Teaching Main Idea Vs. Theme
By Mary Montero
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If your students are anything like mine, they have an incredibly difficult time telling the difference between main idea and theme. Before this year, I had always taught the skills in isolation. Main Idea first, followed by Theme a few weeks later. Most kids are familiar with main idea when they get to the upper grades, but it is still tricky for them. Then add on top of that the idea of theme, and their minds are blown. This year, I taught them separately, then integrated them. It has helped with their understanding of main idea vs. theme SO much!
Anchor Charts
First, we made an anchor chart together where we brainstormed themes and then some fictitious main ideas that could go along with the themes (remember, the students already had background knowledge about what theme and main idea are independent of one another). Here are two similar versions of the theme and main idea anchor charts I’ve made with students over the years: A note on the anchor charts: I want to clarify that the first example here does use what some identify as “topics” instead of themes. We talk about this in the classroom, but the anchor charts condensed them to one word. I DO encourage my students to use sentences to write themes instead of just one-word topics (as seen in the second anchor chart)
Free Main Idea Vs. Theme Sorts
The next day, they did a quick sort of main ideas and themes. This is when they really started to get it. They sorted the definitions as well as a few examples of both main idea and theme.
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Discussion Questions
After they did the sort, I had them answer the following questions in pairs. Some still struggled with this, but most of them could see that themes were universal, whereas main idea statements include specific details and are usually specific to one story. Being able to look at the statements within the sort really helped them to see these differences.
After they had answered these questions in pairs, we had a really great discussion about main idea vs. theme as an entire class.
You can download a half-page version of the discussion questions free HERE.
Differentiated Main Idea Vs Theme Task Cards
Later, we started working on theme task cards using brief passages. We all started with multiple choice task cards, which gave students three options, one of which was the theme, and the other was the main idea (the third is just a detail from the story). For some of them who got it RIGHT AWAY, I had them select the correct answers, but then also rewrite the statements in their own words.
Then, the students who had a solid understanding moved on to paragraphs with no options. I did give them a card to help guide them, but they were generating their own main ideas and themes.
Are your students also struggling to identify the difference between main ideas and themes? Visit my TPT store to purchase these differentiated Main Idea vs. Theme Task Cards to help your students master this tricky concept. With 16 original stories and four digital Google Classroom options, this resource is perfect for literacy centers, whole group lessons, warm ups, and small groups. You can also use the paragraphs for main idea or theme alone.
In addition to having students complete the cards independently, I have also used them in small groups. I printed several copies for students to read and led the small groups through it orally. The stories were great for discussion and it allowed me to really see students who understood it quickly. It was also beneficial because after I had the students tell me what they thought the theme was, they could see that stories had multiple themes sometimes!
I really believe this helped my students better understand the difference between main idea and theme. I hope some of these ideas (and the freebie) can help yours, too! Happy Teaching!
More Main Idea Vs. Theme Ideas
NEW! Check out my post about how I use song lyrics to teach Main Idea and Theme!
Mary Montero
I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.
Woo! I love the idea of integrating the two- I've always done them in isolation as well, but will definitely be using this! Happy anniversary!!
XO, Kelly Anne
AppleSlices
What a great lesson! I, too, have always taught them in isolation and my students continued to struggle with both. I will certainly be using this lesson in the future! Great job!
This is great! A lot of people confuse the two. This is a perfect fit to teaching both accurately.
Thanks so much for the free sort! We have been working on these two throughout the year at various points, and I think that this will be a great refresher exercise for them. It will also let me know if they have it or if they need a small group reteach.
This is a great review. Thanks for sharing! Main Idea and Theme are always tough!
Have a great week!
Michele
Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans
Thanks, Mary! This is great. I'm adding your task cards to my wishlist right now. <3 ya!
A Teaspoon of Teaching
Mary,
Thank you so much for sharing your FREEBIE Main Idea vs. Theme activity. This is a wonderful resource. I can't wait to check out your task cards too.
Best wishes!
jen
Apple Tree Learning Blog
I just tried to download the sort and it said the link had been disabled. 🙁
Hi Rachel!
Thanks so much for letting me know. I just fixed it. Not sure what happened there.
🙂 Mary
The main idea vs. theme sort is exactly what I've been looking for to make sure my students can differentiate the two! Thank you!
I used this activity this year as part of my initial instruction on theme. It is a terrific resource. Thank you!
I Have 2 Questions
Wow! Thank you so much for this excellent lesson idea and all of your wonderful resources! I am teaching this now, and your lesson has really helped me drive the point home to my 3rd graders! I just got your main idea/theme task cards yesterday, and I'm going to use them today. You are awesome!
Jamie
Thrills in Third Grade
you topic is very great and useful for us…thank you friv4school
omg this helps A LOT, thank you so much
Thank you for what you have shared, it is useful
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Draw in your understudies in comprehension the distinction between the principle thought of a story and the topic of a story with these 16 interesting, DIFFERENTIATED errand cards! The cards incorporate 16 unique stories. Set #1 incorporates a brief card urging understudies to see the distinction between fundamental thought and subject and additionally 16 half page cards. Set #2 incorporates the same 16 stories with 3 alternatives, one is the topic, one is the principle thought, and one is essentially an occasion from the story. The understudies utilize the numerous decision alternatives to focus the primary thought and topic from thesis writing service of the section.
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Thanks for this helpful post! We are teaching theme vs. main idea this week, and I'd love to use your sort, but for some reason, I keep getting a message saying "This webpage is not available." Any way you could e-mail it to me? I would REALLY appreciate it! Thanks for sharing your great ideas. 🙂 brittm.white2012[at]gmail.com
Your ideas are fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing…can't wait to see what comes next.
Awesome! One thing I tell students is that the "theme" is hardly ever in the reading, while the main idea can be found in the reading.