Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a specific theme from the book Number the Stars, and support their choices with details from the text.
The example storyboard has scenes from the story that illustrate how characters in the book demonstrated bravery.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies themes in Number the Stars. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Engage students by discussing common themes in literature and asking them to share examples from other books or movies. This builds background knowledge and helps everyone feel prepared before creating their own storyboards.
Read a short passage aloud and think aloud as you point out words or actions that show a theme. This demonstrates how to connect details to bigger ideas and gives students a clear example to follow.
Invite students to work in pairs or small groups to list possible themes from the story. Sharing ideas encourages deeper thinking and helps everyone find a theme that interests them.
Encourage students to select images, colors, and symbols that represent their chosen theme. This makes their work more meaningful and helps them express understanding creatively.
Bring everyone together to share and explain their storyboards. This fosters a sense of accomplishment and allows students to see how themes can be represented in different ways.
Number the Stars explores powerful themes such as bravery, friendship, and resistance against oppression. The story highlights how ordinary people show courage in dangerous times, especially during the Nazi occupation of Denmark.
To teach the theme of bravery, have students identify moments when characters act courageously, such as helping friends escape or standing up to soldiers. Use storyboards to visually represent these scenes and discuss their significance in class.
A great activity is creating a storyboard where students pick a theme and illustrate scenes from the book that show this theme. They can add short descriptions to explain how each scene connects to the theme.
Symbols like the handkerchief and motifs such as stars deepen understanding by representing key ideas. For example, the handkerchief symbolizes clever resistance, while stars can represent hope and identity.
Examples of bravery include the girls facing Nazi officers, Peter helping the Rebellion, and Ellen hiding from soldiers. These moments show how characters risk their safety to protect others.