Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

Transcription

1 MCPS MS Summer Reading 1 Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Middle School Summer Reading Requirements for the School Year For summer 2018, each grade has different lists and requirements. Please read directions for the specific grade regarding books and assignments required. Many wonderful and popular books are not on these lists. However, the books on the list are chosen because they are relevant to the specific course of study planned for the upcoming year or they meet certain literary criteria and one element of that is they have shown long-term reader enjoyment and satisfaction. The number of required books is low so that students also have time to read a book (or two~) completely of their choosing (which we greatly encourage!). Please carefully read the section that relates to your student s grade level as the teachers have provided reading handouts with assignments to help students remember their books that also serve as first grades for the first quarter. Also, we are serious about the book assignments, and tests and other work will be administered on the premise that students have read the assigned book, so we encourage parents to help students get and finish the required reading and work. Please note: All work will be due the second day of school, Tuesday, August 21, 2018 unless otherwise noted. Work may count as quiz, writing, or test grades. If you have any questions, please the English Department Chair, Kerri Moore, at kmoore@montgomerycatholic.org. She can also put you in touch with your student s teacher if needed. 7 th Grade.....Page 2 8 th Grade......Page 5 Like many schools, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has a summer reading requirement for several reasons. We want students to maintain the reading comprehension and writing skills they have attained over the previous year and also grow in their sustained reading capacity. Some college courses of study require pages of reading a week; that necessitates a student s practice of sustained reading. Also, reading is not only a school skill; it is a life skill. Anything we can do to help students develop a habit of reading is important to us. The work for students listed in these pages is not busy work; these texts and assignments will give the teachers information about the student s skills. The summer work also begins the first unit of study in each grade, and some information learned will recur throughout the year.

2 Dear Rising 7 th Grader, MCPS MS Summer Reading 2 I can t wait to meet you! Over the summer, you should read as many books as you have time and interest to read. Research shows that a consistent amount of reading each day (30-45 minutes) will increase comprehension skills and benefit you in every subject, even math. Reading is a wonderful way to escape a hot summer afternoon and travel anywhere a good author can take you. It will also keep your mind sharp and prepare you for the rigors of middle school. I can t wait to have you in class! Have a great summer! Mrs. Sadie Assignment Information 1. You are required to read one book, Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. This is a classic work of historical fiction, and I hope you ll enjoy it! 2. All students must complete a tactile project and present your project in front of the class. 3. This is due by the first full day of class, Tuesday, August 21, You will have a reading comprehension quiz the first week. Later, you will have a test grade after analyzing the book and going over the novel in class. Breakdown of Grades and Guidelines 1. A hard copy of the book must be purchased so that we can have it in class. Therefore, an ebook copy will not be enough. 2. Choose one project assignment to complete for a Project Grade (options on pg. 3-4). 3. Prepare a 3- to 5-minute presentation about your project for a Class Grade. 4. Take a classroom quiz for a Quiz Grade. 5. Take a test over the novel for a Test Grade.

3 MCPS MS Summer Reading 3 Project Choices (7 th Grade Summer Reading) Choose one project to complete after you have read the novel. There are 13 options, so please choose one that you will enjoy. This is what you will use for your presentation. Option 1: Pack a Project Find a container that represents something unique about the plot of the book. Fill the container with at least 10 objects that represent something about the character, setting, plot, or conflict of the story. You may not use pictures or drawings, but objects only. On a separate sheet of paper, make a list of the objects and describe what they symbolize and why that part of the plot was important. Option 2: Book Jacket Fold card stock quality paper to create a book jacket that has a front, spine, back, and flaps. The front cover should contain artwork that represents the book, the title, and author. Place the title, author, and publishing company on the spine. On the back cover, write a summary of the book (using your own words). On the inside front flap, write something about the author. You may look at professionally designed book jackets, but do not copy. Option 3: Face Mask Start with a simple oval shape with eye holes. Use color to say something about a character. Add textures and objects to illustrate the way the character acts and thinks. On a separate sheet of paper describe why you made those choices to represent your character. Option 4: 3-D Room Create a character s room (or the setting) in 3-D. This space should represent any part of the setting. It should include items important or significant to the character s journey throughout the novel. Label each part of the room and why it is important. Option 5: Movie Poster Make a movie poster for your book. You must create an appealing poster, so someone will want to read the novel. Your illustrations should depict characters from scenes of the book. Choose actors and actresses to star as your main characters. Option 6: Series of Trading Cards Use characters or places in the novel and draw a picture of each character/place on a separate 3 x 5 card. On the back of the cards write important information about the character or place. Include the character s name, age, and purpose in the novel. What is the relationship to other characters, what happens to the character, what happens in the scene, and why is that scene important? Option 7: Newspaper Page or News Report Create a newspaper page or write a script for a news report. Summarize the plot in one of your articles. Cover the weather that was happening from a scene in your story with a weather report. Include an editorial about the theme of the novel. Include a collection of ads that the main character would be interested in reading. Include a comic strip. Include a picture of the character in action with a caption that describes action the story. Option 8: Award What award would you nominate this story? Most exciting? Most likely to make you laugh? Cry? Design and make an award for this novel. Award should be based on literary merit. Write a speech to describe why this novel is receiving this award.

