Teaching Theme Unit for 5th Grade - How Characters Respond to Challenges

Teach theme with confidence! This complete unit includes an instructional slideshow, six passages with graphic organizers, support material, and a rubric. Fifth grade students learn to find multiple themes and explain.

Kids analyze how characters respond to challenges. Then they explain a theme in paragraph form, including a topic sentence, detail sentences, and conclusion.

Open the preview to take a closer look.

First, students learn how to locate multiple themes and support them with evidence from the text.

• They read a one-page story, “George Washington and His Hatchet.”
• A slideshow models the process for finding and supporting two themes – one from George’s perspective and the other from his father’s point of view.

Then they practice with four additional legend-based passages:

• “The Miller of Dee”
• “Cornelia’s Jewels”
• “Alexander and Bucephalus”
• “Bruce and the Spider”

Finally, kids complete an assessment. They read “The Endless Tale,” find a theme, and support it in a literary response.

Files include everything you need:

• Lesson plans
• List of universal themes
• Slideshow (PowerPoint and Google Slides)
• Six one-page passages*
• Corresponding graphic organizers
• Rubric

The unit can be used in a variety of ways.

• Whole class instruction
• Small group work, remediation, or tutoring
• Test prep
• Sub plans
• Homeschool

Multiple formats are included.

• The slideshow can be accessed as a PowerPoint Presentation or Google Slides.
• Passages, organizers, and response sheets are included as printable PDFs, Google Slides, and Easel Activities.

Your fifth grade students will love this unit – and you will too!

• The slideshow models the process in an easy-to-understand way.
• Each short story offers clear themes, and graphic organizers provide the support kids need.
• Activities address the intent of your standards. For example, if you teach CCSS RL.5.2, your class will learn to find a theme by considering challenges characters face.

Enjoy teaching!

Brenda Kovich

*Traditional stories for this unit were adapted from Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin, which was published in 1896 and is now in the public domain. Each retells a famous legend, promoting cultural literacy in your class.