Long Term Projects

Book Reports

This year you will be required to read a chapter book and complete a book report just about every month. When you are picking your book make sure to choose a “just right” book (remember the five finger rule). There are many books to pick from in our classroom, at the Manor School library, at the Mendon Public Library, and even ones that you may purchase through our monthly book orders. If you have any questions about whether or not a book is appropriate for you, please see me.

When are these book reports due?

The due date of each book report is located in a chart on the following page. Please note the due dates in your Manor Planner right away and be sure to bring all of your work in on time.

What types of book report choices do I have?

For each book report you may choose one presentation method (see the following sheets). There are many to pick from so you may not repeat a method over the course of the year. However, if you have creative ideas of your own that differ from those that are offered, please see me and we can incorporate your ideas. Some of these presentation methods may require video equipment or other materials. Please check with your parents or see me if you need any outside equipment. Important: If you choose a method that requires you to actually present in front of the class then you must see me to schedule this presentation well in advance of the due date (one week).

How do I know what books I can pick?

The first book report must be historical fiction focusing in on the Revolutionary War, Government, Immigration, or Early Native American history. We will be reviewing these topics for our November social studies test and so your first book report needs to be on one of these topics.

By the end of the year you must read a book from each of these genres:

• Realistic Fiction

• Science Fiction or Fantasy

• Mystery

• Non- Fiction

As you read each of the genres you will be required to check each off on the chart at the front of the room, You are also able to read three books completely of your choice (No choose your own adventure).

The following are the due dates for our Book Reports:

Book Report Choices

• Poster: On a standard size piece of poster board put the title, author, and a summary of the book along with other information that you feel is important (main characters, setting, etc.). This should be done so as to make the poster look very professional. You may use stencils for this. You are to draw or display pictures from the book that you have traced, copied, scanned, or downloaded from the Internet.

• Written Report: In your report tell the author, title, setting, main characters, and the conflict. Do not tell how it ends please! Write the report in your best cursive writing or on a word processor. Use correct grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation.

• Oral Report: The oral report will last approximately 5 min. You may not simply read a written report although you are certainly not expected to do this from memory. As an aid you should use 3x5 note cards on which you have written notes to remind yourself of what you are going to talk about. Do not tell the ending of the story please. Keep good eye contact with the audience, speak clearly, and make your report interesting so that others will want to read the book.

• Power Point Presentation: This presentation should contain all of the important information that you can add about the author and the book. Good images are a must but remember that your presentation cannot simply be made up of pictures alone. Slides should be easy to see with text clear. Do not use too many sounds or graphics as they will detract from what you are trying to get across to your audience.

• Book Mobile: Use three sheets of paper 8 1/2 X 11. On one sheet design a new cover for the book you read. On another sheet draw pictures of the main characters. On the third sheet draw and color in your favorite scene. If you have other creative ideas for this please see me.

• Super Sandwich: Cut two pieces of white paper into bread shapes. On the top piece write the title and author of the book. On the bottom piece write what you though about the book. Cut a piece of red paper into the shape of a tomato slice and write about an exciting part of the book. Cut a piece of green paper into the shape of lettuce and write about a scary or interesting event in the story. Feel free to be creative if you want to add other layers. Stack your sandwich parts and fasten at the upper left hand corner.

• Advertising Campaign: Design an advertising campaign to promote the sale of your book. Include each of the following in your campaign – a poster, a radio or TV commercial, a magazine, or newspaper ad, a bumper sticker, and a button.

• Board Game: Create a board game based on events and characters in the book you read. By playing your game, members of the class should learn what happened in the book. Your game must include the following - a game board, a rule sheet and clear directions, event or characters from the story on cards (or on the game board).

• Models: Make models of four objects that you feel were important in the book that you read. On a card attached to each model, tell why the object was important to the book. Be sure to label all parts of your models if they need explanation.

• Drawings: Complete a series of five drawings that show the major events in the plot of the book you read. Write captions for each drawing so that the illustrations can be understood by someone who did not read the book.

• Movie Poster: Design a movie poster for the book that you read. Cast the major characters in the book with real life actors or actresses that you feel would fit your characters well. Include a scene and/or dialogue from the book in the layout of the poster. Remember, you are trying to convince someone to see the movie based on the book, so your writing should be persuasive and accurate.

** Test: Make a test for the book that you read. Include ten true-false questions, ten multiple choice, and ten short answer essay questions based on the book. After typing the test, provide an answer key to your questions.

** Prosecuting Attorney: You are a prosecuting attorney putting one of the characters from the case on trial for a crime or misdeed. Prepare your case on paper, giving all of your arguments and supporting them with facts from the book.

** Dual Trial Project: Adapt the prosecuting attorney activity outlined above to a dual role project. In one role, present the prosecuting case, and in the other, present the case for the defense. Then go a step further, with a friend in the class who has read the same book, present the trial to the class.

• Diorama: Make a shoe box diorama of a scene from the book that you have read. Write a lengthy paragraph (6-10 sentences) explaining the scene, type it, glue the text to a note card. Then attach the card to the diorama.

• Monologue: Pretend that you are one of the characters in the book that you have read. Tape a monologue (one person talking) of the character telling of his or her experiences. Be sure to write out a script before taping. You will need to hand in the script with the tape.

