Themes in Wonder

There are a number of recurring themes in Wonder, including bullying and kindness. Have students choose one or two themes and create a storyboard with dialogue to depict each theme as represented in the text. Next, have students connect their chosen theme to real life, either imagined or historical, and show it in a storyboard.

For example, courage is one theme explored in Wonder. It is shown in a variety of ways. One of the first glimpses we get into Auggie's courage is when he decides to try public school, despite being very nervous about it. He is scared of the way classmates will react to him and his looks. After meeting with the principal and talking with his parents, Auggie decides to try it out. This new chapter in his life, fills him with fear, but he faces it with courage.

Students may also want to connect themes to modern day in an additional column. Courage was displayed by the African-American students and their parents when schools were desegregated in the United States. Despite verbal abuse and threats of physical violence, these brave students made their way through the doors of the schools and led our country through historic changes.

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Wonder. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Identify the theme(s) from Wonder you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text.
3. Create an image for an example that represents this theme from the story.
4. Think of your own example of this theme from the real world.
5. Write a description of each of the examples.