There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout The Book Thief. Students can explore this by identifying a theme, symbol or motif themselves or, in an “envelope activity” being given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, students will create a storyboard illustrating the examples of that theme from the text. Teachers may ask students to identify multiple themes, or illustrate multiple examples of a single theme.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols or motifs found in The Book Thief. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Grade Level 6-8
Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)
Type of Assignment Individual
Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Common Core Standards(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
---|---|---|---|
Identify Symbol(s) | All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. | Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. | No symbols are correctly identified. |
Examples | All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear. |
Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols. |