Book Projects

Mrs. Shell – Reading

Procedures:

  1. Read each book project idea carefully! Choose one! Keep in mind that you MAY NOT select the same one again. You may only complete a project idea ONCE!
  2. Book Selection: Select the book you are reading or one you have not read! Choose a book that will stretch your reading abilities in comprehension and analysis.
  3. Gather materials, brainstorm ideas, map out plan of action, and start working on the project. Do not procrastinate!

Grades:

Grades for these projects will be based on the following:

  1. Completion of criteria for the project idea – specifically following directions for each project idea and writing to elaborate thoroughly each required aspect of the book.
  2. The use of Standard English Conventions: Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, Sentence Structure, Subject/Verb Agreement.
  3. Overall Visual Presentation of the Project, including creativity and neatness – Everything must be colored! Nothing should be left in plain pencil. Typing the assignment is highly recommended!
  4. A 3-4 minute Oral Presentation to the Class: one Daily Class Grade (100 pts possible)
  5. The project will be aproject/test grade(100 pts possible)

Book Project Menu

(Remember, you may choose each option only one time! Choose carefully!)

  1. The BIG Sandwich

Materials Needed: Different colored construction paper, size 9 x 12. Using as much of the 9x12 construction as possible to draw slices of ham, tomato, cheese, lettuce leaf, a layer of mayonnaise, and two slices of bread. Each layer should be large enough to contain all of the required criteria listed below. Use appropriate colored sheets of paper to represent each layer – ham on pink, cheese on yellow, tomato on red, lettuce on green, mayonnaise on cream or white, and bread on tan or brown. Each sheet represents the ingredients for the book report sandwich.

  • On the top slice of bread, design an original cover for the book. Do not copy the cover on the original book! Include title and author of the book.
  • On the lettuce leaf, write a summary of the book, containing the beginning, middle, and end. This summary must be a minimum of 8-10 elaborated, well-written sentences describing the book clearly and thoroughly.
  • On the tomato slice, describe the main character in the book. Who is it? What are his/her characteristics? Draw conclusion and explain whether or not you would be his/her friend. Use details from the story and provide text evidence to support your decision. This should be a minimum of 6-8 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • On the mayonnaise, describe the book’s main setting. Use vivid adjectives and words to “paint” a picture of the setting. This description of the setting must be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well written sentences. Draw a picture of the setting that will cover the entire area. The writing may be on top of the lightly colored picture, which can be used as a watermark, or the writing can be a caption at the bottom of the picture.
  • On the cheese, describe and explain the conflict and denouement in the story. What is the conflict in the story, and how is that conflict resolved? Be clear in explaining both the conflict and the denouement! The explanations must be a minimum of 4-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • On the ham, describe and explain the theme in the book. Use detailed text evidence from the story to support your description of the theme. This explanation of the theme must be a minimum of 4-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • On the bottom slice of bread, explain whether or not you recommend the book. Explain why or why not. Be specific with details from the story to support your reasoning in 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Staple one side of the layers together to look like a sandwich! Flipping each layer would allow me to read and see your project.
  1. The Footprint

Materials Needed: Black and white construction paper, yarn or strong string. Trace 7 footprints on black construction paper and cut them. Trace 7 smaller footprints (to fit on top of the black ones) on white construction paper. The black footprints are used as an outline for the white ones. Writings will be done on the white footprints.

