💡 The theme is the big lesson or message in a story. It's what
the author wants you to learn.
Common Themes:
• Be kind to others • Hard work pays off • Be yourself • Friends help each
other • Don't give up • Honesty is important • Treat others how you want to be treated
The Tortoise and the Hare
A speedy hare made fun of a slow tortoise. "You'll never beat me in a race!" said the hare. The tortoise
said, "Let's see about that." The race began and the hare zoomed ahead. Feeling confident, the hare took
a nap under a tree. Meanwhile, the tortoise kept walking — slowly but steadily. When the hare woke up,
the tortoise had already crossed the finish line!
Question
Your Answer
What is the theme/moral of this story?
What did the tortoise do that showed this theme?
What did the hare do wrong?
2 Match the Story to the Theme
🔗 Read each mini-story. Draw a line to the best theme.
Tom lied
about breaking the vase. Later, he felt so guilty that he told the truth. His mom said she was
proud of his honesty.
Sara wanted
to quit piano. But she kept practicing. After a year, she played a beautiful concert.
Everyone laughed at Ben's unusual
drawing. But the art teacher loved it and put it on the wall, saying "Art has no rules!"
Be yourself — it's okay to be different
Honesty is always the best choice
Hard work and practice pay off
3 Find the Theme
📖 Read the story. Choose the BEST theme from the options.
The New Kid
A new student named Amir joined Mrs. Lee's class. He was quiet and sat alone at lunch. Most kids didn't
talk to him. But Priya noticed Amir sitting by himself. She walked over and said, "Want to sit with us?"
Amir smiled for the first time all day. By the end of the week, Amir had three new friends — all because
Priya was kind enough to say hello.
A New schools are always scary.
B A small act of kindness can make a big difference.
C Kids should always sit together at lunch.
D It's important to be quiet at school.
Why did you choose that answer?
4 Create a Story with a Theme
✍️ Choose a theme. Then write a short story (3–5 sentences) that teaches that
lesson.
Pick a ThemeDon't give upBe a good friendTell the truth
My theme:
5 SBA Performance Task: Extended Response
This section is like a performance task on the state test. Read carefully, find evidence, and write a complete response.
Question: What is the theme or lesson of this story? Use two details from the text to explain how the author develops this theme.
My claim or answer:
Evidence 1: (Quote or detail from the text)
Evidence 2: (Another quote or detail)
My explanation: (Connect the evidence to your claim in 2-3 sentences)