Curriculum › Grade 6 › English Language Arts

Finding the Theme

Grade 6
English Language Arts
RL.6.2
Reading: Literature
Free lesson

Aligned to RL.6.2 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

A theme is the life-lesson a story reveals, not just its topic. Trace how details, characters' choices, and the ending build it, then summarize the plot without adding your own opinion.

Worked examples

Example 1

A boy hides a mistake, gets caught, and feels worse than if he had confessed. Topic: honesty. Theme: hiding the truth costs more than telling it. Objective summary: 'A boy conceals an error, is discovered, and regrets not admitting it' — no praise or blame added.

Example 2

A runner quits the team rather than compete against her injured friend, and regrets it for a season. Topic: loyalty. Theme: loyalty that costs someone their own chance is not kindness.

Example 3

An objective summary has no verdict in it. 'She foolishly quit' is your opinion; 'she quit and later regretted it' is the summary.

Practice questions

State the theme of a story you're reading in one sentence, then name two details that build it.
Write a 3-sentence summary with no opinion words (best, boring, should).
Explain how the ending changes or confirms the theme.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Encontrar el Tema

El tema es la enseñanza que revela un cuento, no solo el asunto del que trata. Sigue cómo los detalles, las decisiones de los personajes y el final lo construyen, y luego resume la trama sin agregar tu opinión.

Ejemplo 1: Un niño esconde un error, lo descubren y se siente peor que si lo hubiera confesado. Asunto: la honestidad. Tema: ocultar la verdad cuesta más que decirla. Resumen objetivo: 'Un niño oculta un error, lo descubren y se arrepiente de no haberlo admitido' — sin elogios ni juicios.

Ejemplo 2: Una corredora deja el equipo en vez de competir contra su amiga lesionada, y lo lamenta toda la temporada. Asunto: la lealtad. Tema: una lealtad que le cuesta a alguien su propia oportunidad no es bondad.

Ejemplo 3: Un resumen objetivo no lleva veredicto. 'Tontamente renunció' es tu opinión; 'renunció y después se arrepintió' es el resumen.

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