Reading Projects!

Each trimester, you will be completing outside reading projects. This trimester you are required
to do ______________book projects, and one book must be from the ______________________
genre. You will have many options for these projects, but you may only do each project once.
As the trimester goes on, we will have anti-procrastination days. On those days, you will be
required to demonstrate some work you have done on your project. The project should be neat
and colorful and include key elements from the story.
Please make sure you are choosing a project that works well with the book you are reading!

The anti-procrastination days will be:

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

The due dates will be:

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

4.
5.

To help plan your projects try completing a plot line chart or a graphic

organizer. If you do not know what book to read, see Miss Kay for some direction. Each
project will count as a test grade, and will be worth 100 points. If you have any
questions, please ask!
6.
7.
8. Your options are:
Write a letter from the main character to the author
o Include feelings on events in the story and any changes you would like the author
to make.
Create a newspaper
o Consider what Newspapers include (Headlines, Sports, Music, point of view, etc.)
1-3 pages and include pictures.
Make a CD
o Pick songs that represent the main characters, places and events in the story
(minimum 10 songs) and design a CD cover. The CD should have an explinaion
as to why you chose each song and how they relate to the book.
Write the next chapter.
o What do you think would happen next based on the events in the story? Make
references to prior chapters.
Photo Album
o Think about the events that happened in your novel. Decide which scenes or
pictures from the novel a character would want to remember. Then draw several
of these photos for an album page or write about which pictures the character
would want in his or her album. Provide at least 8 pictures and en explination for
each.
Letter exchange

o Create a letter exchange between a character and another character or the author
or write a series of self-reflective letters from several characters on what the
character learned about himself, others, and life.
Social Media page
o Create a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest page for a character in your
book. What are they interested in? What would they say, who would they talk to,
tweet or follow?
Radio exchange
o Your character calls into a radio show for advice. Choose which show your
character would call in to and then create the conversation he or she would have
with the radio advice giver.
9.
A pamphlet.
o Think of an issue that was very important to your character. Then create a
pamphlet aimed at persuading others of the importance of the issue. Include
factual information, testimonials, pictures or graphics, etc.
Word collage
o

Write the title of the book in the center of a sheet of paper. Then look through
magazines for words, phrases, and sentences that illustrate or tell something about
your book. As you look, think in terms of the theme, setting, plot line, as well as
characters. Work to get fifty such words, phrases, or sentences so the whole sheet
of paper will be covered. The visual impact of the collage should tell a potential
reader a lot about the book. The collage should include at least 20 words and a
list explaining how the words relate to the book.

Create a childhood for a character

o

If your main character is a teen or an adult, try to figure out what he or she would
have been like as a child. Write the story of his or her childhood in such a way
that shows why he or she is

Character monologues
o Select an event in the story that characters have different views on. Then write up
two or three characters opinions on the same event in the form of monologue
(one person talking to him or herself).
A character alphabet

Choose a character you liked and then create sentences based on the alphabet
scheme that demonstrate your knowledge of the character. Each letter should
have a few sentances explaining why you chose each word.

Detective work
o

If a detective or police officer suddenly showed up in your novel, who or what

would they be investigating? Write about what the detective is looking for, how
he or she knew something was awry or needed investigating, and what was
recommended.

Create a home page

o Select several characters and design a home page for each of them, picking out
appropriate backgrounds and pictures and then creating information that would
tell a viewer about your character. Also, create links to at least five different sites
that you think your character would be interested in. Then write up and post on
the page an explanation of how you made the decisions you did and what you
believe this tells us about the character.
10.
Children's Story
o Turn the novel you read into a children's story by retelling the plot in a simple
way with vocabulary appropriate for youngsters. Make sure your creation looks
like a children's book, complete with an appealing cover including a picture, the
title, and the author, and colorful illustrations above and below your writing on
each page. DO NOT use lined paper, and make sure all writing is either typed or
written neatly with a black marker. Your children's book should be 12-15 pages in
length and capture the key elements of the novel (beginning, middle, and end).
Map
o If the book you read involves a number of locations within a town, country, or
geographical area, create a map. First, make a list of all the locations - houses,
stores, streets, parks, lakes, etc. mentioned in your book's setting. Then, draw the
map showing a bird's eye view of the area. Label each location. Below the map,
create a legend with a list of all the locations and a DETAILED description to be
seen clearly. All writing should be done in black ink or magic marker. *Your
map should include at least TEN different locations; otherwise, perhaps the map is
not an appropriate project for your novel. It should be evident that the book was
read and analyzed appropriately based on the appearance of the map. The map
should consist of ORIGINAL drawings and symbols and illustrations.
Time Line
o Brainstorm a list of all the major events in the plot from beginning to end and then
organize them, not in the order they are written, but in the order they would have
happened if the events actually took place in real life. Create a time line using a
long strip of butcher paper or poster board. On your time line, write a short

