Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Lesson: Understanding topic versus theme

Lesson To start class, we will begin with a quick presentation on the differences
Overview between “Topic” and Theme.” We will take several examples from the
students to see what they believe “theme” to be.
● I assume that many students will give me topics NOT themes.
This is where I will go through my Google Slides and assess the
differences between Topics and Theme.
Students will be asked to take out a sheet of paper and write out their
bell ringer #4. They will write out their answer, using the prompt below,
and pass their half sheet up.
● “Using the information you learned today, take a Disney Movie
and try to develop your own theme statement”
● We will use some of the anonymous data and will pull up
examples of theme statements. Through these examples, we will
collectively ask which statements are “good” and which
statements we can work on together to rewrite and fix.
● Tell students that the purpose of doing this is to practice writing
theme statements. One of their requirements for the One-Pager
will be to write a theme statement for Romeo and Juliet.
Students will then be given approx. 2 minutes to look through their
books and recall information from reading yesterday.
● I will call on random students and ask for information. We will
keep a running list of information from the reading on the board
for all the students to reference
Students will then be asked to turn to Act 4, Scenes 2-5
● Students will read this out loud. I will stop every so often and
explain what is happening throughout the story.
After the reading, Students will then be given a sticky note. Each student
will reassess their answers from last week and will choose a character
from the story whom they believe to be the MOST responsible for the
death of Romeo and Juliet.
● Students will write a character and an explanation behind their
choice on the sticky note and will place it on the window under
their corresponding character name
● Students will discuss why their answers may have
changed/shifted from their original choices. Students will also
argue why they think that character is most responsible versus
another character.
To end, we will go back to the board and we will discuss common
themes throughout Romeo and Juliet. Now that we have gone through
and differentiated between a theme and a topic, students will choose
topics from R&J and we will walk through some theme statements as a
class. This will help us lead into our assignment for tomorrow when they
begin working on their One-Pagers.

Lesson Goal Students will be able to create their own sample theme statements to
 prepare for their One-Pager.

Students will be able to argue who they deem to be MOST responsible

for the death of R&J

Learning Goal Students will be able to draw topics out of a story and be able to
explain its relevance/importance to the greater plot.

Students will be able to recall important events and identify their

significance to the great plot of the story.

Students will be able to identify the chain of events and character

development and how they change throughout a story.

Standards CCSS.ELA.RL.9-10.3
Met
CCSS.ELA.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.ELA.WL.9-10.2a

CCSS.ELA.WL.9-10.4

HLTP - ● Formative Assessment -Students will be asked complete a

GLC/EMC bellringer on Google Classroom to create their own theme
statements using Disney movies
● EMC- Students will be asked to read Act 4, Scenes 4-5 and I will
explain any concepts/content in which they may struggle to
understand and to create a seamless understanding of Point A to
Point B.
● EIST - Students will reassess their original picks and deem who
they find to be most responsible for the death of Romeo and
Juliet. Students will also argue their stance and explain why they
chose that character.

Launch To start class, we will begin with a quick presentation on the differences
between “Topic” and Theme.” We will take several examples from the
students to see what they believe “theme” to be.
● I assume that many students will give me topics NOT themes.
This is where I will go through my Google Slides and assess the
differences between Topics and Theme.
Students will be asked to take out a sheet of paper and write out their
bell ringer #4. They will write out their answer, using the prompt below,
and pass their half sheet up.
● “Using the information you learned today, take a Disney Movie
 and try to develop your own theme statement”
● We will use some of the anonymous data and will pull up
examples of theme statements. Through these examples, we will
collectively ask which statements are “good” and which
statements we can work on together to rewrite and fix.
● Tell students that the purpose of doing this is to practice writing
theme statements. One of their requirements for the One-Pager
will be to write a theme statement for Romeo and Juliet.

Visuals ● Powerpoint
● Sticky note wall and sticky notes
● Writing on the board

Analogies ● We like to call Romeo an “emo boy” because he is very over-

dramatic.
● Relating to Disney movies

Progress Students will then be given approx. 2 minutes to look through their
books and recall information from reading yesterday.
● I will call on random students and ask for information. We will
keep a running list of information from the reading on the board
for all the students to reference
Students will then be asked to turn to Act 4, Scenes 2-5
● Students will read this out loud. I will stop every so often and
explain what is happening throughout the story.

Conclusion After the reading, Students will then be given a sticky note. Each student
will reassess their answers from last week and will choose a character
from the story whom they believe to be the MOST responsible for the
death of Romeo and Juliet.
● Students will write a character and an explanation behind their
choice on the sticky note and will place it on the window under
their corresponding character name
● Students will discuss why their answers may have
changed/shifted from their original choices. Students will also
argue why they think that character is most responsible versus
another character.
To end, we will go back to the board and we will discuss common
themes throughout Romeo and Juliet. Now that we have gone through
and differentiated between a theme and a topic, students will choose
topics from R&J and we will walk through some theme statements as a
class. This will help us lead into our assignment for tomorrow when they
begin working on their One-Pagers.

Anticipated ● Students will associate themes with topics. This may be

Challenges something that needs to be retaught several times. It is hard to
unlearn something from the past.
Assessment ● Students will be asked to create their own sample theme
statement to assess their understanding of theme versus topic
● Students will be asked to give an explanation behind who they
deem to be most responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet

Materials ● Bell ringer question

● Sticky notes
● Powerpoints
● Romeo and Juliet book: Act 4, Scenes 2-5
● SMART board