** Television Shoe Box Show: Make a television shoe box show of at least ten scenes in the order they occur in the book that you have read. Cut a square from the bottom of a box to serve as a TV screen, and make two slits in opposite sides of the box. Slide a roll of paper on which you have drawn the scenes through the two slits. Make a tape to go with your television show. Be sure to write a script before taping.

• Town Tour: Imagine that you have been given the task of conducting a tour of the town in which the book you read is set. Make a tape describing the houses of the characters and the places where important events in the book took place. You may choose to use a musical background for your tape.

** Third Grade Reading Book: Retell the plot of the book you read as it might appear in a third grade reading book. Be sure that the vocabulary you use is appropriate for that age group. Then read your retelling of the story to a younger child. Tape your story retelling.

• Radio Drama: Convert your book into a radio drama. Write a script and perform the story as a radio play. Be sure to include an announcer and sound effects.

• Puppet Show: Covert the book into a puppet show. Make simple puppets (stick, finger, paper bag, or paper plate puppets), and present it with a musical background and sound effects. You may choose to video tape your play to present it to the class.

• Song: Convert the events of the story into a ballad. Write original lyrics and music or adapt words to a melody by someone else. Then give a live or taped performance of your song to the class.

Interview with a Character: Tape an interview with one of the characters in the book you read. Pretend that this character is being interviewed by a magazine of newspaper reporter. You may do this with a partner who has read the same book, but be sure to write a script of the interview questions and possible answers before taping. The script will be handed in.

• Book Jacket: Make a book jacket for the book you read. Include the title, author, illustrator, and publisher on the cover. Be sure the illustrations relate to an important aspect of the book. On the inside flap, write a paragraph or two about the book. Explain why this book makes interesting reading. Research the author. Then on the back cover flap, write a “bio” sketch of the author.

• Newspaper Front Page: Write a copy of a newspaper front page that is devoted entirely to the book you read. The front page should look as much like a real newspaper page as possible. The articles on the front page should be based on events and characters from the book. You may use the computer to help you with your final copy. Be creative!

• Collage and Timeline: Make a collage that represents major characters and events in the book you read. Use pictures and words cut from magazines in your collage. After this is done, make a timeline of the major events in the book you read. Be sure the divisions of time on the timeline reflect the time periods in the plot. Use drawings or magazine cutouts to illustrate events along the timeline.

** Write the diary a main character might have written throughout the story. Imagine you are the person in your book reflecting on the day before you go to sleep at night. Write the diary entries in a mini-diary.

• Telephone conversation: Imagine that the author of the book that you have read is a friend of yours. Write an imaginary telephone conversation between the two of you in which you discuss the book you read and other things as well. Some possible conversation topics include ideas for a sequel or an alternative ending that you think might have been much better than the current one.

• Choose a friend to be a news commentator. You are a character in the book. Give the commentator 10 to 15 questions for him/her to ask you about the book. Perform the interview for the class.

• Make a timeline or calendar for important events in your book, showing the dates and events that took place.

• Compare your favorite character in the book to yourself. Type the comparison.

• Write a letter recommending the book to a friend or relative in another city. We will be sending the letter!

• Write a letter to the author of a book, telling your feelings about the story. If the author is still living and his/her address can be located, mail the letter to them. If the author is not alive, mail the letter to the book's publishing company.

• Make up three different endings to the story and type them out.

• Write a letter to the main character of your book. (Ask a question, protest some situation, make a complaint or suggestion, etc.).

• If your book is a poetry book, make a scrapbook containing 10 to 15 of your favorite poems.

• Make a crossword puzzle using ideas from your book. Give the puzzle to someone who has read the book. Make enough copies to keep on hand for others who read the book.

• Read a book that has been made into a movie or TV show. Write an essay comparing the movie or show to the book.

** Suggest some changes which you think the author might make in order to improve the book.

• Rewrite the story as a picture book. Use simple vocabulary so that the book may be enjoyed by younger students.

• Write a description of one of the main characters. Paint a portrait or caricature to accompany the description.

• After reading a factual book, make a list of ten important facts you found in the book. Put them on paper in an interesting way (using the computer – word art, etc.).

Invention Convention (March)

We are working on our invention brochures. We have learned how to write a procedure and have created one to use our invention. Our inventions are currently in school and waiting to be shown to everyone. Right now, our goal for the presentation is 3/13 but a final date will be given soon. We have discussed propaganda and we are deciding how touse it appropriately in our brochures.

President Projects (Jan-Mar)

Very soon, each child will select a president to study. We will write a letter to ask for information from various sources and then begin working on a presentation which will be video taped at school. More information will be coming. Most of the work will not take place until after Feb. break! However, we will be writing the letters soon so we receive our information on time!

We should have finished our research using the internet sites, to be continued . . .

Bio-boards (Dec)

We are working on completeing our biography notes which are due Tuesday Dec. 5 and then we will begin writing our reports. Our focus will be on our audience and thinking about what will both entertain and teach them. A major focalpoint will be the first sentence which we will be completing in school. After that, the rest of he writing will be done at home. Bioboards will be created in school and started in art class and then we will be finished in class.

Pond Journal (Sept-Nov)

The pond journal will be created in class after our field trip to Mendon Ponds, discussions, and research on the different animals and plants that reside in the area. The journal will be set up as an application to be a naturalist at Mendon Ponds.

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