A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate two of the themes in Cinder. Teachers may want the students to identify and illustrate two themes, one for each cell, or identify one theme and show two examples of it, one example per cell.
Throughout the story, Cinder learns that not only is she a cyborg, but she is also a Lunar and that she’s actually Princess Selene. Cinder struggles with her identity and not having a true family to call her own.
Cinder must live with her legal guardian, her horrible stepmother, and her two stepsisters. Peony, the younger stepsister, shows caring and kindness towards Cinder, but she is a victim of the letumosis plague and dies. Because Cinder is a cyborg, people dislike her and are afraid of her, even though they may not know her. Cinder longs for a connection with someone.
Although she knows that her life is at risk, Cinder feels the need and responsibility to protect her country and its people. One example of this is when she goes to the ball knowing that Queen Levana is there and wants her dead in order to prevent Kai from agreeing to marry the Queen.
Both Cinder and Kai show a great deal of selflessness throughout the story. One example of this is when Kai becomes emperor and Cinder warns him of Levana’s plans to kill him after they marry. Kai knows of this plan but is willing to do it anyway in order to get the antidote and save lives.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Cinder. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Engage students in a lively conversation about the central ideas in Cinder. Use open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking and help students connect the story’s themes to their own lives.
Draft several questions that explore identity, acceptance, courage, and sacrifice. Example: “How does Cinder’s identity affect her choices?” or “Why is sacrifice important in the story?”
Divide students into pairs or small groups to discuss their answers before sharing with the whole class. This approach boosts confidence and helps all students find their voice.
Ask students to relate the themes to their own experiences. Prompt: “Can you think of a time you showed courage or helped someone feel accepted?”
Invite students to write a brief reflection on which theme resonated most with them and why. This solidifies understanding and gives insight into their perspectives.
Cinder explores key themes such as identity, acceptance and connection, courage, and selflessness and sacrifice. Each theme is woven into the story through the characters' struggles and choices, making them central to the novel's message.
Students can identify themes by looking for recurring ideas or messages in the story. To illustrate them, choose key scenes or character actions that represent each theme, then create images and write short descriptions explaining their significance.
Identity is crucial in Cinder because the main character struggles to discover who she really is—both as a cyborg and as Princess Selene. This journey shapes her decisions and highlights the search for belonging and self-acceptance.
Cinder shows courage when she risks her life to protect others, such as attending the ball despite the danger from Queen Levana. Her bravery is a key part of the story’s message about standing up for what is right.
The best way is to have students identify themes, find examples from the story, and create storyboards or illustrations. Discussing the characters’ actions and motivations helps students connect with the material and understand the deeper messages.