Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes and symbols from the story, and support their choices with details from the text.
An important theme is determination. Brady has incredible determination in searching for Ben and does not give up until he finds him.
Three pieces of evidence for this theme are:
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies a theme in Red Kayak. Illustrate examples and write a short description below each cell.
Encourage students to share personal connections and examples of determination from the story. This builds critical thinking and helps everyone see how the theme relates to real life.
Ask students to list times they needed determination in their lives. Relating the theme to their experiences deepens comprehension and engagement.
Invite students to write a short journal entry about a moment when they or someone they know showed determination. This activity personalizes the theme and promotes reflection.
Guide students to match specific actions by Brady to the theme of determination. This practice strengthens their text analysis skills and supports their storyboard work.
Create a visual display where students post examples of determination from the book and their own lives. This fosters a positive classroom culture around perseverance.
The main theme in Red Kayak is determination. The protagonist, Brady, shows unwavering determination as he searches for Ben, facing challenges like cold weather and fatigue but never giving up until he finds him.
To teach theme using Red Kayak, have students identify a central theme, find three supporting examples from the text, and illustrate each example in a storyboard. This helps students connect evidence to the theme visually and descriptively.
Examples of determination in Red Kayak include Brady insisting on searching for Ben despite the weather, saying, “I need to keep looking,” and ignoring discomfort to continue life-saving efforts.
For a fast lesson, ask students to identify a theme in Red Kayak, find three text examples, illustrate each in a storyboard cell, and write a short description. This reinforces theme comprehension and supports visual learning.
Storyboards help students visually organize and demonstrate their understanding of themes, motifs, and symbols. They make abstract concepts concrete and support students in citing textual evidence from Red Kayak.