6th Grade
3rd Quarter Book Project
Character Digital Journal/Diary
Choose a novel to read over the next few weeks. It cannot be a novel based on a movie or game. Avoid novels written in diary or journal formats. It must be worthy of your time and intellect. Ms. D. must approve your book.
For your project:
Reflect on what you learn about a chosen character as you read your book, like:
You are to create a 10-page digital journal/diary. Each journal/diary entry should be 10 (or more) sentences long.
Each entry should be from the perspective of your chosen character as if they are writing about the things that happen to them just as you might write about things that happen in YOUR life. Creativity is encouraged for these pages! (see example on slides in Google Classroom)
Your character journal/diary needs a cover slide. The cover slide should include the title of the book, the author, and a theme that fits the chosen character’s personality and story setting. (similar to the cover on the slide deck in Google Classroom)
You have over a month to read your chosen book and create your project.
You have been assigned this project on Friday, 1/7/2022. The final project is due Tuesday, 3/1/2022.
7th Grade
3rd Quarter Book Project
Character Digital Scrapbook Project
Scrapbooks are a way to document life’s memories, experiences, etc.
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. Ms. D. must approve your book.
For your project:
Reflect on what you learn about a chosen character as you read your book, like:
You are to create a 11-slide digital scrapbook. (cover and 10 pages) Each page should have pictures/images/etc. that help share the character’s story.
Each page should have a journal-style piece of writing explaining what’s on the page. You should have 7-10 sentences PER PAGE. Example pages are on the slides in Google Classroom. (we looked at them in class)
Your character’s digital scrapbook needs a cover slide. The cover slide should include the title of the book, the author, and a theme that fits the chosen character’s personality and story setting. (similar to the cover shown in the slide deck in Google Classroom).
You have been assigned this project on Friday, January 7, 2022. The final project is due at the start of your class period on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. This gives you over a month of work time.
8th Grade
3rd Quarter Book Project
Once Upon a Time There was a True Story...
Nonfiction reading is often overlooked in the middle school language arts classroom, yet deserves some attention! The following project is meant to give you ways to simplify sometimes-overwhelming material in a fun, creative way!
1. Choose a biography to read. Try to find one that’s not too long! (but not too short - 100 pages or more, please!)
2. As you read, take notes about key events in the person’s life.
3. When you finish your book, you will create a children’s book version of the biography.
4. Your story must have a cover slide and at least 20 pages (slides). The pages should each be written in a manner that a 3rd or 4th grader would understand while still maintaining the integrity of the original book you read. Aim for 3 - 5 sentences per page - but not more than 10 - this IS a kid’s book.
5. Each page should have illustrations that fit each portion of the storybook.
6. Your story must include information from your biography (not the internet!)
The project is being assigned Friday, 1/7/2022 and must be submitted by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. We will view the projects as your presentation after that date. You will also share your review.
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
3rd Quarter Book Project
Character Digital Journal/Diary
Choose a novel to read over the next few weeks. It cannot be a novel based on a movie or game. Avoid novels written in diary or journal formats. It must be worthy of your time and intellect. Ms. D. must approve your book.
For your project:
Reflect on what you learn about a chosen character as you read your book, like:
- Their past
- The story they were telling or involved in
- Relationships with other characters that were meaningful to the story
- Their thoughts
- Their motivations
- Their feelings
- Problems/solutions faced in the story
- Their role in the story
- Changes that occurred through the course of the story
You are to create a 10-page digital journal/diary. Each journal/diary entry should be 10 (or more) sentences long.
Each entry should be from the perspective of your chosen character as if they are writing about the things that happen to them just as you might write about things that happen in YOUR life. Creativity is encouraged for these pages! (see example on slides in Google Classroom)
Your character journal/diary needs a cover slide. The cover slide should include the title of the book, the author, and a theme that fits the chosen character’s personality and story setting. (similar to the cover on the slide deck in Google Classroom)
You have over a month to read your chosen book and create your project.
You have been assigned this project on Friday, 1/7/2022. The final project is due Tuesday, 3/1/2022.
7th Grade
3rd Quarter Book Project
Character Digital Scrapbook Project
Scrapbooks are a way to document life’s memories, experiences, etc.
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. Ms. D. must approve your book.
For your project:
Reflect on what you learn about a chosen character as you read your book, like:
- Their past
- The story they were telling or involved in
- Relationships with other characters that were meaningful to the story
- Their thoughts
- Their motivations
- Their feelings
- Problems/solutions faced in the story
- Their role in the story
- Changes that occurred through the course of the story
You are to create a 11-slide digital scrapbook. (cover and 10 pages) Each page should have pictures/images/etc. that help share the character’s story.
Each page should have a journal-style piece of writing explaining what’s on the page. You should have 7-10 sentences PER PAGE. Example pages are on the slides in Google Classroom. (we looked at them in class)
Your character’s digital scrapbook needs a cover slide. The cover slide should include the title of the book, the author, and a theme that fits the chosen character’s personality and story setting. (similar to the cover shown in the slide deck in Google Classroom).
You have been assigned this project on Friday, January 7, 2022. The final project is due at the start of your class period on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. This gives you over a month of work time.
8th Grade
3rd Quarter Book Project
Once Upon a Time There was a True Story...
Nonfiction reading is often overlooked in the middle school language arts classroom, yet deserves some attention! The following project is meant to give you ways to simplify sometimes-overwhelming material in a fun, creative way!
1. Choose a biography to read. Try to find one that’s not too long! (but not too short - 100 pages or more, please!)
2. As you read, take notes about key events in the person’s life.
3. When you finish your book, you will create a children’s book version of the biography.
4. Your story must have a cover slide and at least 20 pages (slides). The pages should each be written in a manner that a 3rd or 4th grader would understand while still maintaining the integrity of the original book you read. Aim for 3 - 5 sentences per page - but not more than 10 - this IS a kid’s book.
5. Each page should have illustrations that fit each portion of the storybook.
6. Your story must include information from your biography (not the internet!)
- The final slide must have a picture of the book you read and a review of the book. The review should be at LEAST 10 sentences.
- Be mindful of grammar and conventions. Even books that are written in a simple fashion should employ good writing techniques.
The project is being assigned Friday, 1/7/2022 and must be submitted by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. We will view the projects as your presentation after that date. You will also share your review.
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?
