1. Grade 5 Copyright © 2015 by Write Score LLC

2. A theme is a message about life or meaning of the story. The theme of the story is woven throughout the text, often revealed through patterns – repeated objects, details, or symbols in the story. The theme can be identified by examining the characters’ strengths, weaknesses, values, thoughts, and actions.

3. Pay attention to the parts of the text, how those parts are related to the whole text, and be aware of patterns: What kinds of characters are in this story? What do I know about them? What do the characters want? How do the characters in the story respond to challenges? Why do the characters behave as they do? What motivates them? Look for phrases/objects/details that repeat. Ask why?

4. Pay close attention to the end of the story. Why did the author end it this way? What does the author seem to be saying about the story as a whole? Go back, reread closely, and underline parts of the text that support your theme.

5. First, state the abstract idea. (What is the what?) Common Abstract Ideas/Topics: justice, friendship, innocence, experience, guilt, patience, struggle, failure, death, loyalty, truthfulness, bravery, family, childhood, regret, communication, listening, change, perception, perspective, greed, vanity, courage, life, choices, journey, adventure, happiness, empathy, isolation, love, racism, hatred, education, tolerance, forgiveness

6. Next, tell what the author seems to be saying about the big idea throughout the story. What about the what? What does the author seem to be saying about the abstract idea? BIG IDEA!

7. RacismHarms Communities for Generations Abstract IdeaWhat the author seems to be saying about the abstract idea Theme

8. To show you what I mean, we’ll read the story, The Prickly Bush. We’ll read the story and pay attention to how the parts of the text are related to the whole text. We’ll also look for patterns.

9. What kinds of characters are in this story? What do I know about them? What do the characters want? How do the characters respond to challenges? Why do the characters behave as they do? What motivates them? Look for phrases/objects/details that repeat. Ask why?

10. Pay close attention to the end of the story. Why did the author end it this way? What does the author seem to be saying about the story as a whole? Go back, reread closely, and underline parts of the text that support your theme.

11. It was the only growing thing in the whole, beautiful garden that was prickly. It stood beside the sunny path, so low that the white rabbit could jump over it. It longed to spread its branches across the path to be touched by the gardener and the children, but no one cared to go very near the little bush that was so covered with thorns. The day lily had broad, soft leaves without a single thorn. It spread them away from the prickly bush. The tulips had tall, smooth leaves. They held them very high, and away from the bush that was so full of thorns.

12. The white rabbit that lived in the garden and loved to sun himself beneath the plants was very careful not to go near the prickly little bush. "I must tie this bush so that it cannot hurt any one," the gardener said one day as he passed it. "The thorns on it are growing larger and larger every day." So he cut a long, straight stick, and painted it green, and stuck it in the ground beside the prickly little bush. Then he tied the bush tightly to the stick, which kept it from leaning over the path.

13. "Be very careful not to go near that ugly little bush," said the children to each other. "It will scratch you even worse than the cat scratches." All this was very discouraging, and the prickly little bush drooped and did not feel like growing. The days of the summer grew warmer, the sun shone, and soft rains fell upon the garden. A pleasant breeze came singing down the path, and the sun, and the rain, and the breeze, each one, spoke to the prickly little bush. "Climb up a little higher," the great, yellow sun seemed to say. So the prickly little bush pulled and

14. stretched its prickly branches up toward the blue sky, and as it grew higher and higher, its thorns went, too, out of the way of the rabbit and the children. "Push harder," the pattering raindrops seemed to say to the roots of the prickly little bush as they soaked down through the ground. So the roots of the prickly little bush pushed and pushed until the branches seemed bursting, and green leaves and tiny buds came and covered over the thorns so that they could scarcely be seen at all.

15. "Open your buds as wide as you can," the warm breezes seemed to sing as they stopped in the branches of the prickly little bush. So the little bush unfolded its brown buds as wide and as prettily as it could. Then it came to be the most beautiful day of all, the mother's birthday. The children went out to the garden to try to find the loveliest thing that grew there to be their mother's birthday gift. And that was not easy because the garden was so full of lovely things. "I am sure that she will like this tall white lily,"

16. said one of the children. "But the lily fades so quickly after it is picked," said another child. "I think that she would like a red tulip." "But our mother loves pink better than she loves red," said the youngest child. "Do let us go on a little farther before we decide what to take her for her birthday. Oh, how pretty—" The youngest child stopped in front of the prickly little bush, and the others crowded close to see, too.

17. They never would have known that it was the prickly bush, at all. It stood as proudly and as straight as a little tree, and its green leaves covered it like a beautiful dress. Peeping out from between the leaves were the most lovely pink flowers, as soft as velvet and with so many curling petals that one could not count them. They smelled more sweetly than any other flower in the garden, and the children could scarcely speak at first, they were so surprised. "Roses!" said one child. "Pink roses!" said another child.

