INDEPENDENT READING PROJECT OPTIONS SHEET
Mrs. McClure
Directions: Prepare any three projects based on the novel you chose from your independent reading.
Choose any one of the following possibilities for each of your two projects OR design your own project. If you design your own, you must get the idea approved by Ms. McClure BEFORE you do it! You may also modify any of these projects with Ms. McClure’s prior approval. Projects will be presented to the class informally. Everyone is working on their own project
Projects involving art/making things:
1. Create a picture book based on your novel. Use either photographs, magazine pictures, drawings/etc.to represent things that happened in your novel. Put them together in booklet form with a front and back cover. Portray at least 10 main scenes/events in the novel and use a written caption with each picture to explain what is happening. Picture book should tell the whole story (ending & all).
2. Create a movie poster to go with the book you read. Select current actors and actresses to play major characters. On the back of the poster (or a separate sheet of paper), explain why you chose those particular actors and actresses for the parts.
3a. Create a collage on the themes/ideas presented in your book. Give it a title, such as “A Search for
Identity”,“Growing Up”/etc. Remember, the theme is the main idea, often the lesson, that the author wants you to think when reading the book. (Poster-sized)
3b. Create a collage on the characters presented in your book. Give it a title, such as “A Character Search”/etc. Remember, all the characters play a role and should be detailed somehow. (Poster-sized)
4a. Create a diorama that depicts a scene from your book. (A diorama is a scene in a box—it should be 3-D.)
4b. Create a diorama that evaluates a symbol from your book. (A diorama is a scene in a box—it should be 3-D.)
4c. Create a diorama that interprets a theme from your book. (A diorama is a scene in a box—it should be 3-D.)
5. Design a children’s book telling a child’s version of your novel. Not all novels will work for this project
(consider whether the theme of the novel is one small children would understand). Books should have illustrations and a cover, too.
6a. Create a monthly wall calendar with a series of memorable scenes. Each month should have anillustration/picture and a caption, in addition to the dates and days/etc. (Do all 12 months.)
6b. Create a monthly wall calendar with a series of memorable characters. Each month should have an illustration/picture and a caption, in addition to the dates and days/etc. (Do all 12 months.)
7. Draw a cartoon strip showing the main parts of the story. This should have at least 10+ frames.
9. Create and produce an alphabet book (for little kids). Show knowledge of characters and how their motivations might develop the plot or theme, through each letter of the alphabet. Alphabet book should have illustrations and a cover.
10. If your book involves travel from one setting to another, create a travel brochure depicting the
places the main character(s) went.
11a. Create a board game based on your books themes. Design and build the board, as well as any playing pieces,cards, spinners or dice, or other objects needed to play. Type up a set of instructions for how to play(and also win) the game.
11b. Create a board game based on your books characters. Design and build the board, as well as any playing pieces, cards, spinners or dice, or other objects needed to play. Type up a set of instructions for how to play(and also win) the game.
Projects involving writing:
12a. Write a magazine or newspaper-type review over the figurative language, tone, mood, symbols or Irony (critiquing and discussing) in your novel. Examinereviews of other books in magazines/newspapers to give you ideas on form/etc. (Must be at least750 words, typed.)
12b. Write a magazine or newspaper-type review over the themes (critiquing and discussing) in your novel. Examine reviews of other books in magazines/newspapers to give you ideas on form/etc. (Must be at least 750 words, typed.)
12c. Write a magazine or newspaper-type review over the characters (critiquing and discussing) in your novel. Examine reviews of other books in magazines/newspapers to give you ideas on form/etc. (Must be at least 750 words, typed.)
13a. Write a letter to the author of the book you read that explains your views on the point of view of the novel. You might want to explain what the book taught you, why the book was particularly special to you, what you liked/didn’t like about it, suggest ideas for a sequel/etc. Use specific examples from the book to explain what you mean. If your author is living, find his/her address and bring the letter to school to be mailed to the actual author. (At least 300 words, typed, business letter format.) You will get 5 bonus points.
