“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a Storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a theme of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and support it with evidence from the text.
One theme is “Childhood Imagination”:
A second theme is “Identity”:
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard depicting important themes from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Grade Level 4-5
Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified and described. | Some themes are correctly identified. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples of Theme(s) | All examples support the identified theme(s). | Most examples fit the identified theme(s). | Most examples do not fit the theme(s). |
| Illustrate Theme | Images clearly show connection with the theme(s). | Some images help to show the theme. | Images do not help in understanding the theme. |
Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a Storyboard. In this activity, students will identify a theme of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and support it with evidence from the text.
One theme is “Childhood Imagination”:
A second theme is “Identity”:
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard depicting important themes from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Grade Level 4-5
Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)
Type of Assignment Individual or Partner
Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Theme(s) | All themes are correctly identified and described. | Some themes are correctly identified. | No themes are correctly identified. |
| Examples of Theme(s) | All examples support the identified theme(s). | Most examples fit the identified theme(s). | Most examples do not fit the theme(s). |
| Illustrate Theme | Images clearly show connection with the theme(s). | Some images help to show the theme. | Images do not help in understanding the theme. |
Gather students in a circle and introduce one theme from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Invite each student to share an example of this theme from the book or their own life. This encourages active participation and helps students connect personally to the story's ideas.
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a theme. Ask them to list specific scenes and quotes from the book that support their assigned theme. This fosters teamwork and deeper comprehension of literary themes.
Demonstrate selecting a direct quote or description from the story that illustrates a theme. Explain why this evidence is relevant, using think-aloud strategies so students see the thought process behind making connections.
Ask students to draw a scene that represents a theme using details from the text. Share finished illustrations with the class to reinforce visual learning and understanding of abstract concepts through art.
Invite students to write a short paragraph or share aloud how a theme from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland connects to their own experiences or current events. This builds personal connection and critical thinking skills.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland explores key themes like childhood imagination and identity. The story highlights how Alice navigates a whimsical world, questioning who she is and embracing creativity through her adventures.
Students can identify themes by looking for recurring ideas or messages in the story. For example, noting Alice's imaginative experiences and her struggle with self-identity helps reveal major themes. Using quotes and specific examples supports their analysis.
An example of childhood imagination is when Alice tries to play croquet using hedgehogs as balls and flamingos as mallets. This shows the playful and creative world she explores.
The theme of identity appears when Alice questions who she is, especially after changing sizes. She tells the Caterpillar she can't explain herself because she's confused, highlighting her search for self-understanding.
A simple activity is to have students create a storyboard that shows two themes from the book. They can use quotes, describe examples, and add illustrations to explain each theme visually.
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher