3rd-6th Grade

Teacher Notes for this THEME Freebie: The theme reading passage in this free product is the first passage in a

series of eight passages (yes, students find out who won the basketball competition in the second passage) and can be seen by clicking on the first picture below. Please note that a two page “Big Ideas in Theme” study sheet is also included in this product as well as all answer sheets and answer keys. The Theme Task Cards are part of the larger product that can be found by clicking on the second picture below.

You can also find a product with “Big Ideas in Theme” posters to hang on a bulletin board (this product includes a list of pictures books by theme as well). If you are interested in purchasing the entire bundle at a DISCOUNT, please get more information by clicking the second picture below.

READING PASSAGES: TASK CARDS:

POSTERS: MEGA-BUNDLE:

What is the THEME? The theme of a story is the underlying

message in the story. Many times, people

confuse the main idea or the summary of a

story with the theme of a story or passage.

The main idea is a short summary of the

events, while the theme is an inference that

relates to the underlying message or lesson

in a story. The theme is not directly stated,

but is implied.

The reader must think about the

character’s experiences and choices to infer

the theme of the story.

When a reader is attempting to infer the

theme, it is helpful to ask…

1.  What is the BIG idea in this story?

2.  What larger message is the author trying

to convey?

3.  What did the author want the reader to

understand? ©Kirsten Tulsian

Name: ______________ Date: ________

THEME PASSAGE #1: Max and Kai Play Ball

Read the following story and answer the questions that follow.

©Kirsten Tulsian

Max and Kai were the best of friends. They spent many hours together after school and on the weekends. One of their favorite activities was to play basketball together. Kai had a perfect hoop outside his house on the driveway, so they spent much of their time shooting hoops at Kai’s house.

“Where is the basketball?” Max asked one day when he was over at Kai’s house. “There are two basketballs in the garage, let’s go!” replied Kai. The boys organized a competition. Whoever could make the most baskets

out of ten shots won a round. They used paper to keep track of who won each round and decided that the ultimate loser would have write a love note to Claire, the cutest girl in 5th grade. After they played six rounds and were tied in the competition, Kai’s mom called them in for dinner. Frustrated that they couldn’t continue playing, Kai hurled the ball down the street. It traveled in the gutter over a block away down his steep hill.

“I’ll get it later,” shouted Kai, as he threw his arm up in the air. After dinner, they grabbed the other ball from the garage and continued

their competition. They played a few more rounds, knowing that the winner would be determined at the end of their play time. When Max’s mom arrived to pick him up, they were still tied and agreed that they would finish later. They waved goodbye and left the ball on the front yard.

Giggling as they gazed at Claire the next day in class, Max and Kai agreed that they would continue their competition to determine a winner.

“I can’t wait to see what your love letter says!” Kai taunted Max. “She’s going to fall in love with you after she reads YOUR letter,” Max laughed. When they got to Kai’s house and started looking for a ball, they couldn’t

find one. “What happened to the balls?” Max inquired. “We left one on the front lawn, but I don’t see it now,” replied Kai. They took a walk down the street to find the ball that had rolled down the

street. There was no ball in sight. “How did we lose two balls?” Kai said, shaking his head. The boys went inside the house to ask Kai’s mom if she could go and buy a

new ball for them to use. “What happened to the balls in the garage?” she asked. “Well, I think they got lost or stolen or something,” Kai mumbled. “If you had any money, you could buy another basketball,” his mom replied,

“but I won’t be buying a basketball for you.” “How can we make some money?” they asked. Max and Kai spent the next two hours raking the lawn and pulling weeds.

When it was time for Max to leave, they had only earned $8.00 of the $24.00 they needed to buy a new basketball. Instead of playing ball for the next week, they worked in the yard and did chores around the house until they earned enough money to purchase a new ball.

Name: _____________________ Date:_______________

Let’s Talk About: THEME PASSAGE #1

Title of Passage: Max and Kai Play Ball

©K

irste

n T

uls

ian

Write a brief summary of Max and Kai Play Ball.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

What is one possible theme (written as a sentence) for this passage?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

What evidence from Max and Kai Play Ball supports that theme?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

How can you apply this theme to your own life?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Name: _____________________ Date:_______________

Let’s Talk About: THEME PASSAGE #1

Title of Passage: Max and Kai Play Ball

©K

irste

n T

uls

ian

Write a brief summary of Max and Kai Play Ball.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

What is one possible theme (written as a sentence) for this passage?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

What evidence from Max and Kai Play Ball supports that theme?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

How can you apply this theme to your own life?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Answer Key

Max and Kai are best friends who love to play basketball

together. The boys were excited about a ball competition and left

both of Kai’s basketballs outside when they were done playing. The

next day, they searched for both balls, but couldn’t find them and had

to spend time doing chores to earn enough money to buy another ball.

If you don’t take care of your belongings, you won’t be able to

enjoy them anymore. It is important to take responsibility for

your belongings.

