Here's a great way to help students find the themes for "The Scarlet Ibis" and five other mini-project ideas for after reading.
Conflict & Theme:
1. List the conflicts in the story and how each is resolved.
2. Write a one-sentence summary of the story that includes the main conflict and resolution.
3. Choose a word or short phrase (4 words max) that expresses the topic of the story.
3. Write down three words that describe the tone at the end of the story. (How does the narrator seem to feel about what happened?)
4. From how the conflict is resolved at the end of the story and how the narrator seems to feel about it, write a theme statement. Remember a theme statement should express what the writer of the story thinks about the topic of the story.
Sensory Details: The short story is full of sensory details. Choose seven details and create images for each. You can create one overall image that has all the details, or you can create an image for each detail. Be sure to label your image(s) with the details.
Symbolism: Create a T-chart and choose 10 symbols from the story to discuss. Be sure to explain what they symbolize and how effective they are.
Characterization: Choose one of the characters from the story and create a collage that depicts their character. Be sure to illustrate both their strengths and weaknesses.
Research & Comparison:
1. Do some research about the scarlet ibis. From your research, and from what happens in the story, write a paragraph explaining how the scarlet ibis represents Doodle in the story.
2. Do some more research and find a bird that you feel represents you in some way. Write a paragraph describing the characteristics of the bird and explain how those characteristics represent you.
Literary Devices: Choose at least 5 literary devices (simile/ personification/ foreshadowing/ etc.) from the story. Create a table with the device, what type it is, and what it means.
Each option can be completed individually, in a pair, or as a group. Options take 20-40 minutes to complete, but please asses for your students. Some of the options will need magazines, newspapers, and/or internet access to complete.
These options also work great for extra credit or literature circles!
Get these options as a one-page Choice Board here.
Check out other Choice Boards.
Or create your own Choice Board for any fiction.
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