Teaching theme can be a lot of fun in First Grade. I like to explain theme or central message to firsties this way, "What do you think the author wants you to learn from this story that you can use in your life?" It can be tricky, and takes LOTS of practice! Usually the students will say something very literal from the story at first. For example, in the story The Little Red Hen they might at first say something like "How to grow wheat!" But sometimes a student will say something so…