Sixth Grade Summer Reading Due Thursday, August 18, 2016 Mr. Ryan Campbell 1 Students are to read any two books from the list of six choices below. For each book, students must also complete one project from the list of 14 possible projects provided. Students must choose a different project for each book. Each project has its own rubric with specific instructions and grading criteria. Please print out the project rubric for the two projects chosen and turn the rubric in with the completed project at the beginning of class on Thursday, August 18. Each project will be worth 50 points, for a total grade of 100 points. Hatchet Gary Paulsen Thirteen-year-old Brian Roberson is on his way to visit his father when the single engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother has given him as a present and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart ever since his parents divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self-pity, or despair it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive. Where the Red Fern Grows Wilson Rawls Bill, Old Dan and Little Ann a boy and his two dogs ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and wonderful power that s only found where the red fern grows. Holes Louis Sachar Stanley Yelnats is under a curse a curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day, digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this intensive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment and redemption. My Brother Sam is Dead James Collier & Christopher Collier All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam. Sam s smart and brave and always knows the right thing to do. In fact, everyone in town had admired Sam Meeker until now. Now Sam is part of the new American Revolutionary Army. He talks about defeating the British and becoming independent and free. But not everyone in town wants to be a part of this new America. Most people are loyal supporters of the English King especially Tim and Sam s father. The war is raging, and Tim knows he ll have to make a choice. But how can he choose when it means fighting his father on one side, and fighting his brother on the other?
Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson Jess Aarons had to be the fastest runner at Lark Creek Elementary School, the best, but when he was challenged by Leslie Burke, a girl, that was just the beginning of a new season in Jess s life. Leslie and her parents were newcomers to the rural community where Jess lived, and were thought to be a bit odd, for they didn t even own a TV, though their house was filled with books. Somewhat to Jess s surprise, he and Leslie became friends, and the worlds of imagination and learning that she opened to him changed him forever. It was Leslie s idea to create Terabithia, their secret kingdom in the woods where they reigned supreme. There no enemy not their teacher Monster Mouth Myers, their schoolmates Gary Fulcher and Janice Avery, Jess s four sisters, or even Jess s own fear and Leslie s imaginary foes could defeat them. The legacy that Leslie finally brought to Jess enabled him to cope with the unexpected tragedy that touched them all. 13 Gifts Wendy Mass When Tara, a self-proclaimed shrinking violet, steals the school mascot, a goat, in order to make some friends with the popular crowd and gets caught, she gets herself in a heap of trouble. In addition, her parents decide that instead of taking her on their summer trip to Madagascar to study the courtship rituals of the Bamboo Lemur, she must go stay with her aunt, uncle and bratty cousin Emily St. Claire in Willow Falls. Tara thinks it's a good time to start over; she'll be turning 13 after all, so she might as well make the best of it and perhaps even attempt to break out of her shell (in a non-criminal manner). What Tara doesn't know is that this charmed town has something big in store for her on her 13th birthday. It's not a typical birthday. But then again, nothing in Willow Falls is exactly typical! 2
3 Character Diary Pretend you are one of the major characters from your book. To complete this project you must imagine you are a character from your book and write his/her diary describing important events that have happened. Explain how you, as the character, feel about these things, and any other reflections you think your character might have regarding his/her experiences. You must write at least two pages and have at least three diary entries. For this project, you should write as if you are your character. Use your imagination and write like you think he or she would write. The diary you write should have your character s voice in other words, when I read this project, I should hear your character talking. /10 Character diary has at least three entries and is at least two pages in length (typed, doublespaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font). /10 It is clear which character from the book is writing the diary student uses that character s voice effectively. /10 Character diary addresses at least three issues or events that are central or important to the book, and student discussion demonstrates reading comprehension. /10 Diary is creative, original and neatly presented.