description of what happens for each event and, if possible, try to identify the time
of each event with dates, seasons, etc. Add pictures and symbols to make your
time line colorful. All writing should be done in black magic marker or typed and
then taped neatly onto the butcher paper or poster board. Include at least 15 or
more entries. **You may not complete this project if you have chosen a
Biography or Auto-biography that already contains a timeline within the book.
Test
o Create a test for the book. Include a variety of kinds of questions such as
true/false, multiple choice, matching, short answer, essay, or any other kind of
question (include at least three different types of questions). Be creative, but you
must have a total of fifty (50) questions, one of which must be an essay. Your one
essay question must be a thoughtful and appropriate prompt. Be sure to write
clear directions for each section. Attach a completed answer key which must also
include a sample essay (at least three paragraphs in length). Your test must be
typed and all questions must be original questions (i.e. I shouldn't be able to find
them online!).
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Comic Book
o Create a comic book based on the novel you read. It should have an illustrated
cover with the title and author, and be comic book size. Inside, retell the story
using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Put your writing in
bubbles. Create colorful illustrations that help tell the story. The comic book
should be at least 10-12 pages in length.
Diary
o Choose one main character from the novel you read and create a diary from
his/her point of view that reveals all the major events in his/her life as well as this
character's feelings about these events including his/her hopes, dreams, problems,
concerns and frustrations. Fill the diary with entries spread out over the entire
period of time from the beginning of the novel to the end. Begin with "Dear
Diary," and write from the first person point of view (ex: Dear Diary, today I went
to see my best friend and we. . .). For each entry, if possible, write a date.
Remember many dates of holidays can be checked on a calendar. If no dates are
given, but seasons or other clues are given, then guess an approximate date. Place
your entries into a cover that you create, organizing them in the proper order. On
the first page, include an information sheet identifying the full name of the
character, his/her age (guess if you don't know), birthdate (if known), where
he/she lives, and any other important information. The diary project should be at
least 15 pages in length.
TV Talk Show
o Suppose the major characters from the novel you read are guests on a TV talk
show like Ricki Lake, Oprah, or Montel Williams, only you are the host. Develop

a "hot" topic which these characters can all relate to (ex: for The Princess Bride
you could use, "My husband tried to kill me"). You may want to even include the
author as one of your guests or perhaps a counselor who can give advice to each
character. Gather your friends to take on these roles and tape the show "live" on
video. Remember to advise your friends to stay in role. Be sure to have a theme
song to go with your show and mention the topic for your program. You will also
need to introduce each character and ask probing questions that reveal who he/she
is, how he/she is related to the other character(s), his/her beliefs, motivations
(reasons for doing certain actions), and anything else of importance to your topic.
Be sure to take questions from your audience or callers. Include at least one
commercial break in your show (all commercial(s) must somehow relate to the
novel you read). You are required to write a script and make sure each person
who is in your video has a copy to study. Turn the script in with the videotape. 47 minutes in length.
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Movie Preview
o The book you have read has just been made into a movie and you have been hired
to create an interesting, attention-getting, preview that will make movie-goers all
across the country want to come see this new release. Prepare a script, practice,
and then videotape short scenes to be used for a preview. Remember previews
should not reveal whole scenes, but instead, give us quick glimpses of what the
movie is about. Use an attention-getter at the beginning of your preview by
having a narrator ask a question, describe a situation, etc. (just like when you
write an attention-getter for the introduction of an essay). Add appropriate
background music which fits the mood or atmosphere of the overall movie. Be
sure to videotape an interesting visual design of the title (to be shown at the end of
the preview) and mention actors and actresses who star in this feature film. (Turn
in the script with this project!) 3-5 minutes in length.
Storytelling
o

Turn the novel you read into an oral story which you tape. No NOT read from the
novel, but instead, retell the story in your own words. On your taping, before you
actually begin your story, introduce the title and author. Be sure to use
appropriate tone and volume as well as special sound effects to help make your
story more exciting! You might even want to use music. Develop a different
voice for each of the main characters who "speak" in your story. (ex: If you were
telling the story "Little Red Riding Hood," when you came to the part where
Little Red says, "My what BIG teeth you have" you would speak in a high pitch

voice and then switch to a much deeper, rough voice when the wolf responds, "All
the better to eat you with.") You will obviously have to skip parts of the story
because a novel is very long. Create a script to use when you tell your story.
Turn the script in with your tape. 4-7 minutes in length.