Activity Overview
A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate two of the themes in The Tiger Rising. Teachers may ask students to identify and illustrate two themes, or identify one theme and illustrate two examples of it.
Examples of Themes in The Tiger Rising
Grief and Loss
Rob and his father suffered a great loss when Rob’s mother died. Rob pushed his feelings aside and tried to ignore them until they all came out at once. Sistine grieves her father, who has moved away and is no longer in her life.
Friendship
When Rob moves to a new town, he doesn’t know anyone and is lonely. He finds the most unexpected friend in Sistine, and realizes how important it is to have a friend in his life.
Feelings
Rob packed his feelings about his mother’s death away and pretended they didn’t exist. When he released his sorrow and pain, he felt better and had hope for his future.
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 recurring themes in The Tiger Rising. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes from The Tiger Rising you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this theme using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| 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. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes. |
Activity Overview
A theme is a central idea, subject, or message in a story. Many stories have more than one important theme. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate two of the themes in The Tiger Rising. Teachers may ask students to identify and illustrate two themes, or identify one theme and illustrate two examples of it.
Examples of Themes in The Tiger Rising
Grief and Loss
Rob and his father suffered a great loss when Rob’s mother died. Rob pushed his feelings aside and tried to ignore them until they all came out at once. Sistine grieves her father, who has moved away and is no longer in her life.
Friendship
When Rob moves to a new town, he doesn’t know anyone and is lonely. He finds the most unexpected friend in Sistine, and realizes how important it is to have a friend in his life.
Feelings
Rob packed his feelings about his mother’s death away and pretended they didn’t exist. When he released his sorrow and pain, he felt better and had hope for his future.
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 recurring themes in The Tiger Rising. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the themes from The Tiger Rising you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this theme using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| 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. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified themes. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified themes. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified themes. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the themes and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the themes, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the themes. |
How Tos about Themes in The Tiger Rising
Incorporate student discussion to deepen understanding of themes
Facilitate a class discussion after students create their storyboards. Invite students to share which themes they chose and why, and encourage them to compare different examples. This helps students build critical thinking skills and see how themes connect to real-life experiences.
Encourage students to make text-to-self connections
Ask students to relate themes from The Tiger Rising to their own lives. Have them write or share a brief personal story that connects to a theme like friendship or dealing with feelings. This makes learning more meaningful and helps students empathize with characters.
Guide students to use evidence from the text
Remind students to support their identified themes with direct quotes or specific scenes from the book. Model how to reference the story when explaining theme choices. This strengthens literary analysis skills and gives students practice citing evidence.
Provide sentence starters for theme descriptions
Offer simple sentence frames to help students describe their examples clearly. For example: ‘This scene shows the theme of grief because...’ This supports all learners, especially those who need extra scaffolding.
Frequently Asked Questions about Themes in The Tiger Rising
What are the main themes in The Tiger Rising?
The Tiger Rising explores key themes such as grief and loss, friendship, and managing emotions. The story follows Rob and Sistine as they each deal with difficult feelings and learn the importance of connection and expressing emotions.
How can I teach themes from The Tiger Rising in a middle school classroom?
To teach themes from The Tiger Rising, have students identify and illustrate examples of themes like grief, friendship, or feelings. Use storyboards or group discussions to help students connect scenes and characters to these central ideas.
What is an example of grief and loss in The Tiger Rising?
An example of grief and loss in The Tiger Rising is Rob coping with his mother's death. He struggles to express his feelings, which builds up until he finally lets them out, showing how grief affects him throughout the story.
Why is friendship an important theme in The Tiger Rising?
Friendship is crucial in The Tiger Rising because it helps Rob overcome loneliness and gives him hope. His bond with Sistine teaches both characters the value of trust and support during tough times.
What activities help students understand themes in The Tiger Rising?
Effective activities include creating storyboards to illustrate themes, writing short descriptions of themed examples, and class discussions on character experiences. These methods help students analyze and relate to the book's messages.
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