A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate the themes in The Lions of Little Rock. Teachers may want the students to identify and illustrate 3 themes, one for each cell, or identify one theme, and show three examples of it, one example per cell.
The story takes place in the South during the 1950s, a time when Black people were not given the same rights as white people.
Many of the characters in the novel exhibit bravery, but Marlee is who the reader sees it in the most. One example of Marlee’s bravery is when she gives the presentation in front of the whole class by herself.
Marlee and Liz’s friendship will not be broken up because of their skin color or anything else.
Marlee and her mother join the WEC, which is short for Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools. The reader also learns about other real groups that were around to promote social justice at that time.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in The Lions of Little Rock. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Gather students in a circle and introduce the main themes of The Lions of Little Rock. Give each student a chance to share which theme stood out to them and why. Encourage respectful listening and make sure everyone participates. This builds classroom community and deepens understanding of the story’s messages.
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific theme to explore. Give roles such as note-taker, illustrator, and presenter. Each group identifies examples of their theme, creates a quick sketch or chart, and prepares to share with the class. This fosters teamwork and ensures all voices are heard.
Prompt students to connect a theme from the novel to a current event or issue. Allow students to research or discuss ways people today show bravery or promote social justice. Guide them to share findings in a brief class presentation. Making real-world links increases relevance and engagement.
Ask students to write a short reflection about how one theme relates to their own life. Provide sentence starters such as, “I showed bravery when…” or “A time I stood up for a friend was…” Personal reflections help students internalize the story’s lessons.
The Lions of Little Rock explores major themes such as racial discrimination, bravery, friendship, and social justice. These themes help students understand the historical context and character growth in the novel.
Students can identify themes by looking for recurring ideas, character actions, and conflicts throughout the story. They should note how characters respond to challenges and what messages the author repeats.
An example of bravery is when Marlee gives a presentation alone in front of her class, showing courage despite her fears and the difficult social climate.
Friendship is central to the novel because Marlee and Liz’s bond shows that true friendship can overcome racial barriers and adversity, teaching readers about loyalty and understanding.
Teachers can have students create storyboards that illustrate each theme, write short descriptions, and use examples from the book. This visual approach helps deepen understanding of the novel’s messages.