| Book Projects |
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2009-2010 School Year
"Monthly Book Projects"
Each month students will read and report on a book from a specific genre. (See list below.) Choose books which correspond to an individual's reading level.
September — Sports (fiction or non-fiction) October — Adventure
November — Science Theme (a reference book could fit here) December — No Reading Project
January — Animal: The animal is a human’s pet. This is a chapter book, not a reference book.
February — Biography March — Realistic Fiction April — Mystery
May — No Book Project
The book will be reported in two ways: 1) an oral presentation to his/her classmates, and 2)a project of the child's choice. The entire project is due the first school day of the following month of the specific assignment. For example, during the month of September, each student will read a novel with a sports theme. The completed book project (oral presentation + a project) will be due on October 5, 2008.
An extra 15 points will be given to any student who completes a quality project and turns it in to their teacher during the preceding week that it is due. (This is referred to as the Early Bird's Schedule.)
If your child thinks of another way, please check with me BEFORE he/she starts the project. Each month a different project should be chosen.
Here are some items to keep in mind.
A. The oral report and project should be the child’s personal best work.
B. The project should list the book title and author.
C. It should include the novel’s characters, setting, plot (problem), and climax (resolution to the problem)
D. The climax (resolution to the problem) should not be told. By not telling the climax, the student may entice the audience to want to read the book for themselves.
E. Neatness is an important factor.
F. Because the student will be asked questions by his/her teacher and peers, he/she should be familiar with items in #B and #C for the oral
presentation.
G. Each student should give his/her opinion of the book.
H. The oral presentation and showing the project should take 2-4 minutes. Give enough details to capture and hold the audience's attention for 3-5 minutes, but don't give every incident in the book.
I. Note cards may be used for the oral presentation. However, the student should TELL the story not read from a paper or note cards.
J. Students may NOT give objects, treats, etc. to peers. They may encourage their peers to delve into reading and learn from the experience.
Grading Rubric for Oral Report
Be prepared.
Eye contact with audience.
Speak like you mean what you say.
Talk in a loud voice.
Smile.
Use hand gestures.
Use voice expression.
Use details. The audience doesn't know the information.
Be enthusiastic.
Tell the story in your own words.
Use humor.
Be creative in presenting the story.
Good posture.
"Monthly Book Project Ideas"
Choose one of the following ways to share your book. Each month a different project should be chosen. If your child thinks of another way, please check with me BEFORE he/she starts the project.
Draw a 10-12 section cartoon strip of the most important events of the story.
Make a shadow box. Carve a soap, wood, or clay model to illustrate a character from the book.
Make a list of fifteen questions that the audience should know the answer to if they were to read the book. Questions should be of higher level thinking (why, how, evaluate, synthesize, compare, contrast, relate this to, etc.). Answer the questions.
Make a diorama depicting the characters, setting, plot, and climax.
Use a wire coat hanger and string to make a mobile based on the book.
Design a bookmark and a cover of the book.
Make a poster to advertise the book.
Create a story map that could be used to tell the story.
Write a one-act play based on the book.
Make a puppet to represent a main character in the book. Place the puppet in the setting of the story.
Pretend you are the main character and write at least six diary pages describing an important event in the book.
List questions that you might ask an author of the book. Tape record or videotape an interview in which you act as the author of the book.
Pretend that you are a book critic. Write a three-page review of the book for a magazine or newspaper.
Make a shoebox filmstrip of an exciting event in the story.
Make a stitchery sampler to illustrate a scene from the book.
Compare a character in the story with a person you actually know. Write a three-page report telling similarities and differences.
Make a board game of the book.
Replicate an item the main character invented.
Shoot a video about the story.
Compose a ten-slide power point presentation highlighting the important events of the story. A power poing presentation will only be accepted for the April project.
Dressing like a character may be used only if it acoompanies one of the items above.
Due to the nature of the book report, students will not be able to give peers objects, treats, etc. In working with projects of this sort, it has been observed that students try to do 'bigger and better things' to give to their peers than the previous child(ren) and forget the point of the project. In this case, the objective is to encourage children to read and learn. Enjoying the process is a bonus. Also, the audience expects some present instead of focusing on the gift of learning through reading. Because of these reasons, students may not give objects, treats, etc. They may encourage their classmates to delve into reading and learn from the experience.
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"Home Reading Record"
Each week students will be asked to read a specific number of hours at home which will be recorded on a bi-monthly form. A special form (yellow) will be used to record this information. The minutes will be determinded by the parent/guardian and child with at least 2 hours each week. It is recommended that each student reads materials specific to his/her reading level. Parents need to verify the home reading assignment with a signature. One part of the literature grade is derived from the Home Reading Record. Students may read novels for their monthly reading projects, daily reading assignments, including textbooks, and other reading materials of enjoyment for this record. |
Ms. Hyde's 3rd Grade