💡 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, boasting that he would win any race easily. The tortoise simply said, "Let's see about that." During the race, the hare zoomed far ahead and, feeling confident, decided to nap under a tree. The tortoise kept walking steadily without stopping. When the hare woke up, he saw the tortoise had already crossed the finish line.
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.
Wen practiced her violin every single afternoon, even on days she didn't feel like it. After a year, she performed a beautiful solo at the winter concert.
A classmate spilled juice all over Carmen's homework by accident. Carmen simply smiled and said it was okay, offering to share her notes instead of getting upset.
Everyone at school wore the same style of sneakers, but Felix wore bright rain boots every day because he loved them. Eventually, kids admired his confidence.
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 Patched Kite
Every time Malik's kite tore, he wanted to throw it away and buy a new one. His grandfather taught him how to patch the torn spots with fabric and glue instead. It took several tries before Malik got good at fixing his kite properly. By the end of the season, his patched kite flew higher and lasted longer than the shiny new kites his friends had bought.
A New things are always better than old things.
B Fixing and caring for what you have can be worth the effort.
C Kites should never be repaired.
D Grandfathers are better at kites than kids.
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 5.
Topic words: beach, shell, wave, pattern
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.