Lessons & Units :: Theme 3rd Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Determining Theme Based on Events in the Story

Lesson Plan

Chinese Children's Favorite Stories

Chinese Children's Favorite Stories
Learning Goal
Determine the theme based on the events of a story.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Direct Teaching for Lesson 3: Example Chart, Guided Practice for Lesson 3: Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories by Mingmei Yip, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that we can use the main events of stories to identify the theme of the story. I will read aloud “The Fish-Basket Goddess” (p. 9) from Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories by Mingmei Yip and chart the main events of the story. (Direct Teaching Teacher Example Chart is provided below in Teacher and Student Materials.) I will determine the theme by thinking about all the events in the story. I will identify the theme as: “Goodness wins over evil.” The Dragon King was evil and when the Goddess came up with a plan to help the people, the Dragon King lost all his powers. I think the author is trying to give the reader the message that being good and clever is better than being mean and bad.

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did I identify the theme of the story? Students should answer that as you read, you charted the main events from the story. Then you used these events to draw a conclusion about the message of the story.

  • Guided Practice

    will read “The Mouse Bride” (p. 15) from Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories by Mingmei Yip aloud and chart the main events of the story. (See Guided Practice Teacher Example Chart, provided below.) We will use these events to identify the theme of the story: “The strongest and bravest is not always who you think.”

  • Independent Practice

    will read “How the Fox Tricked the Tiger” (p.76) from Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories by Mingmei Yip. You will use the main events of the story to determine the theme of the story. (Student Independent Practice is provided below.) Note: You will need to provide your students with the stories for Independent Practice.

Build Student Vocabulary mansion

Tier 2 Word: mansion
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story One day, Ming Ming, a boy mouse, passed by the mayor’s mansion. He caught the mayor looking up at the sky shaking his head.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) A mansion is a large and expensive house. When Ming Ming passed by the mayor’s mansion, he passed by mayor’s large and expensive home.
Students repeat the word Say the word mansion with me: mansion.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts The White House is a mansion. The President of the United States lives in a mansion.
Students provide examples Where might you see a mansion? Start by saying, “I might see a mansion ________________________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? mansion
Additional Vocabulary Words scurry, worthy

Build Student Background Knowledge

Before reading the story, explain that you are going to read tales from China. In the first story, "The Fish-Basket Goddess," you will encounter a dragon. Share a picture of a Chinese dragon and explain that they are an important Chinese symbol, appearing in mythology and folklore. In European stories, dragons often appear as evil creatures, but in Chinese stories, dragons are powerful, often controlling water, rain, and flooding. Historically, they were the symbol of the Emperor of China, the leader and most powerful position in the country for many generations. The Chinese Emperor is not elected like a president, but is a position passed on from father to son. Only one "empress" has ever ruled China—Empress Wu.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

These are great for small or whole groups.

Submitted by eperryman_1734028 on 1/20/16

Great Lesson!!

Submitted by smoore on 10/15/15