2017 Summer Reading and Book Jacket Project for 6th Grade
Challenge 1: You are required to read one of the four Challenge 1 choices. During the first week of school, you will take a reading comprehension test on this book. The test will consist of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions about characters, setting, and plot. If you read the book early in the summer, you should definitely allow time to review it at the end of the summer. You might even want to wait to read itduring the last week of summer so that it is fresh when you take the test.
Challenge 2: Choose two books from the list. One book will be used for the book jacket project (see instructions below). The other book will be followed up with a writing assignment after school starts.
Instructions for the Book Jacket Project
- While you read your selected book, you should make notes about the topics listed below.
- Type the information that will be put into your book jacket. This should be done before school begins.
- Responses should be in paragraph form.
- Don’t forget to set your margins accordingly, so that you know home much space you have for each topic.
- You will be given the paper for the project during the 1st week of school.
- We will do all of the measuring, folding, and numbering the panels in class so that you know exactly how to assemble the book jacket.
- After school begins and you get the paper from me, you will paste your typed info onto the correct panels. You will also illustrate and decorate the panels, so be sure to allow space for this as well.
- I will provide a photo of a project from a previous year so that you can see what this is supposed to look like when it is finished. (Keep in mind that topics and instructions may have changed slightly.)
- All of your writing should be in your own words. Do not copy and paste from a website.
I am providing the following info so that you know how much space you have for your typed responses on each panel. Remember, we will assemble this in the fall. (Refer to the photo and the diagram for visual images.)
When folded, there are 5 outside panels and 5 inside panels. Start at the left and move to the right on both sides. The outside panels begin with #1 on the left and end with #5 on the right; the inside panels begin with #6 on the left and end with #10 on the right. (See diagram.)
Outside Panels:
Panel #1 (4”) Setting - Time and Place (may have more than one location) – explain why the setting is or is not important in the story
Panel #2 (7”) Author’s Name and Biographical Info - “About the Author” (include photo)
Panel #3 (2”) Title of Book, Author’s Name, Publisher
Panel #4 (7”) Front Cover: Title of Book; Author’s Name; Cover Illustration (You may hand write the text on the cover panel if you want to.)
Panel #5 (4”) Your Name & Color Group – Biographical Info: Write about your interests, hobbies, “favorites,” basically anything you would like to share about yourself – include photo of yourself
Inside Panels:
Panel #6 (4”) Theme (This is not the same thing as plot. It is the point the author is trying to make or the message in the story. A theme is a big idea that might apply to many different books…not just this one. There may be more than one theme in a novel. You only need to discuss one. Provide evidence from the book to support your claim that this is a theme in the book.)
Panel #7 (7”) Main Characters (no more than 3 or 4)- tell a little bit about each one and what is their main role in the story.
Panel #8 (2”) Free Choice – Be creative! (see suggestions below)
- you could discuss connections you made with characters
- a connection between this book and another book you have read
- something you found especially interesting or disappointing
- 5 new vocabulary words with their definitions
- a note to the author
- something interesting you learned that you did not know before
Panel #9 (7”) Plot – What happens? What are the main events? – (no spoilers please)
Panel #10 (4”) Your Opinion of the Book – Would you recommend it to friends? Why or why not?