Determining Themes of Stories, Dramas, or Poems Worksheets - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Determining Themes of Stories, Dramas, or Poems Worksheets. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Determining Themes of Stories, Dramas, or Poems Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Determining Themes of Stories, Dramas, or Poems Worksheets
Let’s go step by step to solve this “Theme or Summary?” worksheet.
The task is to read each paragraph and decide:
→ Is it a summary? (It tells the main events of the story in order, without extra details.)
→ Or is it a theme? (It gives a big idea or lesson that applies beyond the story — like “friendship matters” or “hard work pays off.”)
We’ll look at each one carefully.
---
Paragraph 1:
> A basketball team was losing badly. The coach called a timeout. He told his players they had to believe in themselves. They listened, worked harder, and started scoring. In the end, they won the game by just one point.
This tells us what happened in the story: losing → timeout → coach talks → they try hard → win. It’s a short version of the plot. No big life lesson here — just the events.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 2:
> Sarah was nervous about her first day at school. She didn’t know anyone. But when she smiled at another girl, the girl smiled back. They became friends. By lunchtime, Sarah felt happy and not alone anymore.
Again, this is telling us what happened: nervous → smiled → made friend → felt happy. It’s a sequence of events from the story.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 3:
> Even if you’re scared or unsure, being kind can open doors. One small smile or hello might start a friendship that lasts forever. Kindness doesn’t cost anything but means everything.
This isn’t talking about any specific person or event. It’s giving advice or a general truth: kindness leads to friendship. That’s a message that could apply to anyone, anywhere.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Paragraph 4:
> Miguel loved soccer more than anything. He practiced every day after school, even when it rained. His team lost the championship, but he didn’t give up. Next year, he vowed to train even harder.
This describes Miguel’s actions and feelings over time: loves soccer → practices daily → loses → keeps going → plans to improve. It’s retelling part of his story.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 5:
> Never quit, even when things get tough. Success often comes right after you feel like giving up. Hard work and patience will always pay off in the end.
No characters, no plot — just a motivational message. It’s teaching a lesson about perseverance.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Paragraph 6:
> Lily forgot her lines during the school play. Her face turned red. But instead of running off stage, she took a deep breath and kept going. The audience clapped loudly. Afterward, her teacher said, “You showed real courage.”
This tells us what happened to Lily: forgot lines → embarrassed → stayed calm → finished → got praised. It’s a mini-story with beginning, middle, and end.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 7:
> Mistakes don’t define you. What matters is how you respond to them. Everyone messes up sometimes — even grown-ups! The important thing is to learn, grow, and keep trying.
This is giving advice about handling mistakes. It’s not about any particular character or event — it’s a universal idea.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Now let’s double-check our answers:
1. Summary ✔
2. Summary ✔
3. Theme ✔
4. Summary ✔
5. Theme ✔
6. Summary ✔
7. Theme ✔
All match the definitions we used.
Final Answer:
1. Summary
2. Summary
3. Theme
4. Summary
5. Theme
6. Summary
7. Theme
The task is to read each paragraph and decide:
→ Is it a summary? (It tells the main events of the story in order, without extra details.)
→ Or is it a theme? (It gives a big idea or lesson that applies beyond the story — like “friendship matters” or “hard work pays off.”)
We’ll look at each one carefully.
---
Paragraph 1:
> A basketball team was losing badly. The coach called a timeout. He told his players they had to believe in themselves. They listened, worked harder, and started scoring. In the end, they won the game by just one point.
This tells us what happened in the story: losing → timeout → coach talks → they try hard → win. It’s a short version of the plot. No big life lesson here — just the events.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 2:
> Sarah was nervous about her first day at school. She didn’t know anyone. But when she smiled at another girl, the girl smiled back. They became friends. By lunchtime, Sarah felt happy and not alone anymore.
Again, this is telling us what happened: nervous → smiled → made friend → felt happy. It’s a sequence of events from the story.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 3:
> Even if you’re scared or unsure, being kind can open doors. One small smile or hello might start a friendship that lasts forever. Kindness doesn’t cost anything but means everything.
This isn’t talking about any specific person or event. It’s giving advice or a general truth: kindness leads to friendship. That’s a message that could apply to anyone, anywhere.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Paragraph 4:
> Miguel loved soccer more than anything. He practiced every day after school, even when it rained. His team lost the championship, but he didn’t give up. Next year, he vowed to train even harder.
This describes Miguel’s actions and feelings over time: loves soccer → practices daily → loses → keeps going → plans to improve. It’s retelling part of his story.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 5:
> Never quit, even when things get tough. Success often comes right after you feel like giving up. Hard work and patience will always pay off in the end.
No characters, no plot — just a motivational message. It’s teaching a lesson about perseverance.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Paragraph 6:
> Lily forgot her lines during the school play. Her face turned red. But instead of running off stage, she took a deep breath and kept going. The audience clapped loudly. Afterward, her teacher said, “You showed real courage.”
This tells us what happened to Lily: forgot lines → embarrassed → stayed calm → finished → got praised. It’s a mini-story with beginning, middle, and end.
✔ This is a summary.
---
Paragraph 7:
> Mistakes don’t define you. What matters is how you respond to them. Everyone messes up sometimes — even grown-ups! The important thing is to learn, grow, and keep trying.
This is giving advice about handling mistakes. It’s not about any particular character or event — it’s a universal idea.
✔ This is a theme.
---
Now let’s double-check our answers:
1. Summary ✔
2. Summary ✔
3. Theme ✔
4. Summary ✔
5. Theme ✔
6. Summary ✔
7. Theme ✔
All match the definitions we used.
Final Answer:
1. Summary
2. Summary
3. Theme
4. Summary
5. Theme
6. Summary
7. Theme
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of theme worksheet for 5th grade.