  • Footprint #1: Design the title of the book. Include the name of the author.
  • Footprint #2: Draw an illustration of the main character and write a description. Who is it? What are his/her characteristics? Draw a conclusion and explain whether or not you would be his/her friend. Use details from the story and provide text evidence to support your decision. This should be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Footprint #3: Draw an illustration of the setting. Describe the book’s main setting. Use vivid adjectives and words to “paint” a picture of the setting. This description of the setting must be a minimum of 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Footprint #4, 5, and 6: Write the summary of the book, containing the beginning (footprint #4), middle (footprint #5), and end (footprint #6). Each part of the summary must be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well-written sentences. Draw an illustration for each part of the story.
  • Footprint #7: Write a recommendation. Do you recommend this book? Explain whether or not you would recommend this book in 4-5 detailed sentences. Be specific with your reasoning by using evidence from the story.
  • Put the footprints together, one after the other (it should look like a line of footprints), with yarn or strong string. Put your heading on the back!
  1. The Newspaper

Materials Needed: Standard size poster board. Create a newspaper that captures the characters, plot, setting, and conflict in your book. Design the poster to look like the front page of a newspaper! The whole poster board must be used!

  • The masthead is the title of the newspaper, which is the title of your book.
  • The headline news article should be about the plot, the main character, and the conflict he/she faces in the book. It should also contain the resolution (denouement). Describe the character. Explain the conflict thoroughly. Explain and describe how it is resolved. Use detailed evidence from the story to support your statements. Make sure to have a headline title to capture the reader’s attention. This is the longest part of the newspaper and should be about 6-8 sentences!
  • Write an editorial to explain whether or not you would recommend the book to another person. Remember to write to persuade the reader one way or the other in 5-6 detailed sentences!
  • Design a weather section to illustrate and describe the setting of the story. (Do not simply give the temperature and forecast. Describe the setting in vivid detailed sentences to paint a picture of what it looks like.)
  • Design and create an advertisement section. What would be something in the book that can be sold, purchased, or traded? What “help” could be requested? Is there anything or anyone who may be “wanted”?
  • Include anything else you would like to show your creativity!
  • Throughout the entire newspaper poster, add pictures to reflect the main character, places, and conflict. Remember to include a caption for every picture!
  1. One Pager

Materials Needed: Large size poster board. Create a poster board that captures the main character, plot, setting, theme, and conflict in your book. Design the entire poster to represent the meaning of the book! This should look like a collage of your book.

  • The whole poster board must be used!
  • The title of the book must be creatively and clearly displayed.
  • Create a border that reflects the theme or message of the book.
  • Illustrate 5 pictures that have strong relationships to the story, events, characters, setting, or theme. Four of the pictures must be supported by a statement to explain its significance to the story. This is your caption.
  • Create a word cluster around one of the pictures. The word cluster should artistically symbolize the content of the story or describe the picture it is around.
  • Create a poem about an important figure, character, or theme in the story. This poem must be an original creation, not a copy of another poet’s work.
  • Draw a picture of your favorite part in the story. Write a description to explain why that is selected as your favorite part.
  • Write a personal statement to express how you feel about the book. Begin your personal statement with, “I believe…..” This statement should reflect your feelings about the book, character, or theme.
  • Create three questions you have about the story, character, etc. These questions should reflect “unanswered” thoughts, feelings, or ideas you experienced as you read the book.
  • Include anything else you would like to show your creativity!
  1. Prezi/Power Point Book Presentation

Materials Needed: Computer with Internet access, access to an email account (to email your teacher a link to your presentation), a free Prezi.com account, access to digital music files (optional).

  • Slide #1: Give the name of your book and author’s name.
  • Slide # 2, 3, 4: Summary – Give each slide a title. Write the summary of the book, containing the beginning (slide #2), middle (slide #3), and end (slide #4). Each part of the summary must be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well-written sentences. Include a picture for each part of the story, remembering to credit the source of the picture if it does not belong to you.
  • Slide #5: Setting – Title your slide. Describe the books main setting. Use vivid adjectives and words to “paint” a picture of the setting. This description of the setting must be a minimum of 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Slide #6: Main Character – Title your slide. Describe and explain the main character. Who is it? What are his/her characteristics? Draw a conclusion and explain whether or not you would be his/her friend. Use details from the story and provide text evidence to support your decision. This should be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Slide #7: Theme – Title your slide. Describe and explain the theme in the book. Use detailed text evidence from the story to support your description of the theme. This explanation of the theme must be a minimum of 4-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Slide #8: Recommendation – Title your slide. Conclude your presentation with a recommendation. Would you recommend this book to another person? Explain why or why not. Be specific with details from the story to support your reasoning in 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Finally… Go back and read what you’ve written for each slide. Check to make sure you have met the required number of sentences. Add music to the background and insert more pictures on other slides (both are optional). If you need more space for slides #5-8, feel free to expand onto additional slides.
  1. Trading Cards

