edTPA Lesson Plan Template

Central Focus:
Subject: 4th grade Reading Comprehension

To determine the theme of the novel or story by using

specific details from the text.

Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2 Determine a theme
of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text;
summarize the text.

Date submitted:

Date taught: 3/21/16

Daily Lesson Objective:

Performance Students will be able to determine the theme through use of details found in the text.
Conditions Students will work in small groups to meet the objective. Students will be provided short stories
as a resource when filling out the identifying theme worksheet given during the guided practice then will
demonstrate determining the theme while creating a short story of their own.
Criteria In small groups, students will name the theme and provide at least 3 examples that support the
theme they chose. Individually, students will complete a short story where they will choose a theme and write a
story with that theme.
21st Century Skills:

Academic Language Demand (Language Function and

Vocabulary):

Collaboration, information literacy, creativity and

innovation

Language Function: Determine

Vocabulary: Theme

Prior Knowledge:
Students will be familiar with themes in stories and what the theme represents.

Activity

Description
Remind the students of the definition of theme and ask the students to give
you examples.

1. Focus and Review

I know that you have been focusing a lot on theme this past week so who
can tell me what theme means?
Call on several students to get a few definitions
Great! And you have been reading several fables and tales in class
identifying the different themes correct?...Good.

2. Statement of Objective
for Student

After reviewing theme definitions the teacher will then announce to that
class, Ok class, today we are going to be able to identify the theme in a text
and use details to support the theme.

3. Teacher Input

As a class all students will come to the carpet so the teacher can read them
a short story or fable and the students will then identify the theme
Today I am going to read you a short story I used to read when I was
younger that has a really great theme to it and I want you to pay attention so

you can find the theme when its over.

Begin reading The Shepherds Boy from Aesops Fables
After reading and identifying the theme, students will go back to their desks
and the teacher will give further instruction.

4. Guided Practice
15-20 minutes

You will all go back to your desks and sit in your table groups and Im going
to pass out a couple of short stories
There are 5 different stories and each group will get one. Designate one
person to read the story because you will all have to identify the theme and
then provide a reason as to why you chose this theme.
I will hand everyone an index card to write their answers on and then we will
go over the different stories and the themes you came up with.

5. Independent Practice

After students have completed reading and identifying the theme of the short
stories the students will work alone and will each be given a half sheet of
paper with directions on it. They will have to choose from 4 different themes
(Courage, Cooperation, Honesty, Kindness) then create a story of their own.
This will be a short story.

6. Assessment Methods of
all objectives/skills:

Students will be assessed on whether or not they were able to identify a

theme from a short story. They should have created a short story with a
theme and identified the theme to the reader. Students show mastery of the
objective if the requirement is correctly practiced.
Bring the class together for a whole group discussion once theyve
completed their stories. Allow some of the students to share what their story
was about and the theme they chose.

7. Closure

What themes did you end up choosing? Does anyone want to share their
story?
Have at least one student discuss their story from the different themes
provided.
Collect all student work to be assessed.

8. Assessment Results of
all objectives/skills:

The students did a great job with the assessment. Most students provided a
story to go along with one of the provided themes. While reading their short
stories I was very impressed at some of the things they chose to write about
and their writing ability. The students really understood the objective of the
lesson and were able to show their knowledge through their writing. Some
students did the bare minimum when it came to writing a short story so I
reminded them it needed to be at least 3-5 paragraphs which helped as a
guideline for most students.

Targeted Students Modifications/Accommodations

Student/Small Group Modifications/Accommodations

For students with learning disabilities, the teacher can

allow them to work with another student or help them
individually when filling out the Identifying Theme
worksheet.

The teacher can provide support to struggling students

during the small group and independent practice by
asking more involving or open-ended questions so they
have a better understanding of the directions and the text.

Materials/Technology:
Notecards, identifying theme worksheet, theme half sheet, http://www.pubwire.com/DownloadDocs/AFABLES.PDF

CT signature: ________________________ Date: ______ US signature: ___________________Date: ____

TheShepherdsBoy
TherewasonceayoungShepherdBoywhotendedhissheepatthefootofamountainnearadarkforest.Itwas
ratherlonelyforhimallday,sohethoughtuponaplanbywhichhecouldgetalittlecompanyandsome
excitement.HerusheddowntowardsthevillagecallingoutWolf,Wolf,andthevillagerscameouttomeet
him,andsomeofthemstoppedwithhimforaconsiderabletime.Thispleasedtheboysomuchthatafewdays
afterwardshetriedthesametrick,andagainthevillagerscametohishelp.ButshortlyafterthisaWolfactually
didcomeoutfromtheforest,andbegantoworrythesheep,andtheboyofcoursecriedoutWolf,Wolf,still
louderthanbefore.Butthistimethevillagers,whohadbeenfooledtwicebefore,thoughttheboywasagain
deceivingthem,andnobodystirredtocometohishelp.SotheWolfmadeagoodmealofftheboysflock,and
whentheboycomplained,thewisemanofthevillagesaid:Aliarwillnotbebelieved,evenwhenhespeaks
thetruth.
ThemeAliarwillnotbebelieved,evenwhenhespeaksthetruth
Questions to ask during discussion:
Who can tell me what the theme of the story is
How did the characters react to obstacles?
What important decisions did the characters make?
How did the characters grow and change over the course of the story?
What did the characters learn?