The War That Saved My Life: Theme, Symbolism & Quote Activities

The War That Saved My Life: Theme, Symbolism & Quote Activities

Printable PDF & Digital Google Slides | Grades 5–7 | 100 Pages | Answer Keys Included

When I teach The War That Saved My Life, one of my favorite parts is helping students dig into the deeper meaning of the story. This resource was created to make that process both engaging and practical. It gives students multiple ways to explore themes, symbolism, and powerful quotes while encouraging critical thinking and creativity.

Inside, you will find more than 50 activities designed to help students think beyond basic comprehension. They will trace Ada’s emotional journey, examine key symbols like Butter and the green velvet dress, and respond to big ideas about courage, hope, and identity. The activities are flexible for literature circles, independent work, or whole-class lessons.

One highlight is the variety of quote-based activities. Students will make personal and text-based connections, illustrate scenes, design posters, and even create a hoodie inspired by a meaningful quote. These activities promote deep thinking and spark thoughtful discussions.

This resource includes both a printable PDF version and a digital Google Slides version, giving you flexibility to teach in any setting. Answer keys are included for all text-based questions.

What Students Will Do:

✔ Explore themes with graphic organizers and reflection questions
✔ Analyze symbolism through visual timelines and written analysis
✔ Complete creative projects such as playlists, comics, and social media posts
✔ Respond to quote analysis tasks and design projects
✔ Use quote cards for discussions, writing prompts, and extensions

These activities work well as an end-of-book project, a creative extension to your novel unit, or a way to encourage deeper discussion during literature circles. They are designed for grades 5–7 and provide meaningful opportunities for students to connect with the story on a personal and analytical level.