💡 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 Lion and the Mouse
A mouse accidentally woke a sleeping lion by scurrying across its paw. The lion caught the mouse and was about to eat it, but the mouse begged, "Please let me go, and I will help you someday." The lion laughed at the idea but let the mouse go free. Later, hunters trapped the lion in a net. The tiny mouse heard the lion's roars, found him, and gnawed through the ropes until the lion was free.
Question
Your Answer
What is the theme/moral of this story?
Which character's actions best showed this theme?
What mistake did the other character make?
2 Match the Story to the Theme
🔗 Read each mini-story. Draw a line to the best theme.
Sofia practiced her cartwheel every single day after school, even when it felt impossible. Weeks later, she landed it perfectly during the gymnastics show.
Jamal noticed a new student sitting alone every lunch period. He walked over, introduced himself, and invited the student to join his table.
Everyone said Leo's drawings looked too messy and colorful for the school art show. He entered them anyway, and his unique style ended up winning first place.
Hard work and practice pay off
Kindness matters, even in small moments
Be yourself — it's okay to be different
3 Find the Theme
📖 Read the story. Choose the BEST theme from the options.
The Overloaded Backpack
Every morning, Nadia stuffed her backpack with every book, toy, and snack she thought she might need. By the time she reached school, her shoulders ached and her back hurt. Her teacher suggested only packing what she truly needed each day. Nadia tried it, and her backpack instantly felt lighter and easier to carry. She realized that carrying only what mattered made her whole day better.
A Backpacks should always be heavy.
B It's better to keep only what truly matters.
C Teachers should carry students' bags.
D School mornings are always difficult.
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)
+ Bonus Reading Practice
Use this short practice to extend Set 3.
Topic words: garden, seed, leaf, plan
1. Write one sentence using two of the words above.
2. What detail would you expect to find in a passage about this topic?
3. Write one inference a reader could make from a text about this topic.