The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine Exploring themes

In this activity you are going to:

1. find out what a theme is

2. become an expert on one of the themes
3. collect information on some of the other themes
4. make a poster for display.

Step 1

Copy the sentences A–E into your book and write down next to each statement, if
you:

¾ strongly agree
¾ agree
¾ disagree
¾ are unsure.

A. The story looks at different kinds of bullying, why people bully others and
why they let themselves be bullied.

B. The book makes us think about how children are affected by the way their
parents treat them.

C. It asks the question ‘Are you born evil or are you turned bad by the things
that happen to you?’

D. This is a book about friendship.

E. The writer of The Tulip Touch shows that there’s good and bad in everyone,
and that no-one is perfect.

When you have finished, compare your answers with the person next to you/others
in your group.

© 2006 www.teachit.co.uk 5838.doc Page 1 of 3

The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine Exploring themes

Step 2

These statements are what we call THEMES of the book. A THEME is an idea or
topic that runs all the way through the story. Things that happen (events) or
things that characters in the story say or do can:

¾ make us think about the theme

¾ give us an example of it
¾ help us look at the idea in a different way.

Your teacher will give each of you a specific theme to work on. When you know
what your theme is, join with other experts who are also working on that theme.

In your group, find four examples from different parts of the story of:

• EVENTS
• SITUATIONS
• QUOTATIONS

that are related to this theme.

Make a list of them, and write a short explanation of what each example shows us
about the theme.

Be ready to report on your findings.

Step 3

Each group should now take it in turns to report back.

Everyone should listen carefully to the expert reports and make notes about what
they tell you about their THEME.

Step 4

Choose one of the THEMES (it could be the one you find most interesting, the one
you are an ‘expert’ on, or the one you think is the main theme of the book).

On A4 paper, make a poster about this theme.

You could use a mixture of words and pictures, set it out as a spider diagram, a
list, include quotations, pictures or symbols.

Make it:

• informative
• clear
• eye-catching.

© 2006 www.teachit.co.uk 5838.doc Page 2 of 3

The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine Exploring themes

Fill in the A3 sheet in your group. Find four examples from different parts of the story of: EVENTS, SITUATIONS and QUOTATIONS.

A. The story looks at

different kinds of
bullying, why people
bully others and why they
let themselves be bullied.

B. The book makes us

think about how children
are affected by the way
their parents treat them.

C. It asks the question:

‘are you born evil or are
you turned bad by the
things that happen to
you?’

D. This is a book about

friendship.

E. The writer of The Tulip

Touch shows that there’s
good and bad in
everyone. No-one is
perfect.

© 2006 www.teachit.co.uk 5838.doc Page 3 of 3