Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a specific theme from "The Treasure of Lemon Brown" and support their choices with details from the text. Using a grid layout and cells with title and description boxes, show scenes from the story that depict the father/son relationships that are represented in it. In the example above, you can see that the theme was about father-son relationships.
Greg is very angry at his dad because he's been grounded from playing basketball - his passion. Greg runs away, but after meeting Lemon, he rethinks his anger. His dad only wants the best for him.
Lemon's sister raised his son while he traveled and played his music. He learned that his son was killed in the war and that he had kept his dad's harmonica and news clippings with him.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies a theme in "The Treasure of Lemon Brown". Illustrate examples and write a short description below each cell.
Introduce the concept of themes and give simple textbook definitions to help the students get familiar with the idea. Explain that themes are the backbone of any story and play a significant role in determining the outcome of the narrative. Teachers can give some simple activities through which students can identify themes present in a text.
Being familiar with the structure of the plot is important as it will help the students understand the development of the storyline in regard to all the other aspects. Depending on the understanding level of students, teachers can introduce different types of plot structures such as the BME Model (Beginning, Middle, and End) or a plot diagram with six common stages.
Lay down the structure of the plot in a visual format in front of the students and ask them to analyze the structure from the perspective of one theme. Students can select one theme present in the story and identify the role of the theme in the development of the narrative. For instance, what role is this particular theme playing in the exposition, conflict, and resolution?
Students should be encouraged to use themes in their own writing. Give students creative writing assignments that need them to pick a theme for their own stories and explore it. Students can use their imagination and apply the knowledge they have just learned in their own narratives.
Plan conversations in groups about the topics covered in a specific book or narrative. Students should be encouraged to discuss their views and back up their claims with textual evidence.
The value of family and connections (especially focusing on father-son relationships), the significance and meaning of real treasure, and the notion that genuine richness is found in experiences and memories rather than tangible belongings are among the central themes explored in the story.
Initially, the treasure is viewed by Greg (the main character) as a form of material possession and tangible goods. Greg's viewpoint does, however, change as a result of his contacts with Lemon Brown and the finding of his treasures, and he learns to value riches and sentimental items on a deeper level.