There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout the novel Sylvia & Aki. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs 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 Sylvia & Aki. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Encourage participation by inviting students to share their ideas about key themes and symbols in Sylvia & Aki. Use open-ended questions to help everyone contribute and build confidence.
Establish ground rules for discussions to create a safe environment where all students feel comfortable sharing. Remind students to listen actively and respect differing viewpoints.
Prepare thought-provoking prompts like “Why do you think the author chose this symbol?” or “How do these themes connect to our world today?” to inspire meaningful conversation.
Encourage students to reference specific passages or scenes when sharing their thoughts. This practice builds text evidence skills and keeps discussions grounded in the novel.
Wrap up the discussion by highlighting important points students made about themes and symbols. Acknowledge insightful contributions and thank everyone for participating.
Sylvia & Aki explores powerful themes such as racism, segregation, friendship, displacement, justice, family, and activism. The novel highlights the experiences of two girls during World War II and addresses government-sanctioned injustice and the importance of community and sacrifice.
To teach themes, symbols, and motifs with Sylvia & Aki, have students identify recurring ideas or symbols in the text, such as hands, fences, dolls, and phrases like "Only what you can carry." Encourage students to illustrate examples and write descriptions, or use an “envelope activity” to track elements throughout reading.
Key symbols and motifs in Sylvia & Aki include hands, fences, dolls, and repeated phrases like "Only what you can carry" and "I don't want trouble." These represent the characters' struggles with injustice, separation, and resilience during a time of systemic racism and displacement.
An envelope activity is a hands-on lesson where students receive envelopes with themes, symbols, or motifs to track as they read. This helps them focus on literary elements, fosters discussion, and deepens understanding by having each student or group illustrate and describe their findings.
A spider map is a graphic organizer that helps students visually connect examples of themes, symbols, and motifs from Sylvia & Aki. By mapping ideas and adding brief descriptions, students organize their thoughts and deepen their analysis of the novel’s recurring elements.