Theme Basics
What is the theme of the story?
A. Where the story takes place
B. The lesson learned
C. The names of characters
D. The problem in the story
B. The lesson learned.
Mia sees a new student sitting alone at lunch. She invites the student to sit with her and introduces her to some friends.
A. Lunch is the best part of school
B. Including others can help them feel welcome
C. Friends should eat together
D. New students don't know anyone
B. Including others can help them feel welcome
Maya was excited to enter the school science fair. She spent weeks building a volcano but when she tested it, nothing happened. She wanted to quit. Her brother suggested she think about what might have gone wrong. Maya researched and tested again. This time, it worked. What is the best theme?
A. science projects require expensive material
b. winning a science fair takes time
c. failure can teach us and help us improve
d. volcanoes are difficult to build
c. failure can teach us and help us improve
Kindness can make someone feel welcome. Which detail best supports this theme?
A. emma carried a purple backpack
b. emma invited a new student to sit with her at lunch
c. emma threw away a candy wrapper on the floor
d. emma has recess after lunch
b. emma invited a new student to sit with her at lunch
A character helps a new student find her classroom. Which detail would be evidence to show kindness can make others feel welcome?
A. The class has 20 desks
B. The character shows the student where to go
C. The bell rings at 8
D. The students brings a blue backpack
B. The character shows the student where to go
Which of these could be a theme of a story?
A. A boy named Marcus
B. A rainy afternoon
C. Hard work can help you reach your goals
D. Susie was mean on the playground
C. Hard work can help you reach your goals
Eli wants to build a model airplane. His first two attempts fail but he keeps trying. Finally, he builds one that flies.
A. Airplanes are difficult to build
B. Models are fun
C. Don't give up when something is hard
D. Flying is exciting.
C. Don't give up when something is hard
Ethans class was collecting books for a community library. Ethan had several books he no longer read so he brought them. Later he noticed that one of his friends had not brought any because her family could not afford to buy any extra. Ethan gave her one of his books. What is the best theme?
A. libraries need many books
b. giving to others can mean sharing things that are valuable to you
c. children should give away their things to be nice
d. books are important for learning
b. giving to others can mean sharing things that are valuable to you
Practice can help you improve. Which detail best supports the theme?
A. jordan practiced his basketball shot every afternoon and eventually made more baskets
b. jordan had a basketball in his garage
c. jordans friend watched him practice
d. jordan liked playing basketball everyday
A. jordan practiced his basketball shot every afternoon and eventually made more baskets
A character keeps practicing piano even though she makes mistakes. What theme does this evidence support?
A. practice helps people improve
B. pianos are difficult
C. music is loud
D. mistakes are embarrasing
A. practice helps people improve
Which statement is NOT a theme?
A. Be kind to others
B. Never give up
C. Friendship is important
D. The girl lost her backpack
D. The girl lost her backpack
Sofia borrows her brothers favorite book. She accidentally spills water on it. Instead of hiding what happens, she tells her brother and offers to replace it.
A. Books shouldnt get wet
B. It is important to be honest
C. Brothers have too many books
D. Water can ruin things
B. It is important to be honest
when avas class began preparing for a school play, she wanted the lead role. instead, her teacher gave it to another student and asked ava to help design the stage. at first, she felt disappointed and thought her job wasnt important. She noticed that actors depended on stage decorations to make the play come to life. on opening night, she realized that every persons contribution had helped make the play successful.
A. the lead actor has the most important job
b. school plays require a lot of preparation
c. every person can make an important contribution even when they arent in the spotlight
d. students should always get the role they want
c. every person can make an important contribution even when they arent in the spotlight
It is important to take responsibility for your actions. Which detail best supports this theme?
A. caleb enjoys playing outside
b. caleb broke his sisters toy and admitted it
C. caleb blamed someone else for the toy
D. caleb played with his sister after school
b. caleb broke his sisters toy and admitted it
Which piece of evidence BEST supports the theme "it is important to be honest"
A. Jake wore his favorite shirt
B. Jake admitted he accidentally broke the class plant
C. Jake sat beside his friend at lunch
D. Jake finished his math homework
B. Jake admitted he accidentally broke the class plant
Sometimes the stories ask us to find the central message of the story. True or false: the central message of a story means the same thing as theme
TRUE
Noah wants to win the race. He notices his friend falls behind so he slows down and encourages him to keep going. Noah doesnt win but he is proud he helped his friend.
A. He is proud
B. Winning is most important
C. Helping others is more important than winning
D. Friends should always run together
C. Helping others is more important than winning
when tylers class began a garden, everyone wanted to plant flowers. jordan noticed no one had planned where the vegetables would go. he suggested that using part of the garden for veggies could be shared with the cafeteria. some students didnt like the idea at first but he explained how the vegetables could help others. eventually the class agreed.
a. gardens require a lot of work
b. you should only have a flower garden, not veggie
c. students should always agree with classmates
d. think about how your choices can help others can make a difference
d. think about how your choices can help others can make a difference
Listening to others can help us solve problems. Which detail best supports this theme?
A. the students worked in the classroom
b. the group disagreed about how to build their model but listened to each others ideas
c. the students listened to the teacher tell them to use cardboard
d. the teacher displayed the finished models
b. the group disagreed about how to build their model but listened to each others ideas
A story has the theme "dont give up when things are difficult" which detal best supports this theme?
A. the character liked playing outside
B. the character failed the science experiment twice but kept trying until it worked
c. the character failed and quit very mad
d. the character ate lunch with friends
B. the character failed the science experiment twice but kept trying until it worked
A story shows a character making several mistakes but learning from each one. Which theme would fit best?
A. Mistakes help us learn and grow
B. Everyone makes mistakes on Mondays
C. The characters made three mistakes
D. School can be difficult
A. Mistakes help us learn and grow
daniel had been practicing for the spelling bee for weeks. during the competition, he misspelled a word and was eliminated. Daniel felt disappointment as he watched other students continue. Instead of giving up, he asked his teacher for a list of words to practice. Daniel studied over the next year and when the next spelling bee arrived, he was ready to try again
a. spelling bees are challenging
b. winning is the only way to feel good
c. learning from disappointment can help prepare for the future
d. students should study spelling every single day
c. learning from disappointment can help prepare for the future
lily noticed her friend emma was having trouble with math. lily had already finished her own work but wanted to play with her friends. she decided to stay and explain it to emma. at first she didnt understand. lily tried explaining another way and eventually emma understood. lily missed a few minutes of playtime but she was happy that she helped her friend.
a. math is too difficult
b. dont miss your time to help other people
c. helping others may require patience and putting others before yourself
d. friends should always help friends with homework
c. helping others may require patience and putting others before yourself
Success often comes from learning from failure rather than giving up. Which detail best supports the theme?
A. Tyler wanted to enter the school contest
B. Tyler spent several weeks building an invention
C. Tylers first didnt work so he studied what went wrong and tried again till it worked
D. tyler showed everyone his invention
C. Tylers first didnt work so he studied what went wrong and tried again till it worked
Taking responsibility for your mistakes helps us grow
maya noticed that her model bridge was weak because she had rushed while building it. instead of blaming someone else, she admitted her mistake and fixed the bridge.
Which detail best supports the theme
a. maya built the bridge
b. maya admitted her mistake and fixed the bridge
c. maya entered the school contest
d. maya tested the bridge with books
b. maya admitted her mistake and fixed the bridge