Fun and Interactive Reading Game to Teach Theme in Upper Elementary
Teaching theme in literature can be tricky, especially when students have to think critically and make inferences. If you're looking for a creative, engaging way to help your students grasp the concept of theme, I’ve got you covered! In this post, I’ll walk you through a fun, interactive reading game that gets students talking, thinking, and loving literature, all while learning how to identify and analyze themes.
Why Theme is Tough for Students
When it comes to literature, theme is one of the more abstract concepts for students to understand. Unlike plot, which deals with what happens in the story, theme is the underlying message or moral. It requires students to think beyond the events in the story and understand the bigger picture—what the author is trying to convey through the characters, setting, and events.
In my classroom, I’ve found that students need hands-on activities that make theme more accessible and engaging. The traditional method of reading and then simply identifying the theme just doesn’t quite cut it. So, I came up with a game to help my students not only understand theme but also have fun while doing it!
Step 1: Review the Concept of Theme
Before diving into the game, it’s important to ensure that your students understand what theme is. I recommend reviewing theme by breaking it down into its core elements. Start by asking students to think about broad topics like:
Friendship
Courage
Honesty
Kindness
Love
Once students have a list of possible topics, encourage them to brainstorm what the author might believe about those topics. For example:
Friendship: What does the author believe about friendship? Maybe it's that friendship can help you overcome challenges.
Courage: Does the author believe that courage is about standing up for what’s right, even if it’s difficult?
Once students have thought about the author’s message or belief, help them distill it into a sentence that sums up the theme. For example:
“The theme of this story is that true friendship can help you face difficult challenges.”
Now that they have a clear idea of what theme is, they’re ready to play the game!
Step 2: Introduce the Chalk Talk Game
The Chalk Talk game is an interactive, student-driven activity that allows students to explore different themes through collaboration and discussion. It’s great for reviewing themes and getting students actively engaged.
Here’s how it works:
Print Theme Texts: Print out short excerpts from a variety of texts (you can use sections from books, short stories, or even movie scenes) that have clear themes. Each text should reflect a different theme, like courage, kindness, or perseverance.
Prepare the Chalk Talk Paper: Hang up large sheets of chart paper around the classroom, each with a different theme (e.g., courage, friendship, etc.). These will be your "Chalk Talk" stations.
First Round – Identifying Topics: In the first round, students will rotate between the stations, reading the text excerpts and identifying what themes they think are present. For example, they might note “friendship” or “bravery” as they read through the text.
Second Round – Forming Themes: Once all the topics have been identified, divide the class into small groups and assign each group a station. Their task is to come up with a theme statement based on the texts at their station. This is where they’ll take all of the observations they’ve made and summarize them into a cohesive theme. Encourage students to write their theme statements on the chart paper for everyone to see.
Why This Game Works
Active Learning: Students are not just passively absorbing information—they are collaborating with their peers, discussing ideas, and writing down their thoughts.
Engagement: By moving around the room and physically interacting with the texts, students stay engaged and motivated.
Multiple Skills: The activity incorporates reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, which helps reinforce the theme identification process from multiple angles.
Critical Thinking: Students must analyze the texts carefully to determine what the author’s message is and how that message relates to the theme.
Step 3: Make It a Class Discussion
After the groups have created their theme statements, gather the class together to share and discuss what they’ve written. This step is key to deepening their understanding of theme.
Compare and Contrast: Ask students to compare the themes they’ve identified. How do the themes relate to each other? Are there any common threads across the texts?
Connect Back to the Author: Help students understand why the author might have chosen to highlight a particular theme. Was it to teach a lesson or share a perspective?
Encourage students to debate and defend their theme statements, fostering a sense of ownership over their learning.
Step 4: Reflect on the Learning
End the lesson by having students reflect on what they’ve learned about theme. You could have them write a quick exit ticket answering questions like:
What is theme?
How do we identify the theme in a text?
How did this activity help you understand theme better?
This reflection gives you a chance to check for understanding and reinforce key takeaways from the lesson.
Why This Activity is Perfect for Upper Elementary Students
This Chalk Talk activity is perfect for upper elementary students for several reasons:
It’s hands-on: Upper elementary students thrive when they can move around and interact with their learning materials.
It builds collaboration: Students get to work together, share ideas, and discuss concepts in a supportive environment.
It’s adaptable: You can use this strategy for any literary concept, not just theme. You could adapt it to teach plot, character development, or even literary devices like metaphors and similes.
Ready to Try This in Your Classroom?
This Chalk Talk activity will get your students talking, thinking, and analyzing literature in a way that is both fun and educational. It’s the perfect solution for helping them understand the concept of theme in a memorable, engaging way.
Want it already done for you? Click here to get the full resource on TPT
Let me know how it goes in your classroom! You’ve got this!
