Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a theme of “Casey at the Bat” and support it with evidence from the text.
One theme is “admiration”. Three examples for this theme are:
The text states, "They thought, 'If only Casey could but get a whack at that-"
The text states, "For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat."
The text states, "And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.”
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies a theme in “Casey at the Bat”. Illustrate instances of the theme and write a short description below each cell.
Engage students by guiding them to discuss the poem’s theme together. Collaborative conversations help students deepen their understanding and see multiple perspectives.
Craft questions like "What lesson do you think the author wants readers to learn?" or "How do the crowd’s reactions show admiration for Casey?" Open-ended prompts encourage thoughtful responses.
Invite participation by asking each student to offer an example or opinion. Creating an inclusive environment builds confidence and helps quieter students feel valued.
Guide students to support their ideas with evidence from the poem. This practice strengthens reading comprehension and analytical skills.
Wrap up by highlighting the main themes discussed and the evidence used. This reinforces understanding and gives closure to the discussion.
The main theme of "Casey at the Bat" is admiration for heroes and the unpredictability of success. The poem explores how expectations and public admiration can build up around one individual, only for outcomes to surprise everyone.
Students can identify a theme in "Casey at the Bat" by looking for repeated ideas, actions, or emotions in the text. They should use evidence such as character behavior and crowd reactions to support their chosen theme.
Examples of admiration in the poem include the crowd wishing Casey were batting, cheering as he approaches, and respectfully falling silent when he raises his hand. These moments show how much the crowd looks up to Casey.
A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard identifying the theme, illustrating key moments, and writing short descriptions for each example from the poem.
Using a storyboard helps students visually organize examples of a theme, making abstract ideas more concrete and supporting comprehension through both images and text.