6th Grade Gifted AND 7th Grade Enriched
4th Quarter Book Project
"What's on the Menu?"
Step 1:
Choose a novel to read over the next few weeks. It cannot be a novel based on a movie or game. It must be worthy of your time and intellect. Try to choose something you haven’t read that is short enough to finish on time for you to complete your project. Ms. D. must approve your book.
Step 2:
You will use a folded poster board to create a menu housing “appetizers”, “main courses” and “desserts” based on elements from your book. Your menu instructions are on the following slides.
Step 3:
Invent a restaurant name that matches an element from your book. It could be based on a character, a place or a food mentioned in the book. The cover of your menu will have the restaurant name, some original artwork, the title of the book and your name. Feel free to add any other elements to make your menu look its best!
Appetizers
These will go on the left inside your menu.
1. Write the first chapter of a sequel (or prequel) to your book. This must be 10 (or more) sentences.
2. Write out your title in a decorative way and for each letter, write a phrase about the book.
3. Pretend that you are leading a book chat about your book. Write ten discussion questions for a group to answer/discuss.
4. Describe a field trip you would like to take because of this book. This must be 10 (or more) sentences long and included details that explain why your chosen trip fits this book.
Main Course
These will go on the right inside your menu.
1. Make a timeline of the events in the life of the main character. You must include 10 events with a picture and caption for each event.
2. Make a map of your book’s setting. Be sure to label all the map’s elements. Be detailed!
3. Write a review for the book. Include a brief synopsis. Be sure your review gives detailed accounts of why you liked or disliked the book. This should be 10 (or more) sentences.
4. If you were to create a time capsule about your book, what 10 items would it include and why? Include pictures of each item and a sentence telling why it belongs in the time capsule.
5. Research facts about the author of your book. List the 10 most interesting facts in a creative way.
Dessert
These will go on the back cover of your menu.
1. Draw a comic strip for your book and explain it. The comic should have 10 picture frames
and each frame should have a caption describing what is happening in the frame.
2. Sell your book…create an advertisement for your book. Use persuasive language and some sort of graphics.
3. Write any kind of poem about your book.
4. For each of the following words, explain how each applies to your book: stupendous, exciting, breathtaking, horrendous, and fabulous. Display this in a creative way.
This project is being assigned on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
It is due Monday, May 8, 2023.
This gives you over a month to read and work on your project.
The BEST way to approach this is to try to complete activities WHILE YOU ARE READING the book. If you wait to do everything once you finish, that can cause anxiety and panic. Work smarter and manage your time so this is enjoyable and not overwhelming.
7th Grade Gifted and 8th Grade Enriched
4th Quarter Book Project
A "Classic" Tabloid
The Task
Create a tabloid magazine cover (front and back) and five feature articles for your novel. This must be done on 12 x 12 paper… Ms. D. will give you some if you need.
The front cover should look like a typical tabloid cover. I’ll show you examples in class… and you see them by every checkout counter at the store! You may want to buy one as a sample.
The back cover should be an advertisement for any product you choose… but it must fit the time/theme of your novel. For instance, if you are reading a novel set in the 1800’s, it would not work to have an advertisement for an iPhone.
This project is being assigned to you on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The project is due by Monday, May 8, 2023. This gives you OVER a month to read the novel and complete your project.
8th Grade Gifted
4th Quarter Book Project
A “novel” Bloom BallThe final book project in the Realm
8th Grade Gifted Language Arts
Read a good book! Create a nifty bloomball!
To create your ball, here’s what goes on each face:
11.Write a short news article about one of the major events that took place in the novel. Remember a headline and details about your chosen event.
12.Write ten facts about the author of the novel.
Assembling the ball
PROJECTS ARE DUE MAY 8, 2023.
This may help as you write a book review
Though it is YOUR review, there should be no personal pronouns in the text. The reader will know these are YOUR thoughts.
Read the book and take notes. Write down your notes or use a voice recorder to document any thoughts or impressions you have of the book as you are reading. They don't have to be organized or perfect, the idea is to brainstorm any impressions you may have of the book.
Think about the book's genre and/or field of study. Consider how the book fits or does not fit in it's genre or field of study. If necessary, use outside sources to familiarize yourself with the field of study and the genre of the book. We have read some of “Hitler Youth” and watched videos about this topic. All of that information can be used to help you feel like an expert on the topic.
Determine the major themes of the book. The theme is often a lesson or overall message that the reader perceives between the lines. The theme can also be the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a book. Authors may present multiple themes in their writing, especially works of fiction.
