Theme Comic Strip Activity | Teaching Theme in Middle School ELA
Teaching theme doesn’t have to feel abstract or overcomplicated. This Theme Comic Strip Activity helps students show their understanding of theme in a clear, creative, and meaningful way — without a ton of prep for you.
What’s included:
✔️ Editable comic strip templates
✔️ A student-friendly notes slide explaining what theme is and what it is NOT
✔️ Clear directions to help students produce thoughtful, text-based theme statements
✔️ Student example images to model expectations
Why teachers love it:
Low prep
High engagement
Encourages deeper thinking beyond one-word topics
Helps students explain theme in their own words
Students use visuals + writing to demonstrate understanding, making this a great option for:
Middle school ELA
Differentiation
Visual learners
Quick checks for understanding or extension activities
How it works: Students break down a text’s message by illustrating and explaining how events and characters connect to the theme — resulting in thoughtful responses (not vague answers like “friendship” or “courage”).
Theme Comic Strip Activity | Teaching Theme in Middle School ELA
Teaching theme doesn’t have to feel abstract or overcomplicated. This Theme Comic Strip Activity helps students show their understanding of theme in a clear, creative, and meaningful way — without a ton of prep for you.
What’s included:
✔️ Editable comic strip templates
✔️ A student-friendly notes slide explaining what theme is and what it is NOT
✔️ Clear directions to help students produce thoughtful, text-based theme statements
✔️ Student example images to model expectations
Why teachers love it:
Low prep
High engagement
Encourages deeper thinking beyond one-word topics
Helps students explain theme in their own words
Students use visuals + writing to demonstrate understanding, making this a great option for:
Middle school ELA
Differentiation
Visual learners
Quick checks for understanding or extension activities
How it works: Students break down a text’s message by illustrating and explaining how events and characters connect to the theme — resulting in thoughtful responses (not vague answers like “friendship” or “courage”).
