📚 Part 1: Understanding Themes

1. What is a theme in poetry? Circle the best answer:

The rhyming pattern of a poem

The main idea or message that runs through a poem

The number of lines in a poem

The poet's name and background

2. Which of these are common themes in poetry? Check all that apply:

Love and relationships

Heritage and identity

Connection to place

The weather forecast

Belonging and family

Shopping lists

🌊 Part 2: Exploring the Whale Rider-Inspired Poem

3. After reading our poem excerpt, what do you think the main theme is? Complete this sentence:

I think the main theme of this poem is _________________________ because _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

4. Find evidence from the poem. Write down two phrases or words that support your theme:

5. Match the themes with their descriptions:

1. Heritage

2. Identity

3. Belonging

4. Connection to place

A. Feeling part of a group or family

B. Understanding who you are

C. Feeling attached to a special location

D. Traditions passed down from ancestors

🔍 Part 3: Theme Detective Work

6. Look at your group's poem excerpt. Fill in the theme investigation below:

Poem title or first line: _________________________________________________

What theme did your group identify? _______________________________________

7. List three words or phrases from your poem that helped you identify this theme:

a) ___________________________________________________________________

b) ___________________________________________________________________

c) ___________________________________________________________________

8. Explain why you chose this theme. Use evidence from the poem:

💭 Part 4: Personal Connections

9. Think about the themes we've discussed today (heritage, identity, belonging, connection to place). Which theme connects most with your own life? Circle one:

Heritage

Identity

Belonging

Connection to place

10. Explain your choice. How does this theme relate to your own experiences?

11. If you were to write a poem about one of these themes, what would you focus on? Draw or write your ideas:

🎯 Part 5: Reflection

12. Complete these reflection sentences:

Today I learned that a theme in poetry is _________________________________________

One new thing I discovered about poetry today was ________________________________

The most interesting theme we discussed was ______________________________________ because ________________________________________________________________

13. Rate your understanding of themes in poetry:

I'm still confused and need more help

I understand some parts but need practice

I understand themes and can identify them

I understand themes well and can explain them to others