Rising 4th grade Summer Reading Project

Dear parents and rising 4th graders,

We are looking forward to working with you next year as your reading teachers. This summer you are challenged with reading a novel of your choice and completing one of four different book projects that will be shared with your classmates when you return to school. Below, we have included a recommended book list to choose from, and given you 4 different book project options. These projects will be due by August 12, 2017, which is the end of the first week of school. This will be your first grade recordedfor reading. Each project option focuses on the literary elements: characters, setting and plot. In addition to the project, you are also asked to write a paragraph, minimum of 5 sentences, summarizing the story; summaries may be typed or handwritten and will be shared orally as you present your work.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to stay engaged and avoid the dreaded summer slump! We hope you enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing you in August!

Ms. Baxter and Mrs. Richardson,

4thGrade Teachers

Book Project Options:

  1. BOOK IN A BAG: Decorate a bag with pictures, stickers, or words representing the characters, setting, and important events; then fill the bag with 510 objects that will help summarize your story.
  2. DIORAMA: Use a shoe box to create the climax or most important event from your book (ensure that you show the main character(s), and the setting)
  3. BOOK ON A BOX: use a cereal box to tell about your book. Use the sides to illustrate a main event(s) from the book, describe main characters, describe the setting.
  4. MAKE A MOBILE: Use a clothes hanger to suspend information about your book in a creative way. Be sure you include the characters, setting, and plot.
  5. Live-Action Video: Create a video acting out your favorite scene in the book ensure.

P.S. Our hope is that you will be as creative as possible and have fun completing this project! -

Please see the attached sheet for a recommended book List. You are not limited to this list, these books are just a suggestion.

Fiction
Freddie Ramos Takes Off- Jacqueline Jules,
Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade- Melissa Sweet
Tales for Very Picky Eaters- Josh Schneider
E-mergency!- Tom Lichtenheld
Toys Come Home: Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand-New Someone Called Plastic- Emily Jenkins
No Ordinary Day- Deborah Ellis
A Week in the Woods – Andrew Clements
A Dog Called Kitty – Bill Wallace
Big Red – Jim Kjelgaard
Ramona (Series) – Beverly Cleary
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Rules – Cynthia Lord
The Sign of the Beaver – Elizabeth George Speare
Earthquake Terror- Peg Kehret
Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls(The Baby-Sitters Club Series #2)- Ann M. Martin
Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade-BartheDeClements / Non-Fiction
The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe
Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors- Chris Barton
America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell- Don Brown
The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle – Dan Wulffson
Lives of Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What The Neighbors Thought)-Kathleen Krull
A River Run Wild – Lynne Cherry
Look To The North: A Wolf Pup Diary – Jean Craighead George
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers – Mordacai Gerstein
Dateline:Troy – Paul Fleischman
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? – Jean Fritz
The Truth About Great White Sharks – Mary M. Cerullo
Through My Eyes – Ruby Bridges
The Story of Baseball – Lawrence Ritter
Science Fiction
I’m Out Of My Body – Leave Me A Message – Dan Greenburg
Space Garbage – Isaac Asimov
The Dog That Pitched A No Hitter – Matt Christopher
The Package in Hyperspace – Janet Asimov and John Gampert
The Computer Nut – Betsy Byars
Frankenbug – Steven Cousins
The Classroom at the End of the Hall – Douglas Evans
My Life Among Aliens – Gail Gauthier
Nose Pickers from Outer Space – GordanKorman
The Time Warp Trio – Jon Scieszka
Carrot Holes and Frisbee Trees – N. Bodeckeci
Shadows in the Water – Kathryn Lasky
The Sword of Aradel – Alexander Key

Recommended Book List

Teacher Name: ______Student Name: ______Name of Book: ______

SUMMER BOOK PROJECT RUBRIC

Category / 45 pts. / 40- 35pts. / 30 -20 pts / 15 pts.
Knowledge of the Text
  • Accurately summarizes the text
  • Summary details must include:
  • Who
  • What
  • When
  • Where
  • Why
  • How

Literary Elements:
  • The characters are accurately portrayed based on specific details from the text
  • The setting is accurately portrayed based on specific details from the text.
  • The plot is accurately portrayed by including the most important event(s)
  • Project reflects details presented in the summary

Category / 30 pts. / 20pts. / 10pts / 5 pts.
Speaking and listening
  • Summary is neatly handwritten or typed;
  • Presentation and summary has been edited for any grammatical errors

Category / 25 pts. / 15 pts. / 10 pts / 5 pts.
Preparedness
  • Student shows preparedness with smooth, rehearsed presentation of project
  • Presentation of summary and project is grammatically correct with no errors

Also, don’t forget….

Summer is a fun and exciting time for everyone to enjoy the outdoors, time with family activities, sporting events, and simply relax. It is also a perfect opportunity to encourage students to read.

MYON IS SPONSORING NATIONWIDE CONTESTS!

Exciting Prizes for Top Readers

(Based upon time spent reading with myON during the contest period)

PK-Grade 2/ Grades 3-5/ Grades 6+

Top Reader will win an iPad Mini!
Readers in 2nd and 3rd place will each win a $100 Gift Card!

Everyone who reads at least 10 books will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad mini!

ROYAL PALM CHARTER IS SPONSORING SCHOOLWIDE CONTESTS!

Eight weekly contests starting on June 5 and ending on July 31.

Read sixty minutes every week to be entered.

Every Monday we will pick two winners to pick a prize (poster, toy, etc)

Students who also complete summer reading over …..

500 minutes will receive a spirit stick and a certificate.

1000 minutes will also receive a smelly penciland bookmark.

2000 minutes will also receive $5 Scholastic Dollars!

I hope you enjoy the 2017 Read on the Go with myON Summer Reading Program! Happy reading! You can e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.

Happy reading!

Mrs. Barbara Berman,

Royal Palm Librarian/myON