Character Change and Theme in "Rhino"
This 3-page packet for 3rd graders focuses on character change, cause and effect, and theme using the story "Rhino." It includes activities for identifying textual evidence and understanding the message about friendship, with built-in scaffolding for interventions.
“Day 2 – Rhino Character Change Before Make a quick Before Frank / After Frank T-chart. Students find one detail showing how Ntombi changes. Day 2 – Rhino Cause & Effect After Give an action: “Frank grazed.” Students find the effect: “Ntombi began eating grass.” Repeat with 2–3 events. Day 2 – Rhino Theme After Ask: “What does Frank DO that shows friendship helped Ntombi?” Use 2 pieces of evidence to determine the larger message about friendship. must do work while during interventions”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this packet as a 45-minute whole-class lesson or for small-group work during interventions.
- Discussion question: How does Ntombi's change in behavior show the impact of Frank's friendship?
- For struggling readers, provide sentence frames to help them articulate the cause-and-effect relationships.
- Advanced students can explore how the author uses specific word choices to develop the theme of friendship.
- Estimated time: 45 minutes.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“Day 2 – Rhino Character Change Before Make a quick Before Frank / After Frank T-chart. Students find one detail showing how Ntombi changes. Day 2 – Rhino Cause & Effect After Give an action: “Frank grazed.” Students find the effect: “Ntombi began eating grass.” Repeat with 2–3 events. Day 2 – Rhino Theme After Ask: “What does Frank DO that shows friendship helped Ntombi?” Use 2 pieces of evidence to determine the larger message about friendship. must do work while during interventions”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this packet as a 45-minute whole-class lesson or for small-group work during interventions.
- Discussion question: How does Ntombi's change in behavior show the impact of Frank's friendship?
- For struggling readers, provide sentence frames to help them articulate the cause-and-effect relationships.
- Advanced students can explore how the author uses specific word choices to develop the theme of friendship.
- Estimated time: 45 minutes.
Character Change and Theme in "Rhino"
This 3-page packet for 3rd graders focuses on character change, cause and effect, and theme using the story "Rhino." It includes activities for identifying textual evidence and understanding the message about friendship, with built-in scaffolding for interventions.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free