Stamped: Literary Elements & Storyboard Activities in 2025

Q: What are the key literary elements in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You?

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You uses literary elements like themes, symbolism, motifs, similes, metaphors, irony, and imagery to explore complex topics such as racism and history. These elements help students analyze and understand the text on a deeper level.

Q: How can I help students identify themes and symbols in Stamped?

Encourage students to use a storyboard to visually map out themes, symbols, and motifs from the book. Have them provide text evidence and short descriptions for each example to deepen comprehension.

Q: Why is analyzing literary elements important in understanding Stamped?

Analyzing literary elements helps students uncover deeper meanings in the text, connect historical events to present-day issues, and critically engage with the authors' messages about racism and antiracism .

Q: What are some examples of figurative language in Stamped?

Examples include the simile “racism as a dinosaur” and “freedom like quicksand.” These figurative phrases illustrate complex ideas in relatable ways for students.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You is filled with rich literary elements such as imagery, irony, metaphors, and similes. It also discusses many themes and symbols that are intertwined with various literary elements. These elements will come alive when you use a storyboard to analyze and describe them. In this activity, students will identify and explain examples of themes, symbolism, motifs, or figurative language from the novel. They should be sure to support their choices with details from the text.

Examples of Literary Elements in Stamped

Theme: Enduring Legacy of Colonialism
Theme: Enduring Legacy of Slavery
Theme: Hypocrisy in Leadership
Theme: Stories are told by the victor
Theme: Media in perpetuating harmful stereotypes
Theme: Black culture is American culture
Theme: White Privilege
Simile: Racism as a dinosaur
Simile: Freedom like quicksand
Motif: Stamped
and more

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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 literary elements (themes, motifs, symbolism, figurative language, etc.) found in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Illustrate each literary element you find in the text and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the literary elements from Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
Create an image for examples that represent each literary element using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.
Save and exit when you're done.

Spider Diagram Template with 3 Empty Boxes

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, and/or motifs in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	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.
Identify Symbol(s)	All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story.	Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols.	No symbols are correctly identified.
Identify Motif(s)	All motifs are correctly identified as important recurring features or ideas in the story.	Some motifs are correctly identified, but others are missing or incorrect.	No motifs are correctly identified.
Examples	All examples support the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes, symbols, and motifs and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, symbols, and motifs, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes, symbols, and motifs.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Examples of Literary Elements in Stamped

Theme: Enduring Legacy of Colonialism
Theme: Enduring Legacy of Slavery
Theme: Hypocrisy in Leadership
Theme: Stories are told by the victor
Theme: Media in perpetuating harmful stereotypes
Theme: Black culture is American culture
Theme: White Privilege
Simile: Racism as a dinosaur
Simile: Freedom like quicksand
Motif: Stamped
and more

Copy Activity

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:

Student Instructions:

Click "Start Assignment".
Identify the literary elements from Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
Create an image for examples that represent each literary element using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.
Save and exit when you're done.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes, symbols, and/or motifs in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	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.
Identify Symbol(s)	All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story.	Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols.	No symbols are correctly identified.
Identify Motif(s)	All motifs are correctly identified as important recurring features or ideas in the story.	Some motifs are correctly identified, but others are missing or incorrect.	No motifs are correctly identified.
Examples	All examples support the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified themes, symbols, and motifs. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes, symbols, and motifs and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, symbols, and motifs, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes, symbols, and motifs.

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How Tos about Literary Elements in Stamped

How to introduce literary elements in Stamped to younger students

Start with a brief overview of what literary elements are, using simple definitions and familiar examples from everyday life. This helps students connect new concepts to what they already know and builds a strong foundation for deeper analysis.

Choose age-appropriate excerpts for lesson focus

Select short passages from Stamped that clearly showcase a literary element like a simile or theme. Using manageable text chunks keeps students engaged and makes it easier for them to identify key elements.

Guide students to identify literary elements in context

Ask students to find examples of literary elements in the selected excerpt. Encourage them to highlight words or phrases and discuss their meaning, which fosters critical thinking and close reading skills.

Facilitate creative expression through drawing or acting

Invite students to illustrate or act out the literary element they found. This hands-on approach helps solidify understanding and makes abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.

Wrap up with a reflective class discussion

Lead a brief discussion where students share what they learned about the literary elements and how they connect to the themes of Stamped. This reinforces learning and builds classroom community.

Frequently Asked Questions about Literary Elements in Stamped

What are the key literary elements in Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You?

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You uses literary elements like themes, symbolism, motifs, similes, metaphors, irony, and imagery to explore complex topics such as racism and history. These elements help students analyze and understand the text on a deeper level.

How can I help students identify themes and symbols in Stamped?

Encourage students to use a storyboard to visually map out themes, symbols, and motifs from the book. Have them provide text evidence and short descriptions for each example to deepen comprehension.

What is a simple lesson plan for teaching literary elements in Stamped?

Assign students to read selected passages, then ask them to identify literary elements like themes or figurative language and illustrate them on a storyboard. Finish with group discussion or presentations to reinforce understanding.

Why is analyzing literary elements important in understanding Stamped?

Analyzing literary elements helps students uncover deeper meanings in the text, connect historical events to present-day issues, and critically engage with the authors' messages about racism and antiracism.

What are some examples of figurative language in Stamped?

Examples include the simile “racism as a dinosaur” and “freedom like quicksand.” These figurative phrases illustrate complex ideas in relatable ways for students.