First, I teach my students that the theme is the "life lesson"
you can learn about the story. I stress that while the topic can
be expressed in a word or two, the theme needs a complete
sentence to be accurately expressed. (i.e. Fear is a topic; Fear
may lead to desperate actions is a theme.)

One activity my kids have really enjoyed is to create a theme
poster. I have the students read several stories with similar
themes, but don't tell them the themes. The students work in
groups to determine a theme which applies to all three stories.
On poster paper, they write the theme and create an illustration
that expresses it. On the back, they attach a written paper in
which they discuss how their theme relates to each story (1
paragraph each) and how it relates to life.

On 10/06/09, L. Swilley wrote:
> On 10/06/09, Robin wrote:
>> I am trying to teach my high schoolers THEME and how to
>> identify it in short stories....any creative ideas?
> =======================================================
>
> Any particular short stories? For example, A theme in
> Fitzgerald's "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" is betrayal
> by "friends". (But the elucidation of theme seems a rather
> empty pursuit. I'd concentrate instead on the steps of the
> main character's story, and changes in that character as the
> story progresses.)
>
> L. Swilley

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