May 27 th, 2015 Dear New 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th Graders, Summer is a time to relax and have fun with your friends - and also a time to choose some good books and keep up with your reading. Remember that students who read over the summer do better in school than students who don t. In order to support your literacy goals, SCJH requires you to read and complete projects for two books over the summer. All 6 th graders MUST read the following book : I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) By Malala Yousafzai Hardcover 2014 ISBN-10: 031632793X, ISBN-13: 978-0316327930 All 7 th graders MUST read the following book : A Long Walk to Water By Linda Sue Park Paperback 2010 ISBN- 0547577311, ISBN-13: 978 0547577319 All 8 th graders MUST read the following book : The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, Young Readers Edition Paperback Author: Michael Pollan ISBN: 978-0803735002 Publication Date: October 15, 2009 In addition, you MUST read one title of your choice, at your appropriate reading level. Make sure it is an AR book as you will be required to take an AR test. You can check AR book titles and reading levels at http://www.arbookfind.com. Project details are on available on the SCJH website at www.scjh.org. Complete these projects independently over the summer. You must complete 1 project per book, for a total of 2 projects. Before you begin reading your summer selection, preview the project descriptions and grading rubrics on the website. You may want to use Post-Its to mark pages that contain information you plan to use in the projects. 1
Bring the work to class on the first day of school. The summer reading tasks will count towards your first quarter grade. When you return to school in August: You will earn dress down passes for any additional AR books that you read and successfully test for during the first week of school. Hints: There are limited copies of the required titles available at school. If you borrow a book from school, please return it on time, so others can also borrow it. Your local library also carries copies of the listed books. Get in early! Alternatively, you can purchase used copies of the books very cheaply on Amazon.com. Project instructions are available to download and print at www.scjh.org Have a safe and happy summer and see you in August! Ms. Durand, Mrs. Judisch, Ms. Forbes, and Ms. Riga 2
Project Descriptions The following pages describe your project choices. Be sure to review the directions and grading rubrics carefully so that you understand exactly what is expected and how your projects will be graded. Remember, you must complete a separate project for each book, for a total of 2 projects. Projects are due on the first day of school, or you can email completed projects to the teachers below as you finish them over the summer. Be sure to include your full name and grade on your projects. Grade 6: Mrs. Judisch, ajudisch@scjh.org Grade 7: Mrs. Durand, sdurand@scjh.org Grade 8: Ms. Forbes, yforbes@scjh.org 3
1. Book Playlist: Produce a playlist of at least 6 8 musical selections that reflect the characters, ideas, and themes of the book. The songs should demonstrate unity and flow to tell the story of the book and communicate a brief, urgent message about the book. Each song chosen 4
must have a written explanation and rationale for being chosen. Include a playlist/album cover with book title and author as well as playlist selections with titles and artists. 5
2. Write a scene as a play: Select an important scene from the book and rewrite it as a play. Include a list of characters for the scene, stage directions, and all the dialogue. 6
3. Rewrite your book as a children s book with illustrations. Make sure your book is neat, creative, and thorough (in other words, make sure it covers major events of the plot). 4. Formal Book Report: The report must include a cover sheet that lists the title of the book, student s name, grade and date. The report must be written in paragraph form, and be a minimum of two pages typed (double spaced/size 12 font). The report must include the following information: title, author, characters, setting, conflict, climax and summary. Students should provide an outline and two drafts (first and final). 7
Formal Book Report Rubric 4 pts 3 pts 2 pts 1 pts Introduction Provides a creative attention getter and includes all of the necessary information which includes the author and book title. Provides a sufficient attention getter and most of the necessary information author and book title. Provides a weak attention getter and/or some of the necessary information is missing. Does not sufficiently introduce the book. No attention getter is used and most of the necessary information is missing. Setting The setting is fully described. The student answers the "where" and "when" questions and gives explanations and details for both. The setting is mentioned and the "where" and the when" questions are answered, but the student gives partial explanation. The setting is mentioned but the "where" and/or the "when" questions are not fully answered. No setting is described in the report. Characters The protagonist and the antagonist are clearly identified, and the student explains 3 or more qualities or descriptions. Details are included. The protagonist and antagonists are clearly identified, but the student only offers 1 2 qualities or descriptions and/or more details are needed. Characters are mentioned, but the protagonist and antagonist are not identified and/or description qualities are missing. No characters are discussed. Conflict/Clima x The conflict(s) and climax are thoroughly explained and the student clearly mentions 5 events that develop the plot. The student states the conflict(s) and climax using 3 or 4 events in the plot. The student states the conflict(s) and/or does not clearly state the climax. The student only explains two events. No conflict and/or climax is discussed. Mechanics Proper use of spelling and grammar. Sentence structure is varied and creative. A couple of spelling, grammatical, or sentence errors. Several spelling, grammatical, or sentence errors. Chronic spelling, grammatical, and sentence errors. 8
