Arts Character Education 11 Grades 5-8 Identifying Themes in Literature Students will apply knowledge of the concept that theme refers to the main idea and meaning of a selection, whether it is implied or stated directly, and evaluate similar themes across a variety of selections, distinguishing theme from topic. Home Newsletters make explicit the literature connection to Open Circle themes. Key concepts are taught through personal experience and the experience of others. Students reflect on these experiences and apply the ideas and experiences to literature they are reading. PreK-4 Interpreting Literary Works Students will interpret the meaning of different selections of literary works and nonfiction, noting how different uses of language shape the reader's expectation of how to read and interpret texts.
Students have the experience of coming together in Open Circle to hear different voices.
They learn that language they hear at home and school may be different. Interpreting Literary Works Students will analyze how a short story, poem, film, or essay can be shown to reflect the author's personal history, attitudes, and beliefs or how a film or work of literature can be shown to reflect the period, ideas, customs, and outlooks of a people living in a particular time in history. Students practice hearing other students' voices and experiences. Role Playing is used as a method to encourage students to reflect on their attitudes and beliefs. They learn leadership roles, and how to listen well and to recognize verbal and nonverbal signals from one another.