Finding a Theme

Featuring
“The Three Little Pigs”
Finding a Theme
Illustrations from
All About the Three Little Pigs
by Dick Hartley and L. Kirby-Parrish
Cupples & Leon Company, 1914
Now in the Public Domain

Copyright © 2014 Brenda Kovich

All rights reserved by author
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only
 What Is Theme?

• A theme is a message from the author. It’s something you

notice, realize, or learn.
• As you read, think, “What message is the author trying to send
to me?”
• Look for patterns or series of details that fit together to make a
point.
• Different readers may find different themes. The key is finding
connected details that send a specific message.
 Steps for Finding and Writing a Theme

• Step One: As you read the text, ask yourself, “What message is
the author sending?”
• Step Two: List connected details.
• Step Three: Determine a theme supported by the connected
details.
• Step Four: Write a paragraph about the theme. Tell the theme at
the beginning (topic sentence), add supporting details, and
conclude with a summary, personal insight, or application to
your life.
 Finding a Theme
“The Three Little Pigs”

• Think about the story, “The Three Little Pigs.”

• What message is the author trying to send?

• We will explore three possibilities today.

 Example 1
“The Three Little Pigs”
Connected Details
• The first two pigs didn’t spend much time making
their houses while the third pig had to carry heavy
bricks and carefully stack them into a solid house.
• The wolf blew down the first and second pigs’
homes, but the third pig’s house was unharmed.

Theme
• Taking your time to do something right pays off.
 Example 1
“The Three Little Pigs”
Now it’s time to write a paragraph.

First we’ll write a topic sentence that tells the theme.

The theme of “The Three Little Pigs” is “taking your

time to do something right pays off.”

Notice how we used the word “theme,” as well as the

title of the story. Then we told what the theme was.
 Example 1
“The Three Little Pigs”
In the middle of the paragraph, we’ll add the connected
details.

At the beginning of the story, each pig built a house.

The first two pigs didn’t spend much time making
their houses, but the third pig carried heavy bricks
and carefully stacked them into a solid house. In the
end, the wolf blew down the first and second pigs’
homes, but the third pig’s house was unharmed.

Notice how we put the details in order and used order

words to guide the reader.
 Example 1
“The Three Little Pigs”
Last we’ll write a conclusion that either sums it up,
tells something special we noticed, or explains how this
applies to our lives.

The author’s message will help me remember that

taking my time to do my homework well will pay off in
the end.

Here we are telling how this lesson applies to our lives.

Let’s take a look at our finished paragraph.
 Example 1
“The Three Little Pigs”
The theme of “The Three Little Pigs” is “taking
your time to do something right pays off.” At the
beginning of the story, each pig built a house. The first
two pigs didn’t spend much time making their houses,
but the third pig carried heavy bricks and carefully
stacked them into a solid house. In the end, the wolf
blew down the first and second pigs’ homes, but the
third pig’s house was unharmed. The author’s message
will help me remember that taking my time to do my
homework well will pay off in the end.
 Example 2
“The Three Little Pigs”
Connected Details
• The wolf was mean to the little pigs. He blew down
two pigs’ houses.
• At the third house, the wolf went down the chimney
and got burned by the hot water in the pot.

Theme
• If you are mean to others, you will be punished in
the end.
 Example 2
“The Three Little Pigs”
Let’s practice writing another paragraph.

First we’ll write a topic sentence that tells the theme.

I think the theme of this story is “if you are mean to

others, you will be punished in the end.”

In the topic sentence, we used the word “theme” and we

referred to the story. Then we told the theme.
 Example 2
“The Three Little Pigs”
We write the connected details in the middle of the
paragraph. We put the events in time order.

The wolf was mean to the little pigs. He blew down

two pigs’ houses. When he got to the third house, the
wolf went down the chimney and got burned by the
hot water in the pot.
 Example 2
“The Three Little Pigs”
Now we write a conclusion that either sums it up, tells
something special we noticed, or explains how this
applies to our lives.

The author was trying to tell me that being mean

doesn’t pay.

Let’s look at our finished paragraph.

 Example 2
“The Three Little Pigs”
I think the theme of this story is “if you are mean to
others, you will be punished in the end.” The wolf was
mean to the little pigs. He blew down two pigs’ houses.
When he got to the third house, the wolf went down the
chimney and got burned by the hot water in the pot.
The author was trying to tell me that being mean
doesn’t pay.
 Example 3
“The Three Little Pigs”
Connected Details
• The first pig doesn’t protect himself well with his
house of straw.
• The second pig doesn’t protect himself well with
his house of sticks.
• The third pig protects himself well with his house
of brick.
Theme
• Protection Notice how this theme is
expressed in just one word.
 Example 3
“The Three Little Pigs”
Let’s practice writing one more paragraph.

First we write a topic sentence to express the theme.

The theme of “The Three Little Pigs” is protection.

In the topic sentence, we used the word “theme” and the

name of the story. Then we told the theme.
 Example 3
“The Three Little Pigs”
We write the connected details in the middle of the
paragraph. We write the events briefly and make sure
they’re in order.

The first and second pigs didn’t protect themselves

well with their houses of straw and sticks. The wolf
blew them down easily. The third pig built his house
of brick, which protected him from the wolf.
 Example 3
“The Three Little Pigs”
Finally, we write a conclusion that either sums it up,
tells something special we noticed, or explains how this
applies to our lives.

This story reminds us that it’s important to have

protection.

Let’s look at our final paragraph.

 Example 3
“The Three Little Pigs”

The theme of “The Three Little Pigs” is

protection. The first and second pigs didn’t protect
themselves well with their houses of straw and sticks.
The wolf blew them down easily. The third pig built
his house of brick, which protected him from the
wolf. This story reminds us that it’s important to have
protection.