Analyzing Theme in Elijah of Buxton

Activity Overview

There are many themes present throughout the novel Elijah of Buxton. Students can explore this by identifying a theme themselves or, in an “envelope activity”, where they are given a theme to track throughout their reading. Then, students can create a storyboard illustrating the examples of that theme from the text. Teachers may also ask students to illustrate more than one theme and how it influences the story.

Examples of Themes in Elijah of Buxton

Freedom
Slavery
Empathy
Humility
Generosity
Family
Opportunity
Trickery
Community
Education
Identity
Friendship
Bravery
Determination
Hope

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Template and Class Instructions

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Due Date:

Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Elijah of Buxton. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the themes from Elijah of Buxton you wish to include and write them in the title box.
Create an image for an example that represents this theme using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Write a short description of each of the examples.
Save and exit when you're done.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-8

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/8/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
[ELA-Literacy/RL/8/4] Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
[ELA-Literacy/RL/5/1] Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

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Rubric

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Themes

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Identify Theme(s)	All themes are correctly identified as important recurring topics or messages in the story.	Some themes are correctly identified, but others are missing or do not make sense with the story.	No themes are correctly identified.
Examples	All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes.