Fiction (Unless Otherwise Instructed by Teacher) and Not Something Previously Read

Novel Project Options

Novel Requirements

~fiction (unless otherwise instructed by teacher) and not something previously read 1st MP: 2 fiction 2nd MP: 1 fiction/1 historical fiction (both can be historical fiction) 3rd MP: 1 fiction/1 biography or autobiography 4th MP: 1 fiction/1 award or honor winning book (i.e. Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Children’s Choice, etc.) ~reading level should be within 1.5 above and below your IRL (independent reading level) per your most recent STAR test ~minimum 100 pages of text (minimal pictures – sorry, no Dr. Seuss books) If in doubt, ask Miss Claar. Project Options ~two completed per marking period, eight total – 10 points each

1. AR Quiz - Take an Accelerated Reading quiz. Place a note in my desk with your name and your parent’s signature (other requirements below are for remaining project options). Minimum grade accepted is 6/10 (60%). If lower score is obtained, alternate project must be completed.

All remaining project options must have these clearly stated on project: The Title Setting Resolution The Author Important Events Number of Pages Main Characters Conflict Parent’s Signature

2. News Article - Pretend to be a news reporter. Write an article about the events of the story as though it has just happened. Be sure to include setting, main characters, problem, important events, and solution.

3. Comic Strip - Summarize the story by creating a cartoon strip of your novel. Be sure to include setting, main characters, problem, important events, and solution.

4. Interview – You are a news reporter who is interviewing one of the main characters of the story. Ask questions that show that you understand the main events. Write the main character’s responses to your interview.

5. Quiz – You are the teacher. You need to verify that your students have read the entire novel. Develop a quiz of ten questions that covers beginning, middle and ending parts of the story.

6. Compare & Contrast – Compare the story elements and themes of the novel you have just read with another novel you have read recently (identify title & author). Be sure to tell how the two books are alike and how they are different. 7. Write a Play – Write a short play (focusing on the problem and resolution) and find a few friends from your CA class who can help you perform the play for your class. The play should be no longer than five minutes long. It might be helpful to find other students who have read the same novel to help you with this project – can be turned in on one sheet for multiple students (collaborative project).

8. Timeline – Develop a timeline that shows the important events as they happened in the story. Add clip art, drawings, or objects to go with some of the events.

9. Commercial – Write and perform a television commercial or movie trailer to promote your book. Enlist the help of friends or family members to complete your advertisement. A commercial or trailer should be two minutes or less. Remember to include the story resolution even though it would not appear in a typical advertisement.

10. Movie Poster – Create a movie poster that advertises this story. Be sure to include all story elements in the poster.

11. Setting Map – Create a map that shows the location of all events in the story and follows the characters from place to place. Briefly describe the events that took place at each location. (This activity works best for a story that has many different settings.)

12. Picture Book – Write and illustrate a children’s picture book that retells the story. Use your own drawings or computer generated artwork (do not copy any illustrations from the book).

13. Write a Song – Rewrite a familiar tune (like “Old McDonald Had a Farm” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb”) to include the setting, characters and plot of the story. Must perform for the class .

14. Diary – Briefly retell the story as though you were one of the main characters. Create a journal of your adventures. Include dates (if given as appropriate).

15. Analyze – Write a description of the problem and resolution for the story. Analyze and evaluate the author’s ending. Tell whether you believe the author did an effective job of telling and resolving the problem. 16. Character Sketch – Write a thorough, detail-oriented description of one of the main characters. Describe how that character changed from the beginning of the story to the end of the story. How did he or she grow? What did the character learn?

17. Cereal Box - Use a cereal box to tell about your book. Cover your box with paper. Create a new title; place that on the front of the box. Place a short explanation of the book on the back. Add catchy phrases about the book all over the box to get people to want to read the book. Include other story elements on the top and bottom of the box.

18. Bulletin Board – Create a bulletin board about your novel to hang in our hallway.

19. Word Puzzle – Create a word search puzzle or crossword puzzle that uses important words from your book. If you are creating a word search puzzle, include a brief description of the words in your word list to help tell the story.