Mabry Middle School Grade 6 Summer Reading 2005 Improving reading and writing are important goals at Mabry. Research has shown that the amount and quality of student reading and writing is a major factor in student success. Georgia and Cobb County mandates require all Middle School students to read at least 25 books for 2005-2006. The 3 books you read this summer will count as part of this requirement. Written work will be collected during the first week of school in August. Writing pieces should be neat, easily legible (you may write in cursive or use word processing), and stapled together. Be sure to put your name on your work. 1. The Cay (AR 6.2) by Theodore Taylor is required reading for everyone. Complete the journal assignment and be prepared to intelligently discuss the book in your language arts class. You will take the AR test for this book after class discussion is completed. 2. Choose one book from the nonfiction list. Complete the nonfiction book assessment for the book you read. 3. Choose one book from the fiction list. Complete the news article assignment. You will take the AR test for this book also.
NONFICTION CHOICES Ancient Communication: from Grunts to Graffiti AR 7.3 by Michael Woods Earthquakes by Luke Thompson AR 5.9 How to Split the Atom by Hazel Richardson AR 7.1 Plate Tectonics by Linda George AR 6.7 Rocks, Fossils, and Arrowheads by Laura Evert AR 6.1 FICTION CHOICES Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko AR 3.5 Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O Connor AR 4.3 Far North by Will Hobbs AR 5.3 Inkheart by Cornelia Funke AR 5.4 Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson AR 7.6 The Red Rose Box by Brenda Woods AR 4.9 Runt by Marion Dane Bauer AR 4.8 Stowaway by Karen Hesse AR 6.1 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells AR 7.4 Tyler on Prime Time by Steve Atinsky AR 5.2
JOURNAL WRITING FOR The Cay 1. Keep a vocabulary log. Include new or interesting vocabulary you find in the book. A vocabulary entry should include the word, a short definition, the page number on which the word is found, and the sentence in which the word is found. You should have a minimum of 15 vocabulary words. Sample vocabulary entry: Word Definition Page # Sentence incomplete not finished 45 Susan found that Michael s crossword puzzle was incomplete. 2. Make a list of characters. Include the main characters in the book. A character entry should include the name of the character and 2 or 3 sentences that describe the character. One sentence should tell how the character changes in the novel. Sample character entry: Johnny Johnny is the main character in the book. He is short, slim, and has light blonde hair that always looks like it has not been combed. Johnny is not very athletic, but he learns to enjoy sports and to always try hard, even though he is not the best player on the team. 3. Keep a chapter summary sheet. Write a summary of 2 or 3 sentences for each chapter in the book. Include the date you read the chapter, the name or number of the chapter, pages read, minutes read, and the summary. Sample chapter summary: Date Chapter Pages Minutes Summary Read Read 6/2/05 Johnny and James 21-35 25 Johnny meets James, the new boy in his math class. James becomes a good friend, and the two of them spend lots of time together.
Name NONFICTION BOOK ASSESSMENT Title Author Date of publication (or copyright date) Check each component found in the book you selected. Table of contents Glossary Pictures/photos Index Bibliography Diagrams List and define 3 vocabulary words from the book that the reader needs to know. Include the sentence from the book in which the word is found and the page number. 1. 2. 3. Write a one-sentence summary that describes the content of the book.
Name NEWS ARTICLE Answer each of the questions below and write a brief news article that summarizes your book. Use the book title for the article title. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?