! How easy was that!!?

9 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 How to Paint a Donkey (A child recited this at our poetry club last night.) by Naomi S. Nye She said the head was too large, the hooves too small. I could clean my paintbrush but I couldn't get rid of that voice. While they watched, I crumpled him, let his blue body stain my hand. I cried when he hit the can. She smiled. I could try again. Maybe this is what I unfold in the dark, deciding, for the rest of my life, that donkey was just the right size. Read the poem Add to your chart

10 back to the poem to closure a painting of a donkey an adult says, the head too large, the hooves too small the child crumples the donkey the child lies awake at night, thinking the donkey was just the right size Be true to your own heart. Theme in Three Easy Steps Step 1: Find the “big idea” or general topic in the text. Step 2: Find out what the characters say or do related to the topic. Step 3: What is important to learn about the “big idea” or topic? Write a general statement or life lesson that is not specific to the text you have just read. This is the theme! How easy was that!!?

11 Now, let’s Write a Summary of the Theme Introduce the title and theme. A theme in the poem “How to Paint a Donkey” by Naomi S. Nye, is “Be true to yourself.” (Nye) Use text evidence to support the theme. In the poem the author wrote, “Maybe this is what I unfold in the dark, deciding, for the rest of my life, that donkey was just the right size.” (Nye) The author realized that it was a mistake to listen to the person who said that the hooves and head were the wrong size. She will listen to her own ideas from now on. Explain how that evidence supports the theme. Restate and explain the theme By listening to her own ideas, she will do what she believes is right in her heart, and that will show she’s being true to herself. This is a good theme because you always can depend on yourself to make good decisions. OOPS! Don’t add your opinion!

12 It’s Time to Put it all Together. A theme in the poem “How to Paint a Donkey” by Naomi S. Nye, is be true to yourself. In the poem the author wrote, “Maybe this is what I unfold in the dark, deciding, for the rest of my life, that donkey was just the right size.” (Nye) The author realized that it was a mistake to listen to the person who said that the hooves and head were the wrong size. She will listen to her own ideas from now on. By listening to her own ideas, she will do what she believes is right in her heart, and that will show she’s being true to herself.

13 Listen to the story Click on the book jacket to link to the story.

14 to audio link to written story copy preparing for winter the grasshopper plays and sings all summer and doesn’t prepare for winter the ant works all summer and stores food for the winter the grasshopper has no food in the winter Prepare ahead for the times of need. Theme in Three Easy Steps Step 1: Find the “big idea” or general topic in the text. Step 2: Find out what the characters say or do related to the topic. Step 3: What is important to learn about the “big idea” or topic? Write a general statement or life lesson that is not specific to the text you have just read. This is the theme! How easy was that!!?

15 It’s Your Turn! Your writing should: Introduce the title and theme. Use evidence from the story to support the theme. Explain how that evidence supports the theme. Restate and explain the theme. NOT state your opinion. Use your graphic organizer an the text to summarize a theme of “The Ant and the Grasshopper.”

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17 Closure! Answer on your paper: What is theme? How is it different from main idea? How do we find a theme in a piece of writing? What do we include in a summary of the theme?

18 Resources Aesop. "Ant and the Grasshopper." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 26 Feb /ant_and_grasshopper Aesop. "Ant and the Grasshopper." 6 Aesop Fables. Primary Resources n.d. Web. 9 Aug "Ant and the Grasshopper." N.p., n.d. Web.." N.p., n.d. Web. < covers/ "Clip Art: Ecology Book." Ecology Book. CartoonCliparts.com,ts.com, n.d. Web. 25 Feb < picture/childre n.d. Web. 25 Feb

19 Resources Nye, Naomi S. "How To Paint A Donkey." How To Paint A Donkey. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb naomi-shihab-nye_31.html Perera, Lai. "Happy Girl Planting A Tree." Clipart Of. N.p., n.d. >. Web. 25 Feb < interior_wall_decor/details/Happy-Girl-Planting-A-Tree-Poster-Art-Print Print "Puzzle | Project Injini." Project Injini. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb < "Realistic Water Ripple Effect." YouTube. YouTube, 29 July Web. 23 Apr