This graphic organizer is used to assess your students’ reading comprehension by determining a piece of texts’ theme.

On the worksheet, students will uncover themes found in their texts by recording: 

• What they learned
• What other readers can learn
• 3 pieces of supporting evidence
• The overarching theme

Identifying Themes: Worksheet Scaffolding and Extension Tips 

In addition to individual student work time, use this identifying themes worksheet as a:

• Reading station/center activity
• Post-lesson exit ticket 
• Homework assignment
• Whole-class review (via smartboard)

Fast finishers can pick a specific piece of evidence and expand on their idea in a short paragraph to help them make additional connections to the reading.  

Students who need extra support can be assigned to work with a partner, or with a small guided group. Text evidence can be provided for the students to help them isolate the themes. 

A Variety of Ways to Prepare This Resource

Because the answers will be particular to each student, an answer sheet is not provided with this download.  

You can turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity! Print a few copies on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a dry-erase marker, then erase and reuse. 

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks.

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Get more handy worksheets here!  

This resource was created by Kelli Goffredi, a teacher in Texas and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more language arts activities to save you valuable lesson-planning time:   

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