This book is written in the first-person narrative. The author lived the events and is recounting them. Is this more powerful than someone else writing about the events?
Think about how well the author develops the major areas or points in the book. What areas are covered/not covered? Why? Locating gaps in the time frame or character development of the book can help you think critically. As well, noticing any well developed elements of the book will help you create good points for your review.
Consider any literary devices in the book. If the book is a work of fiction, think about how plot structure is developed in the story. Take notes on the book's character, plot, setting, symbols, mood or tone and how they relate to the overall theme of the book.
Think about how unique the book is. Does it add new information to a genre? The author may be trying to challenge or expand the existing rules and norms of a genre. Consider how the book does this, and how this may affect the intended audience's reception of the book.
Assess how successful the book is. Was the author successful in carrying out the overall purposes of the book and did you feel satisfied by the book's ending? Would you recommend this book to others?
To best write a book review, it is essential to keep track of the answers to the following questions, either as you read the book or as soon as you have finished it. All of the answers can then be incorporated into your review.
Questions to Consider in your Review
Narration
EVALUATION
Your Opinion
4th Quarter Book Project
"What's on the Menu?"
Step 1:
Choose a novel to read over the next few weeks. It cannot be a novel based on a movie or game. It must be worthy of your time and intellect. Try to choose something you haven’t read that is short enough to finish on time for you to complete your project. Ms. D. must approve your book.
Step 2:
You will use a folded poster board to create a menu housing “appetizers”, “main courses” and “desserts” based on elements from your book. Your menu instructions are on the following slides.
Step 3:
Invent a restaurant name that matches an element from your book. It could be based on a character, a place or a food mentioned in the book. The cover of your menu will have the restaurant name, some original artwork, the title of the book and your name. Feel free to add any other elements to make your menu look its best!
Appetizers
These will go on the left inside your menu.
1. Write the first chapter of a sequel (or prequel) to your book. This must be 10 (or more) sentences.
2. Write out your title in a decorative way and for each letter, write a phrase about the book.
3. Pretend that you are leading a book chat about your book. Write ten discussion questions for a group to answer/discuss.
4. Describe a field trip you would like to take because of this book. This must be 10 (or more) sentences long and included details that explain why your chosen trip fits this book.
Main Course
These will go on the right inside your menu.
1. Make a timeline of the events in the life of the main character. You must include 10 events with a picture and caption for each event.
2. Make a map of your book’s setting. Be sure to label all the map’s elements. Be detailed!
3. Write a review for the book. Include a brief synopsis. Be sure your review gives detailed accounts of why you liked or disliked the book. This should be 10 (or more) sentences.
4. If you were to create a time capsule about your book, what 10 items would it include and why? Include pictures of each item and a sentence telling why it belongs in the time capsule.
5. Research facts about the author of your book. List the 10 most interesting facts in a creative way.
Dessert
These will go on the back cover of your menu.
1. Draw a comic strip for your book and explain it. The comic should have 10 picture frames
and each frame should have a caption describing what is happening in the frame.
2. Sell your book…create an advertisement for your book. Use persuasive language and some sort of graphics.
3. Write any kind of poem about your book.
4. For each of the following words, explain how each applies to your book: stupendous, exciting, breathtaking, horrendous, and fabulous. Display this in a creative way.
This project is being assigned on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
It is due Monday, May 8, 2023.
This gives you over a month to read and work on your project.
The BEST way to approach this is to try to complete activities WHILE YOU ARE READING the book. If you wait to do everything once you finish, that can cause anxiety and panic. Work smarter and manage your time so this is enjoyable and not overwhelming.
7th Grade Gifted and 8th Grade Enriched
4th Quarter Book Project
A "Classic" Tabloid
The Task
Create a tabloid magazine cover (front and back) and five feature articles for your novel. This must be done on 12 x 12 paper… Ms. D. will give you some if you need.
The front cover should look like a typical tabloid cover. I’ll show you examples in class… and you see them by every checkout counter at the store! You may want to buy one as a sample.
- Your tabloid must have a name. Create a name that fits the times/themes of your novel.
- Your cover must have pictures that fit each story lead.
- Your cover must have “teasers” or lead headlines for five different stories. Each lead/story should relate to your novel and show that you read it.
- Your cover must have color and look like effort was made!
The back cover should be an advertisement for any product you choose… but it must fit the time/theme of your novel. For instance, if you are reading a novel set in the 1800’s, it would not work to have an advertisement for an iPhone.
