“What is the theme of this story?” Now there’s a question all pupils dread. Rather than encountering a sea of faces that look like they were painted by Edward Munch, face a classroom filled with smiles and confidence. Show your readers how to determine the theme of a work. After modeling and discussing the differences between motifs and themes, groups engage in a series of activities that ask them to identify the motifs and the authors’ messages about these motifs in works they have read. Rich in detail, the packet deserves a place in your curriculum library.