A Wrinkle in Time Lesson Plan: Central Ideas and Themes

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

Click to open and customize your own copy of the Wrinkle in Time Lesson Plan. 

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic A Wrinkle in Time, and supports the standard of determining central ideas and themes. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of creative projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students if they’ve read A Wrinkle in Time. Then ask:

  • If you have read it, what did you think about it?
  • If you haven’t, what type of book do you think it might be based on the title?

Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND

  • Read aloud the description on the A Wrinkle in Time topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “Arts and Entertainment” or “Theory.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY
Students synthesize their ideas and express them through one or more of the following creative projects. They can work individually or collaborate.  

  • Make-a-Movie: Create a book trailer for A Wrinkle in Time that showcases its major themes. 
  • Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying how L’Engle uses allegory, symbolism, and genre to communicate themes. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a museum with artifacts representing major themes of A Wrinkle in Time. 

Step 4: REFLECT & ASSESS 

Reflect: After sharing creative projects with each other, students reflect on what they’ve learned about A Wrinkle in Time. Prompt them by asking questions such as: 

  • How does Meg change over the course of the book?
  • How does the blend of genres (coming-of-age, science fiction, fantasy) shape the book’s themes?

Assess: Wrap up the lesson with the A Wrinkle in Time Challenge. 

Step 5:  Extend Learning

Dig deeper into A Wrinkle in Time by analyzing an excerpt from an early draft in this Primary Source Activity. 

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, A Wrinkle in Time, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4