Universal Themes

 

Using universal themes is one way to effectively differentiate a classroom. This technique provides opportunities for students to have in-depth discussions while reading books on different levels of ability. Universal themes can be used with any subject, but they are especially suited for literature and social studies.

Some Possible Universal Themes

Anger	Friendship	Loyalty
Bullies	Good vs. Evil	Making Choices
Belonging	Grief	Memories
Bravery	Guilt	Peace
Challenges	Honesty	Separation and Loss
Commitment	Innocence and Experience	Survival
Courage	Jealousy	Trust
Customs and Traditions	Leadership	Values
Diversity	Loneliness	Violence
Forgiveness	Love

Activity to Begin a Unit

Upper Elementary through Adult

1. Divide students into groups of 5–7 and give each a large sheet of paper and markers. Ask the participants to brainstorm everything they can think of about the given theme. (You may want to review the rules of brainstorming before you begin this activity.) Give students plenty of time and don’t worry about silences. 
2. After sufficient time to think and write, ask the students to look at their lists and see if there are ways they can group their comments.
3. Next, have them label each group of comments with a generalization.
4. Have each group of students share its results, allowing individuals time to explain their reasoning.
5. Can the individual group generalizations be grouped into common generalizations that can be used for the entire class?

A number of years ago, I participated in a similar activity while attending a conference session. At first, I was skeptical, thinking that it wouldn’t be a worthwhile exercise, but in the end, I was amazed at the depth of the discussion.

Next, I tried the activity with a class of gifted fifth graders. The discussions that the students had were phenomenal and gave real meaning to all the reading they did later in the unit. Each day, the kids could hardly wait to come to class to continue the discussions about the theme.

This type of learning works because judgment is taken out of the equation. Students find that there are no right or wrong answers when discussing their opinions related to the theme; instead, the universal themes and generalizations are used as a framework to help them ponder and to value their thinking. They do have to be able to support their ideas, which is far more meaningful that just spitting back facts or predetermined answers.

For more ideas about universal themes, check out Universal Themes and Generalizations. 

Remember that the generalizations listed here are only suggestions. You and your class may come up with different generalizations.