- Definition
A theme is the big idea or message an author wants you to understand from a story, like "friendship is important" or "never give up.
In the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, a theme is that 'slow and steady wins the race'.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A theme is like the big feeling a story leaves you with, like how a story about sharing makes you feel warm and friendly.
Ask your child: What is the big idea this story wants to share?
Common mix-up: Kids often think the theme is just the topic, like 'friendship.' The theme is the bigger message about the topic, like 'friendship is about helping each other'.
Examples
- A story about a child who lies and gets into trouble has a theme about the importance of being honest.
- A book where characters share their toys has a theme of kindness or generosity.
theme is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+48 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
