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Special Collection: Top Stories for Teaching Theme
Teacher-approved stories, lesson plans, and activities for exploring theme in your classroom
The Monkey’s Paw
This delightfully creepy play, based on the classic horror story by W.W. Jacobs, is paired with an informational text about how to make wishes come true.
Themes explored in the play: Be careful what you wish for. Greed leads to downfall. Getting what you want isn’t always a blessing.
A Christmas Carol
Can Scrooge change his ways before it’s too late?
Themes explored in the play: People can change for the better. Small acts of kindness and generosity matter. You don’t have to have a lot of money to be happy. It is our responsibility to help those in need when we are able.
Good Enough
A relatable story by Rachel Vail about one girl’s desire for the “right shirt” is paired with a poem "Ode To My Shoes."
Themes explored in the story and poem: Physical objects can hold great meaning. Family is more important than anything. Money or material objects can’t bring true happiness.
The Monkey's Paw: Illustration by Gary Hanna; A Christmas Carol:Art by Shane Rebenschied; Phoenix Farm: Illustration by Allan Davey; Good Enough: Illustration by Mora Vieytes