Promotional Campaign This book needs to be promoted! Create multiple promotional items to let the public know about your book! Make your advertisements and promotional materials exciting and captivating to get potential readers interested in the book you are promoting. You may choose to make radio commercials, TV commercials, news ads, news articles, social media ads, etc. Your project must include at least three different promotional materials. For example, you cannot do three news articles. You must do three different types of promotional materials. You may want to search online for examples of promotional materials for books in order to get ideas. /10 There are at least three distinctly different promotional materials. /10 Promotional materials are original (created by the student). /10 Promotional materials are relevant to the novel you are promoting. /10 Promotional materials are interesting, exciting and effective in their ability to persuade potential readers. /10 There are very few or no grammar/spelling mistakes, and it is evident the project was 4
Video Journal/Vlog Create a vlog (video blog similar to a diary but made in video format) consisting of three filmed segments. Imagine you are a character from the book and create three video journals that cover at least three key events. It can be of you talking into the camera as the character or it can show items and pictures of scenes with your voiceover. The video should be between 5-7 minutes long. This can be turned in by email, Google (share with rcampbell@baysideacademy.org) or on a flash drive. 5 /10 Vlog is between 5-7 minutes in length. /10 It is clear which character from the book is featured in the vlog student uses that character s voice effectively. /10 Vlog addresses at least three issues or events that are central or important to the book. /10 Vlog is original, creative and neatly presented. /10 Vlog demonstrates student s full reading and comprehension of the novel.
Letter to the Movie Producer Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a bestseller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain in detail why the story, characters and setting would make a good film. Your letter must be at least two pages, written from the perspective of the novel s author and addressed to a movie producer. This letter should be persuasive. You are trying to convince the producer why your novel would be a blockbuster movie! 6 /10 Letter is at least two pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font) /10 Letter is written from the perspective of the novel s author, and is addressed to a movie producer.. /10 Letter addresses/includes specific elements from the novel (plot, characters, setting, etc) that would make for an interesting movie. /10 Letter is original, creative and persuasive.
7 Poster Board Collage Create a collage on the themes/ideas presented in your book. Give it a title, such as A Search for Identity, Growing Up, Friendship and Betrayal, etc. Remember, the theme is the main idea, often the lesson, that the author wants you to think about when reading the book. On the back side of the poster board, you must explain the significance of each picture and how it depicts the selected theme of the novel. Your poster board collage must consist of at least 15 different cut-out pictures. Your pictures may come from newspapers, magazines, online articles, books, catalogs, etc. /10 Collage is completed on a full-size poster board (28 x 22 ), and there is no white space showing on the front of the poster (poster board is completely covered with pictures. /10 Poster has a visible title that focuses on one major theme from the novel.. /10 Collage consists of at least 15 different pictures, and pictures are relevant to the selected theme being portrayed. /10 Poster collage is original, creative, visually attractive and well thought out.. /10 On the back of the poster, there is a two-to-three sentence explanation for each picture included on the poster and how it represents the selected theme.
8 Comic Book Turn the novel you ve read into a comic book. Create a comic book containing at least eight comic strips depicting the plot of your book. Do at least two strips for the beginning, four for the middle and two for the end of the book. Each strip must contain five or more frames with dialogue. By reading your strips, your reader should be able to easily understand the plot of the story and the main characters and conflict. Look at a real comic book for ideas on how to format your own. /10 Eight comic strips are made into a book. Two strips represent the beginning, four represent the middle, and two represent the end. All writing is typed. All pictures are colored. Project models classic comic book style. /10 Writing gives a clear beginning to end overview of the book. The main characters and conflicts are clear. Pictures depict the scene and advance the plot. /10 Writing shows evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel. /10 Comic book is creative, colorful, detailed, neat and well-organized.
Movie vs. Book Comparison Paper 9 Compare and contrast the book and the movie version of the book. What things were the same, and what things were different? Did the changes help or take away from the story? Why do you think they made those change? What things do you like more about the movie than the book? What things do you like more about the book than the movie? Overall, which is better in your opinion the book or the movie? Why? You should discuss at least four major differences between the book and the movie. /10 Comparison paper is at least two pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font). /10 Paper is well-organized, descriptive and specific in the examples used to illustrate differences. /10 Comparison paper addresses at least four notable differences between the book and movie, addressing the questions listed above in the directions. /10 Writing shows evidence of reading comprehension through comparison of the novel s characters, setting, plot and other literary elements to their representation in the movie.
10 Alternate Ending/Epilogue Didn t like the ending of your novel? Write a new one! (Or write an epilogue: explain what happened to all of the main characters AFTER this novel is over.) Ending or epilogue must be based on events that led up to the original ending in the real story, or must pick up where the original ending left off. Alternate ending or epilogue must be a least two pages in length. /10 Alternate ending/epilogue is at least two pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font). /10 Alternate ending/epilogue is relevant to the novel as whole, appropriate addressing the conflicts and characters of the novel. The ending should offer a resolution. /10 Writing shows evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel. /10 Alternate ending/epilogue is original, creative and clearly differentiates itself from, or effectively adds on to, the original ending of the novel.
