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Read Chapters 33-37; Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapters 33-37

Read aloud Grimm’s Fairy Tale of “The Ant and the Cricket.” After reading, ask students to think about what message the authors of the fairy tale wanted to convey to readers. List your class’ messages on chart paper. Ask students to think about why they chose this as a message. What text evidence did they use? Record their answers on chart paper.

will explain that realistic fiction novels usually contain an author’s message about a topic. This message is called a theme. A theme may be a lesson or a piece of advice the author would like to make to the reader or society in general. Themes help shape the character, plot, settings, and events in a story. In short stories, such as The Ant and the Cricket, the theme is often quickly found by looking at text evidence. In longer realistic fiction novels, many authors use recurring events to convey a theme to readers. To find recurring events, I will think about important topics in the book, find events in the story that deal with those topics, and analyze the events to draw a conclusion about the author’s message.

To figure out a theme of Maniac Magee I will first identify one topic in story. One topic that we read about throughout the book is death and dying. Several people that Maniac was close to have died—his parents die in a trolley accident and his friend Grayson dies after the new year. On the What’s the Theme? Chart 1, I’ll write “Death and Dying” under the “Topic” column. Note: See the What’s the Theme? Chart 1 for specific examples.

Next, I will think about the recurring events that are centered on the topic of “Death and Dying” in Maniac Magee. I remember that in the beginning of the book, Maniac’s parents died and he has to learn how to deal with their death. I also recall that Grayson died and Maniac also tries to deal with his death. These events happen throughout the book, so I will write this down under the “Recurring Events” column on the What’s the Theme? Chart 1. 

I will draw a conclusion about the theme, or the message the author wants to convey about the topic of death and dying. I will explain that you can gather hints and specific details from the text about what the author wants to say regarding the theme. I will think about the theme for the death and dying topic in this book. In the “Theme/Author’s Message” column, I will write down the message I think the author wants to convey to the reader based on the theme. To do this, I will think about what happens surrounding the death and dying events. I recall that each time someone dies, Maniac seems to run away. After a death in the character’s life, Maniac Magee begins new adventures or encounters new scenarios. Because of this information, I can conclude that one of the themes in the book could be: Death can be the beginning of something new. I will record this on the What’s the Theme? Chart 1.

Ask: "How do I figure out a theme in a story?" Students should respond that you look at a topic presented in the book and identify recurring events related to that topic. Then, you use text evidence to draw a conclusion about the theme of the book.

will examine the topic of “Running Away” in Maniac Magee, to figure out the theme. Throughout the book, there are a many times in which Maniac runs away. For example, Maniac first runs away from his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan and Hollidaysburg. He continues to run for one year, winding up in Two Mills. Ask: "Can you recall other times in the book when the recurring event of running away comes up?" As we recall these events or skim the book to find additional events, we will keep track of these events on the What’s the Theme? Chart 2 under the “Recurring Event” column. We will write down the events that make Maniac run: death, being chased, feeling fearful for others, etc. We will include details surrounding the running events. Note: See the What’s the Theme? Chart 2 for specific examples.

Now we will think about what the author wants to convey about this running away. It seems that Maniac always tries to run away when things get tough, but the running actually doesn’t solve his problems. Sometimes, running causes additional problems (Maniac gets chased, followed, ends up far away from “home.”) Based on text evidence, we can conclude that one of the themes for this book is “Running away from your problems doesn’t help you solve them.” We will record this on the What’s the Theme? Chart 2. Note: Ask students for additional themes that are appropriate for the running topic in this book, and record their theme ideas on the chart.

will work with a partner to find additional recurring events in the book around the topic of “racism and segregation.” You may skim chapters, use your Student Packet, or use your recalling skills to identify recurring events. You will write the recurring events and the details and information about these events on the What’s the Theme? Worksheet in your Student Packet. (See page 31 in the Student Packet.) Next, you and your partner will look at the details surrounding these recurring events. Brainstorm possible themes for the topic you have identified. Ask yourselves: What is the message the author wants to convey about this topic? Write your theme ideas and conclusions in the “Theme” column on the on the What’s the Theme? Worksheet. 

You and your partner will create a poster about the theme you have identified. You will write the theme somewhere on your poster and you will include visual information that relates to the theme, such as the recurring events, or the characters involved, or what happens surrounding the topic. Note: A poster might show Maniac Magee standing on the border between East and West. On each side of him, there are two groups of kids. He could be extending one arm to each side. The author’s message could be: Racism divides people, but kindness brings them together.

will share our theme posters with the class. Each pair will discuss their poster and answer any questions from the students. Note: Encourage students to engage in a discussion about the theme/author’s message. You may prompt students with questions such as "What do you think about the theme of this book? Do you agree with the author’s message? Why or why not?" We will hang our theme posters around our classroom. In addition to displaying the themes of Maniac Magee, the posters can serve as a reference point as we continue with the remaining chapters of the book.