13b. Write a letter to the author of the book you read that explains your view of the characters and/or their motivations in the novel. You might want to explain what the book taught you, why the book was particularly special to you, what you liked/didn’t like about it, suggest ideas for a sequel/etc. Use specific examples from the book to explain what you mean. If your author is living, find his/her address and bring the letter to school to be mailed to the actual author. (At least 300 words, typed, business letter format.) You will get 5 bonus points.
13c. Write a letter to the author of the book you read that explains your view of the novels symbols, irony, mood, tone, figurative language. You might want to explain what the book taught you, why the book was particularly special to you, what you liked/didn’t like about it, suggest ideas for a sequel/etc. Use specific examples from the book to explain what you mean. If your author is living, find his/her address and bring the letter to school to be mailed to the actual author. (At least 300 words, typed, business letter format.) You will get 5 bonus points.
14a. Create a unit of study for theme on your book. The unit should include each of the following items: a set of10+ discussion questions with answers, a quiz, a worksheet, and a study/review game.
14b. Create a unit of study on characterization for your book. The unit should include each of the following items: a set of 10+ discussion questions with answers, a quiz, a worksheet, and a study/review game.
14c. Create a unit of study on tone/mood/symbols/irony/figurative language for your book. The unit should include each of the following items: a set of 10+ discussion questions with answers, a quiz, a worksheet, and a study/review game.
14d. Create a unit of study on elements of plot/sequence of events/flashback/foreshadowing in your book. The unit should include each of the following items: a set of 10+ discussion questions with answers, a quiz, a worksheet, and a study/review game.
14e. Create a unit of study on Point of View for your book. The unit should include each of the following items: a set of 10+ discussion questions with answers, a quiz, a worksheet, and a study/review game.
15a. Write a comparison/contrast essay comparing your novel to either a movie version of the novel or another book by the same author. Focusing on the author’s choice’s compared to that of the screenwriters.(At least 750 words, typed; APA form).
15b. Write a comparison/contrast essay comparing your novel to either a movie version of the novel or another book by the same author. Focusing on the author’s choice’s compared to real life situations. (At least 750 words, typed; APA form).
16a. Research the author’s life to find out what may have influenced him/her to write about the figurative language/tone/mood/symbols/irony in the ways in which he/she did. Write a report describing your findings. Make sure to include a bibliography of sources you used for this report. (At least 750 words, typed.)
16b. Research the author’s life to find out what may have influenced him/her to write about the theme or subject in the ways in which he/she did. Write a report describing your findings. Make sure to include a bibliography of sources you used for this report. (At least 750 words, typed.)
16c. Research the author’s life to find out what may have influenced him/her to write about the sequence of events in the ways in which he/she did. Write a report describing your findings. Make sure to include a bibliography of sources you used for this report. (At least 750 words, typed.)
17. Create a resume, cover letter, and reference list for a main character in your novel. Use correct form for each of these items.
18. Didn’t like the ending of your novel? Write a new one! (Or write an epilogue: explain what happened to all of the main characters AFTER this novel is over.) Ending or prologue must still be based on events leading up to the original ending in the real story. (At least 750 words, typed.)
19. Turn your novel into a short play. Write the screenplay (script) complete with stage directions and recommend actors and actresses to play each main part.
20. Make a newspaper about your book; include feature stories for the front page (with headlines), opinion articles from the “editor,” display advertisements, classified ads, and other categories that are relevant to your story (obituaries, sports articles, entertainment calendars, etc.).
Projects involving performance/demonstration:
21a. Create a TV commercial advertising your books characters and motivations. Perform your commercial using any necessary props/etc. Commercial should be at least 60 seconds long. Remember—it’s a commercial—you’re trying to get the audience to go out and buy/read the book—don’t give away the ending! (You will turn in a script with your project.)
