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 two of the themes in The Night Diary. Teachers may want the students to identify and illustrate two themes, one for each cell, or identify one theme and show two examples of it, one example per cell.
There are many examples of survival throughout the story. One example is when the family went several days walking with very little or no water. Papa was determined to keep his family alive, and they all took care of each other when someone was sick or weak.
Nisha has never met her mother, but she and her family are very close. She and her twin brother, Amil, share an unbreakable bond that only twins can have. Kazi, a close friend and the family’s cook for years, is like family to them, and they are all respectful and loving towards their grandmother, Dadi.
When India was freed from British rule, the religion that one believed in became their identity. The story revolves around the separation of the Hindus, the Muslims, and the Sikhs, and the fact that Nisha’s father is Hindu and her mother was Muslim.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in The Night Diary. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Start your lesson by asking students what a theme is and why it matters in stories. Use examples from familiar books to help them connect the concept to their own experiences.
Read a brief passage from The Night Diary aloud. Together, think aloud to pinpoint the central idea or message, showing students how to find evidence that supports a theme.
Have students work in small groups to list recurring ideas they notice in the story. Encourage them to use sticky notes or chart paper to make their thinking visible and collaborative.
Prompt students to go back into the text and highlight or jot down specific examples that illustrate their theme. Remind them to choose scenes, dialogue, or actions that clearly show the theme in action.
Invite groups to present their themes and evidence to the class. Lead a discussion about how different interpretations of the same story can reveal multiple important themes.
The Night Diary explores several central themes, including survival during difficult times, the importance of family bonds, and the impact of religious identity during the Partition of India. These themes help readers understand the characters' struggles and growth.
Students can identify themes by looking for recurring ideas, challenges, or messages throughout the story, such as moments of perseverance, family support, or discussions of religion. Noting how characters respond to events can reveal deeper themes.
An example of the survival theme is when Nisha's family journeys for days with little or no water, helping each other through sickness and exhaustion. Their determination to stay alive highlights the challenges faced during Partition.
Family is crucial in The Night Diary because the characters rely on one another for emotional support and survival. Nisha's bond with her twin and their connection to extended family members show how love and unity help them endure hardships.
Teachers can assign students to create storyboards that illustrate key themes from the book. Students select a theme, depict an example from the story in each cell, and write short descriptions, helping them visualize and explain the story's messages.