4 MCPS MS Summer Reading 4 Option 9: Cereal Box Use a cereal box to tell about your book. Cover your box with paper. Create a new title; place that on the front of the box. Place a short explanation of the book on the back. Add catchy phrases about the book all over the box to get people to want to read the book. Include the author, copyright date, number of pages, publisher, and city of publication. Option 10: Comic Book Cover the plot of the story in a comic book form. Include the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Make a cover for your comic book and an original title. Option 11: Test Create a test for this novel that covers plot, theme, symbolism, conflict, setting, and characters. It needs 20 multiple choice questions, 5 fill-in-the-blank, 5 short answers, and 10 true and false. You must include the answer key. Option 12: Costume Design costumes for the main characters. Use dolls and dress them as characters from the book. Explain who these characters are and how they fit in the story. On a separate paper include the conflicts they face and how they are resolved. Option 13: Nominate a Character for a Political Office Nominate one of the main characters for an office in local, state, or national government. Which office should they run for? What are the qualities that would make them good to represent that office? Make a campaign plan for that character that highlights those qualities. Include posters and a speech for the character.

5 MCPS MS Summer Reading 5 Dear Rising 8 th Grader, Congratulations on completing your Seventh Grade year! I hope your summer is filled with excitement and the long needed break you deserve. While you are vacationing, or enjoying the comfort of sleeping an extra hour or two, I do not want you to forget the ability to appreciate a wonderful book. Parents and teachers would agree that inactive reading leads to losing the cognitive skills you have gained throughout the school year. In order to bridge this gap, Montgomery Catholic strongly enforces summer reading activities for all students. All students must complete summer reading activities before their 8 th Grade year begins. Summer reading assignments are due/graded on August 22, This assignment will count as a project grade for English/Language Arts. Once we return to school, I will help you create a Google SLIDES project that will be shared with me. Assignment STEP 1: Read one of the following books. (All these books are available at Barnes and Noble, amazon.com, or at most public libraries. You may also choose to download your chosen book on any electronic device. However you choose, you must READ!) Then create a tactile/tangible visual aid. (see directions page 2) You will need access to this novel upon return to school to help you create a Google Slides project. At Montgomery Catholic, we encourage students to explore their own interest, as we will look closer into student interest in 4 th Quarter with job shadowing experiences and career research. The following list was designed to encourage you to dive deeper into subjects you may already enjoy. These topics also relate to the 8th grade curriculum and will help prepare you for the year. (* Asterisk indicates mature reading; language warning & must have parent approval.) Career & Technical Education (CTE) Steve Jobs: the Man Who thought Different by Karen Blumenthal Military The Warrior s Heart: Becoming a Man of Compassion & Courage by Eric Greitens, Navy Seal Code Talker: A Novel about Navajo Marines in World War II by Joseph Bruchac Physical Education Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team that Changed a Town by Warren St. John The Running Dream (Schneider Family Book Award Teen Book Winner) by Wendelin Van Draanen Night Hoops by Carl Deuker Science The Haymeadow by Gary Paulsen Taken by Erin Bowman The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn Eragon (Book 1 OR Book 2) by Christoper Paolini Social Studies Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper Eli the Good by Silas House The Book Thief by Markus Zusak My Brother Sam is Dead* by James Lincoln Collier The Devil s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen World Languages I Am Malala: The Girl who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo Math A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzenberger Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra by Wendy Lichtman Island of the Unknowns: A Mystery by Benedict Carey Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

6 STEP 2: Create a tactile, physical, tangible representation of your book. MCPS MS Summer Reading 6 Tactile means connected to touch or hands-on. Your project, therefore, must NOT be PowerPoint or computer presentation. Options for Tactile Representation Poster Mobile Shoebox Diorama Tri-fold board Other visual representation of the book This representation of the book will be displayed in the classroom. Tactile/Tangible visual is DUE in the classroom NO LATER THAN AUGUST 22, 2018.

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