Literary works present themes or lessons about life. Identifying and analyzing these can teach a reader a lesson or make him or her see things in a different light. Think about several literary works you have read. Then, with the class, discuss what you have learned from these works as they apply to life. How did the works present the theme or lesson? Did they state it directly or imply it through events and characters’ actions? Read page 348, and preview the selection. Use clues from your previewing to prepare to identify the theme or lesson in “The Fun They Had.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first page aloud. Then, with a small group, answer the following questions: When does the story take place? How are things different from today? How do the characters feel about the book? Jot down your answers to the questions.
2. Continue reading the remainder of the story on your own. Jot down any information that you think will help you identify the theme or lesson in the story. When you finish reading, meet with your group to identify the lesson or theme. Discuss the clues that led you to this theme.
If you have difficulty gathering clues, use the Guided Reading questions to point you to the pertinent information in the story. Before reading a page of the story, read the Guided Reading questions on the page. Then, read the story. When you reach the answer, stop and record it in your notebook. Continue using the questions as you finish the text. Then, review your answers to lead you to the theme.
Recall your During Reading discussion about theme. Then, write a short essay stating the theme or lesson and explaining how you discovered it. In your essay, also discuss how that theme or lesson can be applied to life. When you have finished writing, share your essay with a partner. Compare and contrast ideas and methods of identifying the theme or lesson.