This project is being assigned to you on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The project is due by Monday, May 8, 2023. This gives you OVER a month to read the novel and complete your project.
8th Grade Gifted
4th Quarter Book Project
A “novel” Bloom BallThe final book project in the Realm
8th Grade Gifted Language Arts
Read a good book! Create a nifty bloomball!
To create your ball, here’s what goes on each face:
- The title and author of the novel creatively displayed.
- Draw a picture of a favorite scene. Include a caption.
- Write 10 unique words you learned or liked. Include their definitions.
- Write three likes and three dislikes about the novel each described in well-written sentences.
- Write a poem about the theme of the novel.
- Write a one-page review of the novel. Your review should have AT LEAST 10 sentences. Avoid personal pronouns.
- Draw an important symbol from the story and explain its significance.
- Describe one of the characters from the novel. Include personal and physical traits. This should be 7 or more sentences.
- Write 10 powerful quotations from the novel.
11.Write a short news article about one of the major events that took place in the novel. Remember a headline and details about your chosen event.
12.Write ten facts about the author of the novel.
Assembling the ball
- Fold each circle on the lines so that the folds are facing up. Be sure to decorate the ENTIRE circle before assembling the ball.
- When all circles have been completed with directives listed above, and all the edges have been folded up you may GLUE (no tape or staples) the circles together. Be sure that all edges are facing up around your picture or paragraphs.
- Creativity and visual appeal is important. Make sure you give this project your full effort!
PROJECTS ARE DUE MAY 8, 2023.
This may help as you write a book review
Though it is YOUR review, there should be no personal pronouns in the text. The reader will know these are YOUR thoughts.
Read the book and take notes. Write down your notes or use a voice recorder to document any thoughts or impressions you have of the book as you are reading. They don't have to be organized or perfect, the idea is to brainstorm any impressions you may have of the book.
Think about the book's genre and/or field of study. Consider how the book fits or does not fit in it's genre or field of study. If necessary, use outside sources to familiarize yourself with the field of study and the genre of the book. We have read some of “Hitler Youth” and watched videos about this topic. All of that information can be used to help you feel like an expert on the topic.
Determine the major themes of the book. The theme is often a lesson or overall message that the reader perceives between the lines. The theme can also be the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a book. Authors may present multiple themes in their writing, especially works of fiction.
- Pay attention to the preface, any quotes, and /or references in the book's introduction, as this content will likely shed light on the book's major themes and viewpoint.
- A simple way to determine one of the major themes of a book is to sum up the book in one word. So, for example, the major theme of “The Book Thief” could be "perseverance”. Once you have your one word summary, stretch the single word into a message or lesson, such as "humans show perseverance even in the grimmest of circumstances.”
This book is written in the first-person narrative. The author lived the events and is recounting them. Is this more powerful than someone else writing about the events?
Think about how well the author develops the major areas or points in the book. What areas are covered/not covered? Why? Locating gaps in the time frame or character development of the book can help you think critically. As well, noticing any well developed elements of the book will help you create good points for your review.
Consider any literary devices in the book. If the book is a work of fiction, think about how plot structure is developed in the story. Take notes on the book's character, plot, setting, symbols, mood or tone and how they relate to the overall theme of the book.
Think about how unique the book is. Does it add new information to a genre? The author may be trying to challenge or expand the existing rules and norms of a genre. Consider how the book does this, and how this may affect the intended audience's reception of the book.
Assess how successful the book is. Was the author successful in carrying out the overall purposes of the book and did you feel satisfied by the book's ending? Would you recommend this book to others?
To best write a book review, it is essential to keep track of the answers to the following questions, either as you read the book or as soon as you have finished it. All of the answers can then be incorporated into your review.
Questions to Consider in your Review
Narration
- Who narrated the story?
- Was it first-person narration or third-person narration?
- Was the narrator a reliable source of information?
- Note the time period and location the book is set in.
- How did setting drive or influence the plot of the book?
- Note the overall theme or message of the book.
- What genre of literature was it?
- How did it compare to another work in this genre?
- Name the author.
- Discuss any previous works.
- How did previous works compare with this work?
- Give a brief plot summary without giving away any key details.
EVALUATION
Your Opinion
- This is the most important part of the review.
- Did you like it? Why?
- Dislike it? Why?
- Would you read more by this author? Why or why not?
- Would you encourage others to read this book? Why or why not?
