Activity Overview
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 the themes in The Lions of Little Rock. Teachers may want the students to identify and illustrate 3 themes, one for each cell, or identify one theme, and show three examples of it, one example per cell.
Examples of Themes in The Lions of Little Rock
Racial Discrimination
The story takes place in the South during the 1950s, a time when Black people were not given the same rights as white people.
Bravery
Many of the characters in the novel exhibit bravery, but Marlee is who the reader sees it in the most. One example of Marlee’s bravery is when she gives the presentation in front of the whole class by herself.
Friendship
Marlee and Liz’s friendship will not be broken up because of their skin color or anything else.
Social Justice
Marlee and her mother join the WEC, which is short for Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools. The reader also learns about other real groups that were around to promote social justice at that time.
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 in The Lions of Little Rock. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes from The Lions of Little Rock you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this theme using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified as important recurring topics or messages in the story. | Some themes are correctly identified, but others are missing or do not make sense with the story. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes. |
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Lions of Little Rock, The
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