Here are the answers to help you complete your worksheet. I have broken down the theme and the evidence for each story.
Story 1: Derek and the Gamebox
What is the theme of the story?
The theme is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam. It also teaches us to listen to warnings from friends rather than letting greed blind us.
What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?
Derek ignores his friends' warnings that he is being scammed because he wants a free game console so badly. The website keeps asking for more and more difficult tasks (like getting credit cards) instead of just giving him the prize. In the end, he realizes it was a trap and walks away.
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Story 2: Nicole and Lia’s Tea Set
What is the theme of the story?
The theme is that honesty is better than lying, and that sentimental value is often more important than money. You cannot replace special memories with expensive store-bought items.
What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?
Lia breaks an irreplaceable family heirloom but tries to hide her mistake by buying a new, expensive set. She thinks the new set is "better" because it costs more money. However, Nicole is upset because the old set had sentimental value that couldn't be bought. Lia's lie makes the situation worse because she doesn't understand why Nicole is hurt.
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Story 3: Chuck’s Hard Work
*(Note: The text for this story cuts off at the bottom of the page, but based on what is visible, here is the likely answer.)*
What is the theme of the story?
The theme is that hard work and patience are required to achieve big goals. There are no shortcuts to earning a large amount of money.
What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?
Chuck wants an expensive item ($400) but has no money. Instead of looking for a shortcut or a scam (like Derek did in the first story), he does many small jobs like mowing lawns and collecting cans. He works for a month and only earns half of what he needs, showing that earning money takes time and effort.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of theme worksheet 4.
