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Theme/summarizing

ela4.01.05 (4.rl.2)  
​students will be able to determine the theme and summarize a fiction text.


  
​When reading literature, students need to be able to identify key details and tie them together to create a well thought out summary of the text.  When working with fiction, we like to use the (somebody/wanted/so/but/finally) summarizing structure to help students practice writing summaries.  Graphic organizer and example are the property of Laura Candler.
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Videos on the topic

Parent resources 

​Click here for an article explaining how parents can further help their children understand summaries.


​While reading literature, students should analyze the actions of the main characters throughout the story to determine the theme (sometimes referred to as the moral or lesson) of the story.  The theme is the underlying message the author is trying to get across to his reader.
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Junkyard wonders theme project

The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco is the story about a girl who is teased for being a slow reader and for being part of the "special" class at school called the Junkyard.  Despite the challenges her and her classmates face, the class teacher, Mrs. Peterson insists that all the student in the class are special and wonderful.  With Mrs. Peterson's support, the class does some amazing things.

After reading the book, students came up with themes they thought supported the author's big idea or message (theme).  Students went home and took old materials (junk) and turned it into new wonders to further emphasize the theme that amazing things can happen when you believe in yourself.
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​​Click here for an article explaining how parents can further help their children understand summaries.