18. "The prickly little bush has turned into a rose bush for our mother's birthday," said the youngest child. So they smelled the beautiful pink roses, and touched them to feel how soft and like velvet the petals were. Then they decided that the pink roses that had bloomed on the prickly little bush were the loveliest flowers in the whole garden, and they picked the largest pink rose of all to carry into the house for their mother's birthday gift.

19. On the way they met the gardener, and they showed him the beautiful rose, telling him how it had grown upon the prickly little bush. He smiled, for he knew a great deal about the strange ways of his plants. "I thought it would bear roses this year," the gardener said. "It often happens that the bush with the sharpest thorns to carry, once it blooms, has the prettiest roses."

20. Characters: Characters: Little bush-prickly, low/ashamed, wanted to be touched, different Gardner – wants to keep everyone safe Yellow sun – encouraging Rain drops – encouraging Warm breeze – encouraging Children – want a present

21. Respond to Challenges: Given up – droops lower Grows higher Grows even higher Grows taller Tall and proud

22. Repetition: Stay away Full of thorns – thorns grow bigger Thorns grow higher, less dangerous– out of the way Thorns scarcely seen Thorns are gone Children choosing plants – no perfect plant

23. Ending: Children – choose prickly plant’s rose as a gift Gardner – knew what would happen with patience and care

24. Abstract Idea Patience What does the author seem to be saying about the abstract idea? With patience and care, even our worst struggles can become our greatest gift.

25. It was the only growing thing in the whole, beautiful garden that was prickly. It stood beside the sunny path, so low that the white rabbit could jump over it. It longed to spread its branches across the path to be touched by the gardener and the children, but no one cared to go very near the little bush that was so covered with thorns. The day lily had broad, soft leaves without a single thorn. It spread them away from the prickly bush. The tulips had tall, smooth leaves. They held them very high, and away from the bush that was so full of thorns. The white rabbit that lived in the garden and loved to sun himself beneath the plants was very careful not to go near the prickly little bush. "I must tie this bush so that it cannot hurt any one," the gardener said one day as he passed it. "The thorns on it are growing larger and larger every day." So he cut a long, straight stick, and painted it green, and stuck it in the ground beside the prickly little bush. Then he tied the bush tightly to the stick, which kept it from leaning over the path. Struggle Care

26. "Be very careful not to go near that ugly little bush," said the children to each other. "It will scratch you even worse than the cat scratches." All this was very discouraging, and the prickly little bush drooped and did not feel like growing. The days of the summer grew warmer, the sun shone, and soft rains fell upon the garden. A pleasant breeze came singing down the path, and the sun, and the rain, and the breeze, each one, spoke to the prickly little bush. "Climb up a little higher," the great, yellow sun seemed to say. So the prickly little bush pulled and stretched its prickly branches up toward the blue sky, and as it grew higher and higher, its thorns went, too, out of the way of the rabbit and the children. "Push harder," the pattering raindrops seemed to say to the roots of the prickly little bush as they soaked down through the ground. So the roots of the prickly little bush pushed, and pushed until the branches seemed bursting, and green leaves and tiny buds came and covered over the thorns so that they could scarcely be seen at all. Struggle Care Struggles become gifts (begin to change)

27. "Open your buds as wide as you can," the warm breezes seemed to sing as they stopped in the branches of the prickly little bush. So the little bush unfolded its brown buds as wide and as prettily as it could. Then it came to be the most beautiful day of all, the mother's birthday. The children went out to the garden to try to find the loveliest thing that grew there to be their mother's birthday gift. And that was not easy because the garden was so full of lovely things. "I am sure that she will like this tall white lily," said one of the children. "But the lily fades so quickly after it is picked," said another child. "I think that she would like a red tulip." "But our mother loves pink better than she loves red," said the youngest child. "Do let us go on a little farther before we decide what to take her for her birthday. Oh, how pretty—" The youngest child stopped in front of the prickly little bush, and the others crowded close to see, too. Care Struggles become gifts (begin to change)

28. With patience and care, even our worst struggles can become our greatest gifts. The thematic statement includes an abstract idea, what the author says about the idea, and can be proved with evidence throughout the text.

29. o With a partner, you’ll read the next story, The Treasure in the House. o Remember to read the story, pause to address the questions and prompts, and notice details that repeat. o When you come to the end of the story, review your notes and underline details to identify the theme. o Finally, write a theme statement that includes an abstract idea and what the author seems to say about the idea.

30. o On your own, you’ll read the next story, The Wonder Shoes. o Remember to pause and take notes in your own words, using the prompts and questions as a guide. o Review your notes and underline details to identify a theme when you are finished reading the story. o Finally, write a theme statement using your notes and the evidence you underlined.

31. Read your theme statement. Does your theme statement have these parts? o An abstract idea o What the author seems to say about the abstract idea o Evidence throughout the text to support your theme statement