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 two of the themes in The Night Diary. Teachers may want the students to identify and illustrate two themes, one for each cell, or identify one theme and show two examples of it, one example per cell.
Examples of Themes in The Night Diary
Survival
There are many examples of survival throughout the story. One example is when the family went several days walking with very little or no water. Papa was determined to keep his family alive, and they all took care of each other when someone was sick or weak.
Family
Nisha has never met her mother, but she and her family are very close. She and her twin brother, Amil, share an unbreakable bond that only twins can have. Kazi, a close friend and the family’s cook for years, is like family to them, and they are all respectful and loving towards their grandmother, Dadi.
Religious Beliefs
When India was freed from British rule, the religion that one believed in became their identity. The story revolves around the separation of the Hindus, the Muslims, and the Sikhs, and the fact that Nisha’s father is Hindu and her mother was Muslim.
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 Night Diary. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes from The Night Diary 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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