Comparing Themes

1. Comparing Themes Modern Fantasy 5th Grade

2. Connection • We have learned how to analyze a series of chapters, stanzas, or scenes to explain how they fit together to provide the overall structure of the story. • Understanding this structure helps us to interpret a theme in the text.

3. The ugly ducklingbad case of the stripes • Today we will compare and contrast stories on their approaches to similar themes and topics. • We are going to use the theme, “Be true to yourself” to analyze two texts. • Who can retell the story “Bad Case of the Stripes?” • Now let’s listen to “The Ugly Duckling.” • http://www.speakaboos.com/full-text/the-ugly-duckling/ • this story has the same theme as A Bad Case of Stripes which is “Be true to yourself.”

4. A strategy we can use to compare and contrast how authors approach similar themes is to think about the pivotal moments that are present throughout the book. • What challenges do the characters face? • How do characters respond to the challenges they face? • We can record our ideas on a chart so that it is visually easier to compare and contrast the different approaches.

5. Comparing Approaches to Themes in StoriesTheme: Be true to yourself

6. Discuss • By comparing and contrasting these approaches we can gain new perspectives of a theme. • How have these different approaches altered your perceptions of this theme?

7. Guided Practice • You will reread Sleeping Beauty and then read the text Beauty and the Beast. • You and a partner will complete the Comparing Approaches to Themes in Stories chart for both stories.

8. Comparing Approaches to Themes in Stories Theme: True Love Conquers All

9. Link • As you read stories on your own, take time to think about how they compare to other stories you have read with similar themes. • Making connections among texts, comparing and contrasting authors’ approaches to development of themes will help you gain a deeper understanding of a theme’s meaning.