Theme, Central Idea & Objective Summary

Standards Bell Ringer Series: Main Idea, Objective Summary, Theme

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Provide your students with focused practice on main idea, objective summary, and theme with these engaging and rigorous bell ringer activities. They are perfect for providing targeted practice and review in small chunks.

Bell Ringer Activities:

• Practice #1: Students determine if statements are examples of main idea or theme.

• Practice #2: Students read a short passage and complete an objective summary graphic organizer.

• Practice #3: Students read a short fable and answer 4 multiple choice questions about the main idea, objective summary, and theme.

• Practice #4: Students write their own short story that includes a clear theme and write 4 multiple choice questions based on their short story.

• Check In: 10 question assessment that covers vocabulary, understanding the concepts with 2 short passages, and applying the concepts to an excerpt from Growing Up by Gary Soto. 

Download Includes: 

• Link to a Google Slides version

• Link to the Google Form check in

• Formatted PDF versions of the activities and check in

• Answer Key

• Teacher Instructions

Main Idea - Mini Lesson and Activities 

Determining the main idea is a foundational skill for all students. This lesson will help students learn how to write a main idea statement and how to differentiate the main idea from topic, a detail from the text, and theme. The scaffolded activities will guide your students in the understanding of main idea and how to write their own main idea statement based on a passage. 

This Product Includes:

• Google Slides Mini Lesson: 14 slides that explain the main idea, how to write a main idea statement, and how to differentiate the main idea from topic, details, and the theme.  

• Student Notes Sheet: Students use the Frayer Model to take notes on the information in the slides.

• 3 Activities: 3 Interactive practice activities that will guide students in their understanding of the main idea.

• Instructional Video: Video where I walk students through the slides and help them gain an understanding of how to find the main idea. 

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Slides Download (Notes and Student Notes Sheet)

• Link to a YouTube Instructional Video 

• PDF Versions 

• Teacher Instructions

Main Idea: The Quests 

You have done a great job teaching main idea and your students have completed the mini lesson and activities. Now it’s time for students to practice their main idea skills.

The Quests: 

• Quest 1: Students will sort characteristics and examples of main idea, theme, and topic into a chart. This is a drag and drop activity. 

• Quest 2: Students will read a short passage and determine the main idea and theme. They will analyze the differences between the two. 

• Quest 3: Students will analyze the lyrics of a song and complete a main idea graphic organizer. 

• Quest 4: Students will read an excerpt from Elijah of Buxton and complete a main idea graphic organizer.

• Quest 5: Students will read an excerpt from The Unteachables and write their own main idea multiple choice questions. 

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Slides Download 

• Link to excerpts 

• PDF Versions 

• Teacher Instructions

Theme Mini Lesson: Notes and Activities

Your students have probably been studying theme since 1st grade. By the time they get to middle school, they need to dive a little deeper into this concept. This lesson will review theme and help students further explore this topic.

This Download Includes:

1. Google Slides Notes: 9 creative and colorful slides that cover theme, 3 steps to identify theme, and how theme relates to plot.

2. Quizizz Practice: Review the notes with an engaging Quizizz review.

3. Whole Class Activity: Watch a short film and apply the 3 steps in order to identify the theme of the movie.

4. Instructional Video of the notes to guide students in understanding.

Theme Quest Activities

Provide your students with the opportunity to practice determining the theme with these 5 quests!

For each quest, students will:

• Read a short passage and determine the theme.

• Relate each theme to their life.

• Write their own short passage that has the same theme.

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Slides Download 

• Link to excerpts 

• PDF Versions 

• Teacher Instructions

Main Idea and Theme Assessment

Test your student’s understanding of main idea and theme with this thorough 20-question assessment that covers vocabulary, understanding the concept, and applying the concept.

Assessment Components: 

• Vocabulary: 5 questions covering main idea, theme, detail, topic, and the difference between main idea and theme.

• Understanding: 6 questions where students are given an example and they have to determine if it is most likely the theme, main idea, or topic. 

• Applying: Students are given 3 passages where they have to determine the main idea, theme, and supporting details. 

Format: Google Docs, Google Forms, PDF

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Forms Version

• Link to Google Docs Version

• PDF of the assessment

• PDF of the passages

• Answer Key

• Teacher Instructions

Objective Summary Mini Lesson

This RL 2 standard is a heavy one, isn't it? Theme, central idea, and objective summary. Where students have been doing theme and central idea for several years, I have found a lot of my middle school students have no idea what an objective summary is. This mini lesson helps to introduce the concept and give them some practice with identifying and writing an objective summary.

The Product Includes:

1. Google Slides Presentation: 10 creative and colorful slides that will help your students understand the basics of objective summary.

2. Vocabulary and Definitions: Introduces and explains - Objective, Summary, Opinion, and Judgement. It gives the students a three step process for writing an objective summary and there is also a Quizizz vocabulary practice embedded into the slides!

3. Whole Class Practice Article: Analyze the song “Travelin' Soldier” together. As a class, write a non-objective summary and an objective summary. (This activity really helps students start to understand what an objective summary is.)

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Slides Download (Notes and Student Notes Sheet)

• Link to a YouTube Instructional Video 

• PDF Versions 

• Teacher Instructions

Objective Summary Activity Quest Pack

These engaging and creative quests can be used independently or with a partner. Students will read the original short story, “The Princess and the Pea: A Modern Fairy Tale,” and follow the quest activities. Quest activities can be completed digitally on the google slides or on paper.

• Quest 1: Identify characters, their traits, and write your opinion.

• Quest 2: Determine the important events of the story.

• Quest 3: Analyze an incorrect objective summary.

• Quest 4: Write an objective summary of the short story.

• Quest 5: Write a multiple choice question about objective summary.

Download Includes:

• Link to a Google Slides Download 

• Short Story-The Princess and the Pea: A Modern Fairy Tale

• PDF Versions 

• Teacher Instructions

This is a great hands on activity that will help your students explore the central idea of informational text.

Pair it with your favorite informational text for a great station rotation activity!

Download Includes:

• 4 Question Cards that explore central idea, details supporting central idea, using central idea to write an objective summary, how the author develops central idea.

• 2 blank cards for students to practice writing their own multiple choice central idea question.

• Teacher Instructions

If you are looking for something that works with your amazing interactive notebooks, then this is your activity! The cute and functional foldable provides students the opportunity to determine the central ideas of each section.

This Download Includes:

• 2-sided printable that gives students practice with finding the central idea of each section and backing it up with text evidence.

• Teacher Instructions