Objective

By the end of this lesson, J will be able to choose a piece of prose literature, such as a short story or an essay, and identify the main theme or emotion it conveys. J will also create an original piece of prose that reflects a chosen theme or emotion.

Materials and Prep

• Paper and crayons or markers for drawing and writing.
• A selection of short stories, poems, or essays (these can be original or from a favorite book).
• A comfortable reading space.
• Optional: A timer for reading activities.

Activities

• Story Time: Start by reading a short story together. Choose one that has a clear theme or emotion, like friendship or bravery. After reading, discuss what J liked about the story and how it made them feel.

• Theme Detective: After the story, J will become a "theme detective." Ask J to think about what the story was really about. Was it about being happy or feeling sad? Help them find clues in the story that support their ideas.

• Draw Your Feelings: J will then draw a picture that represents the theme or emotion from the story. Encourage them to use lots of colors and to think about what the characters might be feeling.

• Write a Mini Story: Finally, J will create their own short story with a theme or emotion they choose. They can write it with help or dictate it to you while you write it down. Encourage creativity and imagination!

Talking Points

• "What is your favorite part of the story? Why did it make you feel that way?"
• "Can you find a word in the story that shows us how the character feels?"
• "How do you think the character felt at the end of the story? What makes you think that?"
• "What colors do you think show happiness? What about sadness?"
• "What will your story be about? What feeling do you want to share with your readers?"