diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index 4fab42564b..592cb0a1d2 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -209,16 +209,28 @@ def single_thread(request, course_id, discussion_id, thread_id):
     else:
         course = get_course_with_access(request.user, course_id, 'load')
 
+        recent_active_threads = cc.search_recent_active_threads(
+            course_id,
+            recursive=False,
+            query_params={'follower_id': request.user.id},
+        )
+
+        trending_tags = cc.search_trending_tags(
+            course_id,
+        )
+
         context = {
             'discussion_id': discussion_id,
             'csrf': csrf(request)['csrf_token'],
             'init': '',
             'content': render_single_thread(request, discussion_id, course_id, thread_id),
             'course': course,
+            'recent_active_threads': recent_active_threads,
+            'trending_tags': trending_tags,
             'course_id': course.id,
         }
 
-        return render_to_response('discussion/index.html', context)
+        return render_to_response('discussion/single_thread.html', context)
 
 def user_profile(request, course_id, user_id):
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/single_thread.html b/lms/templates/discussion/single_thread.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3432328c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/single_thread.html
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<%inherit file="../main.html" />
+<%namespace name='static' file='../static_content.html'/>
+<%block name="bodyclass">discussion</%block>
+<%block name="title"><title>Discussion – MITx 6.002x</title></%block>
+
+<%block name="headextra">
+<%static:css group='course'/>
+<%include file="_js_head_dependencies.html" />
+</%block>
+
+<%block name="js_extra">
+<%include file="_js_body_dependencies.html" />
+</%block>
+
+<%include file="../courseware/course_navigation.html" args="active_page='discussion'" />
+
+<section class="container">
+  <div class="course-wrapper">
+    <section aria-label="Course Navigation" class="course-index">
+      <nav>
+        
+        <article class="sidebar-module discussion-sidebar">
+        </article>
+        <%include file="_recent_active_posts.html" />
+
+        <%include file="_trending_tags.html" />
+        
+      </nav>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="course-content">
+      ${content}
+    </section>
+  </div>
+</section>