There are many themes, symbols, and motifs present throughout Freak the Mighty. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Freak the Mighty and illustrate examples from the text. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an “envelope activity”, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, they'll create a spider map illustrating what they found!
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, or motifs found in Freak the Mighty. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Inform the students beforehand that the discussion around the topic will be completely respectful. Students can share their opinions and ideas but they should also respect the ideas of other people and behave in a way that no one feels mocked or offended.
Begin a general discussion by asking the students what they know about disabilities or if they know anyone with any form of disability. Ask the students what they think about when they see anyone with a disability and what questions arise in their minds. Build on their responses and make the session impactful and thought-provoking.
Start a discussion with the students on the themes included in “Freak The Mighty”. Pose open-ended questions such as why the author uses physical and learning disabilities to portray the characters. Students can also use their imagination and ask questions like what would have happened if the characters did not have those disabilities. Encourage the students to reflect on the significance of the representation of these disabilities in mass media.
Investigate the idea of accessibility in many settings (such as physical environments, technology, and education). Ask students to come up with ideas on how to make places more accessible for people with impairments. Teachers can also share some examples of ideas and spaces that have been created to make this world more accessible for everyone.
If possible, teachers can arrange a seminar and invite a guest speaker who can talk about their disability and share their experiences. This will help the students understand their point of view and encourage empathy.
The book "Freak the Mighty" explores several topics, including friendship, overcoming obstacles, disabilities, trauma, and the notion that real strength comes from within.
The main theme of the narrative is the relationship between Kevin (Freak) and Max (Mighty). It shows how sincere connections may empower people to confront obstacles and transcend their limits. The importance of friendship can be observed when the two friends who are not so similar help each other out despite their differences.
The message of "Freak the Mighty" is that people can triumph over even the most difficult obstacles if they have the encouragement and belief of a good friend. It focuses on how people can lift themselves up and not be afraid of anything coming their way.