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DURING READING
Use Literary
Elements
THEME
The theme is the "big idea" of
a story. Theme is often tied to
author's purpose; the author had a
point to make, which is why he or she wrote that story. Very often, theme is implied; we have to ask the right questions to understand theme.
  • When students have finished
    reading the story, discuss
    what the story was about.
    Discuss what happened and why.
  • Ask students what they think
    Jim learned at the end of the
    story. Discuss the "big idea"
    of the story and why the
    author wrote it.
  • Encourage students to think
    beyond the story to what the
    author's message says about
    people. Ask them to think about themselves or others they know. Discuss other stories or examples from students' lives of which the story reminded them. Encourage students to share their connections with the class.
CONNECT TEXT TO TEXT
Reading Across Texts
Discuss with students the differences between a realistic story and a fantasy. Encourage students to provide examples from both stories to support their ideas.
Writing Across Texts Set up a simple T-chart or Venn diagram on the board that students can copy and fill in on their own.
Theme
Possible response: Think twice before you say or do something because what you say or do could have negative consequences. Jim learned to think before speaking or acting.
     Jim tried very hard to keep
calm. He acted as though he
didn’t care. “That’s a stupid
secret,” he said. “Anyone
can dance and howl like
that! Look!”
     The coyote smiled. “That’s
my second secret,” he said.
    “Tell me instead why you
do that dance and why you
howl in that funny way,”
he asked.
     In his anger, he thought
about not coming up the hill
anymore, but his curiosity
was too strong.
      “Well done!” said the
coyote. “You’ve discovered
my two secrets in one try!
     As for the coyote, he got his
color back. He was once again
the color of desert and sand.
     All at once, Jim turned
purple.
     Jim did a little dance,
then leaned over on his right
arm and howled a piercing
“WULULI WULA WULILA
WUWU WA!”
     He disappeared into the
vast desert.
     You’ve given me back my
natural color. Now I can leave.
Goodbye, Jim!”
     “Yes,” said the small animal.
     “It’s my secret,” Jim went on.
“Do you want to find out why?”
Make a chart of facts that
support your answer.
Writing Across Texts
Fly, Eagle, Fly! and Purple
Coyote are both about
animals. What makes one
story realistic and the other
a fantasy?
Reading Across Texts
“No.”
purple kid.
     “Did you see?” said Jim.
“I’m purple all over.”
“Hello,” the raccoon said.
“Hello!” replied the
     Night had fallen on the hill
when a little raccoon came up
to him.
     Jim was now all purple
and all by himself.
What is the big idea of this story? What did Jim learn?
Theme