Materials Needed: 3 x 5 index cards, colored pencils, crayons, or markers

Your task for the book (novel) you read is to create nine trading cards illustrating the setting, important events, characters, and theme. Each card will have a picture on the front and required information on the back. Each card should be no bigger than a 3 x 5 index card.

  • Step # 1: Setting – On the front of one card draw the setting (or the main setting if there is more than one). On the back of the card list the place and time. Be as descriptive as possible.
  • Step # 2: Plot – Prepare a list of 4 major events from the story. Describe each event in detail on one side of a card. On the opposite side draw a picture of the event. Number each card in order of when the events took place. You will use 4 separate cards.
  • Step # 3: Characters – You will have 3 character cards a.) the protagonist (main character/hero of the story), b.) the antagonist (character that opposes the protagonist), and c.) choose any other character. On one side of the card draw a picture of the character and write the character’s name. On the other side of the card describe the character. Do NOT focus on the physical features. Cite evidence as to why the character is described this way. You should include 2-3 character traits. You can include the obvious information (family background, physical traits, etc.) However, do not include ONLY this information.
  • Step # 4: Theme – Choose a theme from the book. On one side of the card draw a symbol representing the theme. On the opposite side of the card write the theme and describe why you believe this is a theme in the novel. Give textual evidence to support the theme you have chosen.
  1. T-Shirt Design

Materials Needed: One plain t-shirt (the color is up to you, but make sure that your design can be seen on the color you choose). Fabric paint or fabric markers. Any other embellishments that you feel would complement your design. (Michaels, JoAnn, and Hobby Lobby all carry inexpensive plain t-shirts, as well as fabric paint and any other design elements you might desire for your shirt.) You can also recycle materials you already have.

  • Step # 1: You will be writing a five paragraph (minimum) essay about your book. Begin by writing a summary of the book, containing the beginning, middle, and end. This summary must be a minimum of 8-10 elaborated, well-written sentences describing the book clearly and thoroughly. Make sure to include names of main characters, the conflict, and the denouement.
  • Step # 2: Main Character – Describe and explain the main character. Who is it? What are his/her characteristics? Draw a conclusion and explain whether or not you would be his/her friend. Use details from the story and provide text evidence to support your decision. This should be a minimum of 5-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Step # 3: Setting – Describe the book’s main setting. Use vivid adjectives and words to “paint” a picture of the setting. This description of the setting must be a minimum of 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Step # 4: Theme – Describe and explain the theme in the book. Use detailed text evidence from the story to support your description of the theme. This explanation of the theme must be a minimum of 4-6 elaborated, well-written sentences.
  • Step # 5: Recommendation – Conclude your essay with a recommendation. Would you recommend this book to another person? Explain why or why not. Be specific with details from the story to support your reasoning in 4-5 elaborated, well-written sentences. Go back and read what you’ve written for each paragraph. Check to make sure you have met the required number of sentences and that the paper is written neatly or typed.
  • Step # 6: Cover – Create a “new” cover for the book on your t-shirt. This should not look like the original cover. This must be your own unique and creative work! Include the title of the book, author, and illustrator—which is your first and last name. Remember, you will wear this shirt as a part of your oral presentation, so be certain that you can put it on over your clothes and take it back off again without compromising your design and decoration. Please make sure your design covers the entire front of the shirt. You may also design the back, but is it not required to do so.