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Activity Overview
Template and Class Instructions
Rubric

Activity Overview


There are many themes, symbols and motifs present throughout The Book Thief. Students can explore this by identifying a theme, symbol or motif themselves or, in an “envelope activity” being given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, students will create a storyboard illustrating the examples of that theme from the text. Teachers may ask students to identify multiple themes, or illustrate multiple examples of a single theme.


Themes in The Book Thief

  • The Holocaust
  • War
  • Friendship
  • Love
  • Identity
  • Suffering
  • Courage
  • Literature and Writing
  • Family
  • Prejudice and Dehumanization
  • Kindness
  • Criminality
  • Hope
  • Survival
  • Bullies
  • Death and Mortality

Symbols and Motifs

  • The Gravedigger's Handbook
  • Hitler
  • The Accordion
  • The Yellow Jewish Star
  • Books
  • Colors
  • Food

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)



Due Date:

Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols or motifs found in The Book Thief. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

  1. Click "Start Assignment".
  2. Identify the themes, symbols or motifs from The Book Thief you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
  3. Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
  4. Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.

Lesson Plan Reference

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Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)


Symbolism
Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.
Proficient Emerging Beginning
Identify Symbol(s)
All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story.
Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols.
No symbols are correctly identified.
Examples
All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.
Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant.
Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction
Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding.
Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.
Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols.





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