Themes
Text Complexity
Research supports the need to choose more complex text to better prepare students for post-secondary experiences—either academic or work. Text complexity demands for college and career readiness have held steady or increased over the past half century, yet the complexity of texts that K-12 students use has steadily decreased in that same interval. Pathways 2.0 provides increased text complexity in literary selections.
The Three-Part Model for Text Complexity is useful in understanding the expectations of complex texts at all grade levels. The three domains—quantitative, qualitative, reader and task considerations—are equally intertwined in determining the appropriateness of text.
Anchor Texts by Theme
- • White type indicates Informational Text.
- • Black type indicates Literature Text.
↓ Click any text title for a brief synopsis.
The same nine themes occur at every grade level, specific theme content changes to reflect the developmental and interest levels of students. Themes range from personal, spiritual, and family-oriented topics to those incorporating cultural, sociological, and environmental issues. Spiritual lessons aligned with the Adventist Worldview, essential question, and big idea are intentionally integrated within the unit. The framework for instruction is consistent across grade levels.
The Nine Themes
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1 Heroes
Students are introduced to heroes who overcome insurmountable odds. Biographies feature many types of heroes facing challenges ranging from defending beliefs to social injustices. Students are led to recognize God’s power and love in these stories as well as in their own lives.
- Bible text
- “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
- Essential question
- What can we learn from heroes that will enable us to be heroes for God?
- Big idea
- God uses heroes to reveal who He is.
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2 My World and Others
Students experience how people live in different cultures and political settings. They gain insight from historical and contemporary perspectives about how people live in different geographical regions and how culture affects human lives. Students will celebrate not only the differences among cultures but also the many similarities that make up God’s family.
- Bible text
- “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (NLT)
- Essential question
- Why is it important for Christian witnesses to understand the people and cultures of the world?
- Big idea
- God calls Christians to share the Gospel with the whole world.
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3 Living Things
Students are encouraged to study the natural world around them through the lens of creation. Each level has a specific scientific focus. Through the study of “God’s Second Book” students are brought to a closer relationship with Him.
- Bible text
- “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” Genesis 1:31 (NLT)
- Essential question
- How do living things reflect the character of our Creator?
- Big idea
- Living things reflect the wonder of God’s creativity.
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4 Walking with God
This theme encourages students to grow spiritually and to foster a personal relationship with Jesus by seeking God’s plan for their lives. The many Christ-like attributes described in the stories will exemplify what being a Christian truly means. Included are stories of how God has led the Adventist church and how He leads in the affairs of those who trust His guidance.
- Bible text
- “… O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NLT)
- Essential question
- How can understanding the spiritual journey of Christians influence my own walk with God?
- Big idea
- God’s love for us is revealed by His presence throughout our Christian journey.
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5 Friends and Family
This theme includes literature about interrelationships among family members and friends. In the early grades, students explore roles and relationships within families. In the middle and upper grades, the content broadens to interpersonal relationships with friends. Students are encouraged to recognize how their actions influence others by following the example of Jesus.
- Bible text
- “So now I am giving a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34 (NLT)
- Essential question
- In what ways do our actions influence the well-being of others?
- Big idea
- Jesus is our example as we learn to love and serve others.
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6 The Environment
Selections in this theme stress the interrelationships between people and their environment. Students study ways people appreciate and preserve the environment. Students realize their responsibility to care for God’s creation.
- Bible text
- “The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” Genesis 2:15 (NLT)
- Essential question
- What role do we play in preserving God’s creation?
- Big idea
- God has given us the responsibility of caring for His creation.
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7 Personal Feelings and Growth
Texts for this theme stress personal issues and struggles as students explore how life experiences enable them to grow closer to God and become resilient. The primary grade literature focuses on students’ growing knowledge of themselves and their potential. The upper grade literature explores an individual’s personal feelings and growth, change, perseverance, and family relationships.
- Bible text
- “… We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1:9–10 (NLT)
- Essential question
- How do our life experiences help us grow closer to God?
- Big idea
- God expresses His love by helping us grow through life’s experiences.
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8 Yesterday
Texts for this theme allow students a glance at life during various historical periods. Through literature students explore a variety historical events such as colonial times, western expansion, racial injustice, the polio epidemic, and child labor laws. While learning about cultural events they are led to see God’s hand in the affairs of humans.
- Bible text
- “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
- Essential question
- How does understanding the past build our trust in God?
- Big idea
- Yesterday reminds us that God is in control and gives us hope for tomorrow.
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9 Social Issues and Culture
Readers explore relationships among different groups over issues of prejudice, physical challenges, cultural differences, immigration, social injustices, and death. They experience how characters learn to accept others with special needs and people from different cultural backgrounds. Students explore how to respond compassionately to the turmoil in our world.
- Bible text
- “Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help … Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 58:6, 7, 10 (NLT)
- Essential question
- In what ways does God call us to respond to the needs of others?
- Big idea
- God is worshipped when we react compassionately to the turmoil in our world.
- Download a spreadsheetPathways 2nd Edition book titles by theme (XLSX).