Punctuality Book report is turned in on time, on the first day of school. Book report is turned in a day late. Book report is turned in less than a week late. Book report is turned in more than a week late. 5. Faux Facebook Page: Create a Faux Facebook Page for one of the main characters in your book. On this Facebook page you will highlight important events that occurred during the story. IMPORTANT: You may not create an actual profile for your character on Facebook. You will be using the Power Point template link at the bottom of this description. On this paper you will collect your ideas for your Status Updates and Wall Posts. 1. Choose 5 6 chapters and give a status update as if you were writing this for your Facebook page. Remember, you are not yourself you are writing in your character s voice!! Have fun! 2. Consider what another character would write on YOUR CHARACTER S wall. Create at least 2 walls posts from 2 different characters (4 total). Remember that these wall posts should reflect the personality and tone of the character who is posting. Also create at least 2 status update posts to the wall written by your character. 3. Find a picture of an actor or famous person, who you feel would best represent your main character. If you can think of a different picture that would better suit your character s profile, you may use that picture instead. 4. Fill in the Info part of the profile. What would your character say about himself/herself? 5. Favorite Quotation: Find a quote that represents the personality of your character. This should be added to the Info section. 6. Friends: Identify 6 friends for your MAIN CHARACTER. Don t forget to include the characters who will be posting on your character s wall. Find pictures to represent them. 7. Find at least 7 pictures that could represent the life of your character and/or events from the book to add to the photos section. **Download the template example at https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wkkawkga7io94mwez9lfxq KoNk84VDLZViTDQm497c. Save it to your computer to edit for your book character. You can email your completed project to Mrs. Durand at sdurand@scjh.org. 9
Faux Facebook Rubric P5 4 3 2 1 o i n t s Con tent Thorough postings, shows a full understanding of the character. Thorough postings, shows a good understanding of the character. Thorough postings, shows a good understanding of parts of the character s life. Does not seem to understand the person very well. Is totally off topic. Did not add any information to the presentation. G r a p h i c s - R e l e v a n c e All graphics are related to the topic and made the topic easier to understand. Almost all graphics are related to the topic and made the topic easier to understand. Some of the graphics are related to the topic and made the topic easier to understand. Few of the graphics are related to the topic and made the topic easier to understand. Graphics are not related to the topic. Post s Had over 6 original and creative posts that illustrate the person's life. Had 6 original and creative posts that illustrate the person's life. Had 5 original and creative posts that illustrate the person's life. Had 4 original and creative posts that illustrate the person's life. Had fewer than 4 original and creative posts that illustrate the person's life. Co mpl eted Had twelve or more elements in profile info. Had ten elements in profile info. Had eight elements in profile info. Had six elements in profile info. Had four elements in the profile info or was missing the profile. 10
Profi le Iden tifie d Had more than 6 friends who were identified by name. Had 6 friends who were identified by name. Had 5 friends who were identified by name. Had 4 friends who were identified by name. Had fewer than 4 friends who were identified by name OR was missing friends. Frie nds Phot os Had over 7 different photos (not including friends and not more portraits of the person). Had 6 different photos (not including friends and not more portraits of the person). Had 5 different pictures (not including friends and not more portraits of the person). Had 4 different pictures (not including friends and not more portraits of the person). Had fewer than 4 pictures (not including friends) OR had duplicate pictures. Mechanics and Grammar There are two or less errors in capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. There are no more than three to four errors in capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. There are no more than five to six errors in capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. There are no more than seven to eight errors in capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. There are more than nine errors in capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. Promptness Turned in on or before first day of school. Turned in second day of school. Turned in third day of school. Turned in less than a week after school started. Turned in later than a week after school started. 11