Theme Continuum

Author’s Craft can be included, “What did the author do that?”

Grade 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Common CCSS.ELA-LI CCSS.ELA-LITERA CCSS.ELA-LITER CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2

Core State TERACY.RL.2 CY.RL.3.2 ACY.RL.4.2 Determine a theme of a story, Determine a theme or central
Standard .2 Recount stories, Determine a theme drama, or poem from details in idea of a text and how it is
Recount including fables, of a story, drama, the text, including how conveyed through particular
stories, folktales, and or poem from characters in a story or drama details; provide a summary of
including myths from diverse details in the text; respond to challenges or how the text distinct from personal
fables and cultures; determine summarize the the speaker in a poem reflects opinions or judgments.
folktales from the central text. upon a topic; summarize the
diverse message, lesson, text.
cultures, and or moral and
determine explain how it is
their central conveyed through
message, key details in the
lesson, or text.
moral.

I Can . . . I can name I can tell a lesson  I can determine a I can determine the theme of a
the lesson the from the story that  theme of a story, text using supporting details.
character is universal. It  drama, or poem
learned. applies to many  using details from
books and life. I  the text.
can support my 
idea with 2-3 
details from the 
story.

Student A theme for “Dad is In the text “Dad is “Dad is Back” teaches us to
Example Back” could be we Back” a theme could stay positive even if life is
can find things that be that even when challenging. Dad stayed
life doesn’t turn out
are good in life positive even though he was
the way we want or
even when bad expect, we can
injured in a war and was
things happen to choose to look on wheelchair-bound. He
us. Dad realizes the positive side and encouraged his son to look on
there is more to life be helpful in making the positive side of things and
than legs and is the situation be the what’s important in life. For
thankful for his best it can be. example, the dad told his son,
Dontae’s dad
family. Dontae “there is so much more to life
returned from Iraq
knows that dad is injured, but both
than legs.”
focusing on what is Dontae and his dad
important in life and remained positive
he should too. and Dontae also
made sure to spend
time with his dad
when his dad
couldn’t sleep.