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 Welcome to Nowhere. Teachers may ask students to identify and illustrate two themes, or identify one theme and illustrate two examples of it.
One of the main themes of the book is family. The circumstances around Omar’s family are dire, but they stay with each other, stick up for each other, and protect each other when in danger.
This historical fiction novel depicts the reality of life conditions during war. Civilians are affected by all aspects of war, and many are forced to flee in order to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Welcome to Nowhere. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Organize students into small, diverse groups to form literature circles. This creates a supportive space for students to share ideas and perspectives.
Distribute specific roles—such as Theme Tracker, Connector, or Illustrator—to each group member. These roles help students focus on different ways themes appear in the story.
Prompt students to look for quotations, events, or character actions that reveal the story’s themes. Encouraging evidence gathering builds analytical skills.
Invite each group to present their theme discoveries and illustrations to the class. This practice promotes confidence and deeper understanding as students learn from peers.
Encourage students to discuss how their own backgrounds or experiences influence the way they understand the book’s themes. This reflection fosters empathy and critical thinking.
Welcome to Nowhere explores central themes such as family—showing how members support and protect each other—and war, highlighting its impact on civilians and their need to flee for safety.
Students can identify themes by looking for recurring ideas, messages, or struggles in the story, such as family unity or the effects of war, and finding supporting events or character actions that reflect those themes.
An example is how Omar’s family sticks together during dangerous times, supporting and protecting each other even when facing hardship due to war.
To create a storyboard, choose key themes, illustrate scenes from the book that represent each theme, and write a brief description for every illustrated example below each cell.
Understanding themes helps students connect with the story’s deeper messages and develop critical thinking by analyzing how characters’ experiences relate to universal ideas like family and survival during conflict.