11 Novel Test and Answer Key Create a test based on your novel. Your test must consist of 15 multiple choice questions and one essay question. Your questions should vary in difficultly (at least four easy questions, four hard questions and seven moderately difficult questions). You must also create an answer key to accompany your test (with correct answers for each question, and a sample essay response). Your test and answer key must be typed, 12 pt., Times New Roman font. You may not use questions from tests that already exist on your novel. Questions must be original created by you. /10 Test is typed in 12 pt., Times New Roman font. /10 Test consists of at least 15 multiple choice questions, 1 essay question, and a separate answer key with correct answers for each question. /10 Questions and accompanying answers show evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel. /10 Test questions vary in difficulty (four easy, seven medium, and four hard). Essay question has multiple parts, and essay response fully addresses the question (at least five-to-seven sentences).
12 Illustrated Timeline Create a timeline of events in your story. Your timeline should cover the entire book, start to finish. It should be visually appealing; make it colorful and interesting! Remember that timelines establish an amount of time and should have a key to explain how long between each event. Your timeline must include at least eight important events from the novel, with a two-to-three sentence written explanation of each event and why it is significant. You must create a small illustration for each event on the timeline. The illustration should appear next to the event it is representing. Your timeline should focus on events that demonstrate the exposition (important events that set the stage for the novel), rising action, climax, falling action and resolution (the outcome of the novel s main conflict) of the novel. Look at examples of other timelines for ideas and help with formatting. /10 Timeline is completed on a full-size poster board (28 x 22 ). /10 Timeline includes at least 8 important events from the novel, each clearly marked on the timeline in the order that they happened. Your timeline should include a key that demonstrates how much time has passed between each event.. /10 Each event includes a two-to-three sentence written explanation of that event s significance to the novel and an accompanying illustration. /10 Timeline is original, creative, visually attractive and colorful..
13 Main Character Interview Choose one of the main characters from your novel and conduct an interview, answering the interviewer s questions from that character s point of view. The interview must be written in question and answer format and consist of a least 15 questions and answers. Each answer must be at least three sentences in length and fully address the question. Questions should address important events from the novel and seek to gain more insight from the main character. /10 Interview has at least 15 questions and answers. Interview is typed, double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font, and written in Q&A format. /10 It is clear which character from the book is responding to the questions student uses that character s voice effectively. Answers to the questions are reasonable responses for the character being interviewed. /10 Questions and accompanying answers show evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel. /10 Interview questions are original, relevant to the novel and thorough.
14 Novel Playlist Create a playlist to go with your book. Your playlist must have at least six songs. You must find a way to get the songs to the teacher either email the songs, email links to music videos, or create a CD. Each song must have a one-to-two paragraph explanation that states why the song fits the novel (the song is representative of a character, theme, setting or some other literary element). /10 Explanations for each song are double-spaced and typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman font.. /10 Each explanation is one-to-two paragraphs in length and sufficiently justifies/explains how the selected song represents the novel. There should be at least six explanations; one for each song. /10 Playlist consists of at least six appropriate songs. Songs must be turned in to the teacher via email, links to music videos, or a CD. /10 Selected songs and corresponding explanations show evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel.
15 ABC Book Create an ABC book for your book. Each letter of the alphabet should represent something in the book. All letters must be used. Every letter must have two-to-three sentences explaining what this letter stands for in your book. You must also create an illustration for each letter. Your ABC book must have a cover. /10 Except on illustrations, the ABC Book is typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.. /10 Each letter of the alphabet is included in your ABC book. There is an accompanying two-tothree sentence explanation stating what each letter stands for in your book. /10 Each letter has an accompanying illustration. Illustrations are original, creative, visually attractive and colorful. /10 Letter selections and explanations show evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel.
16 Newspaper Article Pretend you are a reporter who just witnessed an important scene from the novel. Write an article about it. Include who, what, when, where, why and how in your description of the event. The article should stick to the story, and should focus on an event that is significant to the overall novel something that would be newsworthy. /10 Article includes a title and is at least two pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.. /10 Article addresses the who, what, when, where, why and how elements of the event. /10 The details in the article are clear, specific, effective, and vivid. Details do not cause the reader confusion. /10 Article shows evidence of full reading and comprehension of the novel through selection of the major event and description of why this event is important as well as how it impacts the overall novel.