A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme, and this is the case in Once. For this activity, students will identify one theme in the story and illustrate examples from the text. Teachers may choose to assign themes for students to look out for as they read, or have students choose their own after completing the story.
Felix and Zelda form an unlikely bond. Felix saves her life and they become inseparable. Felix will do anything for Zelda. One example is when he goes out to find medicine for her when she is sick.
Perhaps at the beginning, Felix is resilient because he truly doesn’t understand what’s going on. However, as the story unfolds, Felix remains positive and calm. He will do whatever it takes to escape, including jumping off of a train car.
Felix’s imagination and stories keep him positive during the very difficult time.
Even when it becomes clear that his parents have probably been killed, Felix continues to hold out hope that he will find them.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies a recurring theme in Once. Illustrate 3 examples of the theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Prompt students with open-ended questions about the story's themes to spark conversation and critical thinking. Encourage them to share personal connections and support their ideas with evidence from the text. This helps deepen understanding and makes theme analysis relevant to their lives.
Show students how to identify passages that support a chosen theme by reading aloud and thinking aloud. Highlight key words or actions that reveal the theme, so students can see the process in action and apply it themselves.
Help students use graphic organizers or storyboards to map out their examples for each theme. Encourage clear labeling and brief descriptions beneath each example to make their thinking visible and organized.
Invite students to present their storyboards to small groups or the class. Facilitate constructive feedback by asking peers to note strengths and suggest ways to add more detail or clarity to the theme connections.
'Once' explores key themes such as friendship, resilience, imagination, and hope. These themes shape Felix’s journey and highlight how he copes with adversity during challenging times.
Students can identify a theme by looking for recurring ideas or messages in 'Once'. To illustrate a theme, select three scenes that best represent it and create images or drawings, adding a brief description for each example.
A recommended activity is a storyboard project where students pick one theme from 'Once', find three supporting examples, illustrate each scene, and write short descriptions, helping deepen their understanding of the book’s messages.
Resilience is central to 'Once' because Felix continually adapts and stays hopeful despite dangerous and uncertain circumstances, demonstrating the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Felix shows hope by believing he will find his parents, even when evidence suggests otherwise. His optimism helps him and others endure hardships and keep moving forward.