Summer Reading Projects
Students must read a novel during the summer and
complete this assignment to hand in on the first day of school in September.
Students can choose the activities they prefer to work on and must collect a
total of 100 points. This project can also be used with a core novel
during the year.
CHARACTER
A. Ups and Downs
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B. Movie Tag Line
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How
is a person’s life like a see saw?
It’s sure to be filled with plenty of ups and downs! What ups (positive moments) and downs
(difficulties-conflicts) has the main character of the book experienced?
Create
a T-Chart graph and list the character’s high and low points. When you are finished, choose ONE of those
events and write ONE paragraph about how this event changed him or her for
better or worse.
EXAMPLE
30
Points
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You
have been asked to write a ONE-SENTENCE advertisement (commercial) to promote
the movie version of the book. Come up
with a single sentence that tells what the main character faces and what he
or she discovers about himself or about others.
EXAMPLES
Harry
Potter: “A boy must face death and his parents’ murderer to survive.”
Charlotte’s
Web: “ Wilbur fights for his life while learning the value of friendship.”
10
Points
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C. Trophy Tribute
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D. The Desert Island
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If
you were going to give a character in your book a great big trophy, what
would it be for? Maintaining a super sense of humor? Never giving up? Being the strongest
character in the novel? Think about what makes a character in your book
outstanding or unique; then write what you would inscribe on the base of the
trophy to honor him or her. (7 sentences)
EXAMPLE
Award
to Harry Potter: “Bravest boy in the
world!”
This
trophy is given to Harry Potter for his heroic fight against …
20
Points
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If
you were stranded (abandoned) on a desert island with ANY character from your
book, who would you choose? Why would
you choose that character?
Write
ONE paragraph explaining your favorite character to be stranded on the
island.
In
addition, write ANOTHER paragraph explaining a character that you would NOT
want to be on the island with you.
Remember
you are writing TWO paragraphs!
40
Points
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SETTING
E. Prized
Setting
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F. Important Scenes
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The
book you read took place in different places/locations. Which place did you like the most? Why did you pick this place? Did the place
create a beautiful picture in your mind (visualize)? Was the place important to the plot and the
story? Did it remind you of another place/spot you like (connection)?
Discuss
the setting and explain your answer in TWO paragraphs.
30
Points
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Pick
your FAVORITE character. Which
settings deeply affected your character’s decisions and feelings? Which settings created conflict/problems
for your character?
Identify
2 or 3 settings and explain the impact/effect the settings have on the character.
You must write TWO paragraphs.
40
Points
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G. Place
Post Card
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H. Past,
Present, Future
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Create
a postcard that celebrates a favorite setting from the book. It could be a rainforest, a desert or even
the character’s bedroom.
On
one side draw a picture of the place (Write:
greetings from….). On the
other, imagine that you just vacationed there and tell a friend about this
place.
When
you are done address it to a classmate who has not read the book.
(Write
a paragraph to a friend on the back)
10
Points
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In
this book, are the characters living in the past, the future or do they
remain in the present time? (Explain)
Give
3 examples from the book to support your answer.
Write
at least 12-15 sentences.
EXAMPLE
In
the book “Holes” by L. Sachar the main character is in the present. One example that shows this is when
……. Another example that proves that
the main character is in the present is when ……. Furthermore, there are characters in the
past. One example is when…. In this scene, we can see….
20
Points
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PERSONAL CONNECTIONS
I. Get In Shape
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J.
Who Interests you?
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If
you had to pick a shape to represent the story you just read, which would it
be? A triangle because it’s about 3
best friends? A diamond because the most important scenes take place in a
baseball game? A circle because the main character ends up back where he
started?
Dig
deep into your imagination and tell why the shape you selected reminds you of
the story.
Write
at least TWO paragraphs to explain your choice.
40
Points
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You
board a train and you discover you have the choice to sit next to the main
character or another character in your book. With whom would you choose to
talk? Why? What would you like to ask
the character? What would you tell him or her?
Create
a dialogue between you are your character. Make sure you have at least 15
lines of dialogue. Use quotation
marks.
Example
Me:
“Hi, Charlotte. How are you feeling?”
Charlotte:
“I’m exhausted. I just finished laying
my eggs.”
Me:
“Oh that’s so exciting. But, what will happen to you now?”
Charlotte: “it is time for me to go…”
30
Points
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K. That’s a Keeper
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L. New Kid in Town
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Ten
years from now (in 2020), what do you think you will remember about the book
you just read? Do you think you would
remember the settings because they seemed real to you? Do you think you will
remember the main character because he reminds you of your brother or sister?
Or will you remember a scene that made you laugh so hard you fell off your
chair?
Think
about it and then DRAW a snapshot/picture of your favorite memory/scene.
Also, write at least 4 sentences to describe it.
10
Points
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Imagine
that the main character is moving to Perth Amboy. Will he or she fit in and feel comfortable?
Why or why not? Compare your character to Perth Amboy. How are his/her values similar or different
to Perth Amboy?
Write
a paragraph and make sure to include examples/details from Perth Amboy to
support your answer.
EXAMPLE
If
Wilbur moved into Perth Amboy, I think he would have a hard time surviving
here because he is a pig and people here love to eat pork! Also, I think he would enjoy going to the waterfront
and breathing the fresh air because here in Perth Amboy we have….
30
Points
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Story
Structure
M. Step
into the Story
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N.
Add a Chapter
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Think
of plot as a staircase full of steps leading up, up, and up to the book’s
conclusion.
Make
a staircase graphic organizer. Write a
key (important) event on each step (at least 5 steps) until you reach the end
of the story. Decide which step is the
most important to the story.
Explain
the most important step in ONE paragraph.
30
Points
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When
you have finished the very last page of a great story, do you ever find
yourself thinking “I wonder what happened next?”
Think
carefully about the book you have just read, kick your imagination into high
gear, and tell what you think would occur in the following chapter.
Write
a chapter of at least TWO paragraphs explaining how the story continues. Be creative!!
40
Points
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O. Key Event
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P. Changing Chapter Titles
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What
is the most important event in the book you just read? A boy winning a
basketball game? A girl solving a
mystery?
Write
a ONE paragraph description of what you consider the story’s most important
(key) event and explain why you think this event is important.
EXAMPLE
In
the book Holes, I think one of the most important events is that Stanley
Yelnats IV broke the gypsy’s curse. In my opinion,…..
In
addition, I think…… Finally, I believe
this event…
20
Points
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Does
the book you just read have chapter titles or just plain numbers (Chapter 8)?
In
this activity, you will need to come up with new names for at least 5
chapters. Make sure the titles grab
the readers’ attention and make them understand what the chapters are about.
In
a graphic organizer explain your titles briefly.
EXAMPLE
20
Points
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Perfect
100 Project
Name:
_______________________________________
Book:
________________________________________
Author:
______________________________________
Activity-Letter (a-p)
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Possible
points
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Points Earned (teacher)
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Character
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Setting
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Story Structure
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Personal Connections
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Other Choices
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Final Grade
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