This document provides an overview of themes and activities for an 8th grade honors language arts class focused on determining the theme of a book. Students will analyze passages from the text and write their reactions on posters representing different themes. They will then participate in a fishbowl discussion and philosophical chairs debate to discuss which themes may be the central idea of the text, using evidence from the passages. The objectives are to have students determine the theme of a text and analyze its development through characters, setting, and plot.

1. Theme 1
Theme
8th Grade Honors Language Arts
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2. Theme 2
Overview
Students will be determining the theme of PBW by using textual evidence to
prove their point.
Objectives
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over
the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting,
and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Activities
1. Text sets with graffiti boards-Each table will get a piece of poster
paper will topics discussed in the pages that have been read thus far.
(These topics are mini themes that could be the main theme of the
book.) Passages from the book that deal with that topic will be on
the poster. Students will go to the table of their choice, read the
passage and write their reactions /why they think this may be the
theme of the book.
2. Flocabulary video “Reading Comprehension” and discuss.
3. Students will gather at their tables and write a question they have
based on their theme on their posters. They will then determine the
best question out of their group
4. Fishbowl (Socratic Seminar) – Using two themes, the students will
be separated into two groups. Group A will sit in a circle and discuss
the question at hand, while group B will stand behind the circle and
write down any comments they may have and pass it to the person
in front of them. Group B cannot talk until it is time to switch
questions.
5. Philosophical Chairs- -Using the other themes, the room will be
divided up in sections, ‘I agree’, ‘I don’t agree’, and ‘I’m not sure.’ The
instructor will ask one of the questions and the students will choose
a side. Each side will take turns stating their opinions. They will use
phrases such as ‘I understand what you are saying but..’
Materials
 Posters
 Flocabulary Video