The Poet X Themes: Lesson Plan & Activity

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

Novels and poetry often have a variety of themes throughout that students can identify and analyze. Any literary elements can be conveyed through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination. In this activity, students will identify a theme of The Poet X and illustrate examples from the text. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an “envelope activity”, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, they'll create a spider map illustrating what they found! Teachers may ask students to illustrate multiple examples of a single theme, symbol, or motif, or illustrate one example for each.

Examples of Themes in The Poet X

Coming of age
Religion
Sexuality
Dysfunctional family life and abuse
Poetry and the power of words
Sexist gender roles
Generation gap
Sexual harassment
Body shaming
Homophobia
Twins
Children of immigrant parents
Mentorship
First love
Female empowerment
Courage and finding one's voice
Forgiveness and reconciliation

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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 at lest one theme of The Poet X. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Identify the themes from the story that you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.

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

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Student Rubric

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

Symbolism

Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
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.
Examples	All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Examples of Themes in The Poet X

Coming of age
Religion
Sexuality
Dysfunctional family life and abuse
Poetry and the power of words
Sexist gender roles
Generation gap
Sexual harassment
Body shaming
Homophobia
Twins
Children of immigrant parents
Mentorship
First love
Female empowerment
Courage and finding one's voice
Forgiveness and reconciliation

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:

Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies at lest one theme of The Poet X. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.

Student Instructions:

Identify the themes from the story that you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

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

Symbolism

Create a storyboard that identifies symbolism in the story. Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
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.
Examples	All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant.	Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant.	Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear.
Depiction	Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding.	Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand.	Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols.

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How To Teach Theme Using Storyboards

Discuss a Prevalent Theme

Lead students in a discussion of a prevalent theme in The Poet X. Students need to find a lesson that the story teaches that they see played out throughout the book.

Help Students Find Examples

Students will need varying degrees of help in finding examples of the theme, and you can assist them by pointing out characters, setting, plot, and dialogue elements that will aid their awareness of theme.

Create a Storyboard

Frequently Asked Questions about Themes in the Poet X

Why is understanding theme important?

The theme of a story is what you learn about life after reading a story. Understanding theme is important, therefore, because it makes the connection between the story and the real life lessons for students.

What is the relationship between theme and motif?

A theme is the life lesson learned from reading a story, and a motif is a symbol that is used throughout a story that often illuminates the theme. Authors use motifs to make the point they are trying to make.