Max and Kai were more concerned about the competition than

they were about caring for the basketballs. They failed to get

one ball when it rolled down the hill and left the other one

outside on the grass over night, which resulted in two lost balls.

Answers will vary.

©Kirsten Tulsian

1.

2. Georgia decided to take a sewing class, but felt

very frustrated when she couldn’t sew a straight line on the first day.

“This looks so easy, but it’s not! Clearly I’m just terrible at sewing!” she complained.

Even though she felt frustrated, she continued to go to class week after week. Each week, her sewing instructor helped her. By the last week of class, Georgia finally completed a project all by herself! She created a rectangular pillow for her bed… with four mostly perfect straight lines.

©Kirsten Tulsian

Choose the best theme for this passage.

Choose the best theme for this passage.

“I don’t want a new baby brother!” whined Kim. “Honey, you don’t have a choice. He will be here next

month,” mom said rubbing her big belly. Kim couldn’t believe that she would have to be around a

loud, slobbery baby. Plus, the thought of sharing anything, especially attention from her mom and dad, with a new baby didn’t sound fun at all!

“You will be one of the most important people in his life!” mom exclaimed. “He will need you to look out for him and to teach him new things!”

“Hmm, I guess that’s true. I will be showing him a lot of new things. Maybe it won’t be all that terrible having a little rugrat running around here,” Kim replied with a sigh. “Just don’t expect me to change his diapers!”

©Kirsten Tulsian

3.

4.

©Kirsten Tulsian

Choose the best theme for this passage.

One minute we were goofing around and having fun and the next thing I knew, Hank’s body soared over the top of the patio and suddenly his life was in danger. With fingers grasped tightly on the railing, he desperately cried for help. I watched his grip slowly slip away and knew that a 40-foot plunge to the ground could be disastrous. Without stopping to consider my own safety, I jumped into action.

My heart pounded through my chest and fear pulsed through my veins as I clutched his hands and pulled up as hard as I could.

Choose the best theme for this passage.

Even though Greg had been looking forward to his best friend’s party for over a month, he knew his grandma would really love to see him.

“It’s your choice, Greg. Grandma is really sick, but I know you’ve been very excited about this party,” said his mom.

Most of his class was planning on going to the party and he knew it would be so much fun! After some thought, though, Greg knew exactly what he was going to do.

“It’s not like this is the last party that I’ll ever be invited to and grandma would be so sad if I didn’t come,” said Greg. “Plus, I always like making her smile.”

Name: ______________ Date:________

Task Cards: Answer in three ways: Big Idea Theme, Choose the Theme Sentence, and Write Your Own Theme for each task card!

1. a.  acceptance b.  loyalty c.  compassion d.  hope

3. a.  prejudice b.  courage c.  forgiveness d.  betrayal

2. a.  differences b.  family c.  teamwork d.  perseverance

4. a.  dreams b.  family c.  perseverance d.  trust

Write your own theme for task card #1: Write your own theme for task card #2

Write your own theme for task card #3: Write your own theme for task card #4:

©Kirsten Tulsian

a.  Anger can help you take responsibility for your behavior. b.  New babies are just loud and slobbery. c.  Feeling important can help people accept change more easily. d.  Hoping for a future with no siblings is always useless.

a.  Differences of opinion create problems. b.  Family should always be there to help. c.  If they really want to help, teachers should just do all the work. d.  Perseverance pays off.

a.  It takes courage to face dangerous situations. b.  Hanging off a balcony can be fun sometimes. c.  People should only play around inside. d.  If you play rough, you should wear a helmet all the time.

a.  Dreams come true when you go to parties. b.  Helping family comes first. c.  Best friends shouldn’t have parties when family is sick. d.  Trust in your friends and they will help you.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Name: ______________ Date:________

Task Cards: Answer in three ways: Big Idea Theme, Choose the Theme Sentence, and Write Your Own Theme for each task card!

1. a.  acceptance b.  loyalty c.  compassion d.  hope

3. a.  prejudice b.  courage c.  forgiveness d.  betrayal

2. a.  differences b.  family c.  teamwork d.  perseverance

4. a.  dreams b.  family c.  perseverance d.  trust

Write your own theme for task card #1: Answers will vary.

Write your own theme for task card #2: Answers will vary.

Write your own theme for task card #3: Answers will vary.

Write your own theme for task card #4: Answers will vary.

©Kirsten Tulsian

a.  Anger can help you take responsibility for your behavior. b.  New babies are just loud and slobbery. c.  Feeling important can help people accept change more easily. d.  Hoping for a future with no siblings is always useless.

a.  Differences of opinion create problems. b.  Family should always be there to help. c.  If they really want to help, teachers should just do all the work. d.  Perseverance pays off.

a.  It takes courage to face dangerous situations. b.  Hanging off a balcony can be fun sometimes. c.  People should only play around inside. d.  If you play rough, you should wear a helmet all the time.

a.  Dreams come true when you go to parties. b.  Helping family comes first. c.  Best friends shouldn’t have parties when family is sick. d.  Trust in your friends and they will help you.

1.

2.

3.

4.

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