Beginning in October, students will engage in a book project activity that will include reading a chapter book, writing a report, and completing a creative activity. Students may select a book from a home resource, our school library, or our class library. The book must be at the appropriate reading level. Each month, projects will focus on one literary genre, as follows:
October: Mystery
November – Historical Fiction
December – No project
January – Realistic Fiction
February – Fantasy
March – Non-Fiction Animal Report
April – Non-Fiction Biography
May – No project
At the beginning of each month, students will receive detailed instructions and a rubric that will ensure they complete all required project components. Projects will be due at the end of each month, giving students approximately four weeks to complete the projects.
All projects should be high third grad quality and should demonstrate individual best effort. These book projects will involve minimal parent/teacher assistance. Encourage your child to ask any questions in class regarding their project throughout the month.
Projects will be assigned a due date. Because of limited space in our classroom, I ask that your child not bring it in prior to the designated date.
Thank you for your support,
Ms. Orona
Mystery Book Project – Final Assignment
Due Friday, November 2nd
Please use this information to help you complete your final book project. The directions, rubrics, and examples are provided to help you understand the expectations for this assignment. Remember to use your homework assignments to help you complete your book project.
Final book projects are due on Friday, November 2. Due to space limitations in the classroom, you may not turn in your book project prior to the due date. You will share completed book reports with the class.
Directions Book Report – Imagine you are a detective assigned to solve the mystery you read about. Write an official case report (about one page in length) that includes:
- Case (title and author of book)
- Location (setting)
- Mystery to be solved
- Descriptions of at least three important characters.
- Descriptions of at least three clues and why they were important
- An explanation of how the mystery was solved
- Book review (if you would or would not recommend this book to a friend and why) Use your neatest handwriting. Be sure to write in complete sentences.
Visual Aid – Follow these steps to make a case file using the file folder provided.
- Write your name on the file folder tab.
- Decorate the front of the file folder with the book title, author’s name, and an illustration.
- Think about the clues you wrote about in your book report. Put 3-5 clues inside your file folder. You may use drawings, attach real objects, glue on clip art, photographs, etc. to represent each clue. For each item, label what it is and why it was a clue.
Rubric
The rubrics on the back of this page will be used to grade your completed book project. Before you turn in your project you might want to grade it using these rubrics to be sure you have followed directions and completed all the requirements. You will receive one grade for the book report and another grade for the visual aid and presentation.
Please ask your teacher if you have any questions or if you are having trouble completing the assignment! Required Element
Book Report Rubric
Did you include the case (book title and author)? Did you list important locations (setting)?
Did you describe the mystery to be solved? Did you describe at least three important characters: Did you list and write about at least three clues: Did you explain how the mystery was solved? Did you tell if you would recommend this book to a friend and why?
Quality Work
Did you use neat handwriting (or type)? Did you use correct spelling and punctuation? Did you write in complete sentences?
Total Comments:
Book Report Rubric
Required Elements
Did you include the case (book title and author)?_____/5
Did you list important locations (setting)?_____/10
Did you describe the mystery to be solved?_____/10
Did you describe at least three important characters?_____/15
Did you list and write about at least three clues?_____/15
Did you explain how the mystery was solved? _____/10
Did you tell if you would recommend this book to a friend and why?_____/10
Quality Work
Did you use neat handwriting (or type)?_____/5
Did you use correct spelling and punctuation?_____/10
Did you write in complete sentences?_____/10
TOTAL ______/100
Comments:
Visual Aid/Presentation Rubric
Required Elements
Did you include your name on the tab?_____/5
Did you include the title, author, and an illustration on the front?_____/10
Did you include at least three clues inside the folder?_____/30
Did you label each clue?_____/15
Quality Work
Is your case file neat and easy to read?_____/10
Presentation
Did you share the case, location, characters, mystery and clues?_____/10
Did you tell if you would recommend the book and why?_____/10
Did you speak clearly and loudly so the audience could hear?_____/10
Total ______/100
Comments:
Sample Book Report:
McBee Detective Agency
Official Case Report
Detective: Student Name
Case:
Book Title by Author
Location:
Write a complete sentence about the setting.
Mystery:
In two to five sentences, explain the mystery to be solved.
Characters:
Pick three to five characters and write one sentence about each.
Clues:
List at least three clues in complete sentences.
Case Solved:
In four to six sentences, share how the mystery was solved.
Book Review:
Include three to five sentences telling why you would (or would not) recommend the book. I would recommend/not recommend this book to a friend because…