21b. Create a TV commercial advertising your books figurative language/symbols/tone/mood/irony. Perform your commercial using any necessary props/etc. Commercial should be at least 60 seconds long. Remember—it’s a commercial—you’re trying to get the audience to go out and buy/read the book—don’t give away the ending! (You will turn in a script with your project.)
21c. Create a TV commercial advertising your books themes. Perform your commercial using any necessary props/etc. Commercial should be at least 60 seconds long. Remember—it’s a commercial—you’re trying to get the audience to go out and buy/read the book—don’t give away the ending! (You will turn in a script with your project.)
22. With another “actor,” perform an interview with the writer of the book. You will turn in a script with questions to be asked and answers to be given.
23. “Tell” the story of your book, as a storyteller would. You will turn in a written version of approximately what you will say. Use props and gestures when telling the story.
24a. Do a PBS/History Channel-type documentary on the characters from your book.
24b. Do a PBS/History Channel-type documentary on the themes from your book.
25. With other “actors,” act out either an important scene from the book or a SHORTENED version of the entire story. You will turn in a script with your project. Use props and costumes when appropriate.
26a. Perform a dramatic monologue. “Be” a character from your novel and use your voice and costume to create the illusion to the audience that you are that character. Speak in first person and review some of the most interesting experiences that happened to “you” in the novel, should be done from the author’s Point of view using the characteristics depicted as in the story.
26b. Perform a dramatic monologue. “Be” a character from your novel and use your voice and costume to create the illusion to the audience that you are that character. Speak in first person and review some of the most interesting experiences that happened to “you” in the novel, Should be done from your perspective (POV) and set in a real world environment that is current.
27. Write a song (music and lyrics/etc.) that tells the central idea/theme of the novel and sing it for the class.
28a. Write a narrative poem that tells the entire story of the novel or a collection of shorter poems (numbers will vary—see Ms. Fraley) that deal with the themes that the novel deals with and recite it in front of the class. Perform and design an analysis of your poem with the class.
28b. Write a narrative poem that tells the entire story of the novel or a collection of shorter poems (numbers will vary—see Ms. Fraley) that deal with characterization that the novel deals with and recite it in front of the class. Perform and design an analysis of your poem with the class.
29. Create puppets (paper bags/socks/etc.) and dramatize a significant scene from the book you’ve read.You must turn in a script with this project.
30. Give a booktalk--a short speech that gets the audience interested in reading your book. It's almostlike a commercial for the book that gets them hooked on hearing the rest. Read an excerpt from thebook that will help to “sell” your book to the audience. Tell only enough about the book to get theirinterest--don't ruin the story for them. Use props and visual aids to create interest.
Projects Involving Technology
Note: Many of the projects in the other three sections also involve technology, whether it is publishing orword processing software or using the web to search for images, sound clips, or ideas for your projects.
31. Design and build a web page or site (or PowerPoint) about your book; include a synopsis (don’t give theending away!), introductions to main characters, and other information and graphics/images to “sell”your book (e.g., convince others to read it).
32a. Use photo editing software to create a slide show of pictures that represent the themes in your novel.
32b. Use photo editing software to create a slide show of pictures that represent the characters in your novel.
32c. Use photo editing software to create a slide show of pictures that represent elements of plot/ settings in your novel.
33a. Record a podcast about the themes or subject of your novel (should be between 5-10 minutes long).
33b. Record a podcast about characters in your novel (should be between 5-10 minutes long).
33c. Record a podcast about symbols/Irony/Figurative Language/Mood/Tone in your novel (should be between 5-10 minutes long).
33d. Record a podcast about the elements of plot/ foreshadowing/flashback in your novel (should be between 5-10 minutes long).
33e. Record a podcast about the point of view/cultural experience in your novel (should be between 5-10 minutes long).
34. Start a blog featuring your novel and post at least 10 entries discussing what you are reading as youread it. Talk about how the novel relates to you, what you are enjoying (or not enjoying) about it,include links to news articles that are related in some way or links to author sites, and upload photosrelevant to the story.