June 12, 2019

Dear Eighth Grade Students and Parents,

Although we expect you to read several books over the next two months, the Grade Eight Summer Reading Project will involve the reading of one challenging book from the attached list and the watching of a movie based upon it. The maturity and reading ability of our students vary, and we ask parents to consider their child’s emotional development and help him/her select a book for this assignment based on personal interest, content, and ability. **To help guide you, we have included the Lexile measure next to each title as one indicator of text complexity.

The reading assignment is as follows: Read one novel from the attached list and watch a movie based upon it. Before beginning, study the attached note-taking form and the note-taking sample. As you read and as you watch, take notes to understand the story. After reading, take notes on the attached note taking sheets, noting the techniques that authors/directors use to support a universal message (theme). All of the books are available at local libraries and bookstores. Most of the movies are available at the New Canaan Public Library and can also be purchased through any internet provider with digital movies. The completed note-taking pages will be turned in to your language arts teacher when you return in September and used as the basis for an in-class assignment. You will be required to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of both the book and the movie.

For your generation, the video/dramatic version of a story appears to have become a dominant medium. Can a movie capture an entire book? Think critically as you read the book and view the movie. We look forward to hearing your reactions. Have a wonderful summer! Happy Reading! Your Eighth Grade Language Arts Teachers

468 SOUTH AVENUE, NEW CANAAN, CT 06840 | MAIN: 203.594.4500 | WWW.NCPS-K12.ORG/SAXE | TWITTER: @SAXEMS 

“CELEBRATING OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY THROUGH CARING, COMMUNICATION, & COMMITMENT”

REQUIRED SUMMER READING for LANGUAGE ARTS FALL 2019 – GRADE 8

NOVEL AND FILM LIST

Although we expect you to read several books over the summer, the Grade Eight Summer Reading Project will involve reading one challenging book and watching a movie based upon it. In the fall, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and understanding of both the book and the movie with a stronger emphasis on the book. ***The maturity and reading ability of our students vary, and we ask parents to consider their child’s emotional development and help him/her select a book for this assignment based on personal interest, content, and ability. **To help guide you, we have included the Lexile measure next to each title as one indicator of text complexity.

Author Novel Lexile Movie-date, Actors Movie Ratings Roth Divergent 700 2014/ Woodsley, James, Winslet PG-13 Gipson Old Yeller 910 1957/ McGuire, Parker, Kirk NR Mitchell Gone with the Wind 1100 1939/Gable, Leigh G Austen Emma 1080 1997/Paltrow PG Austen Pride and Prejudice 1190 2005 Universal Studios PG Brashares The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 600 2005/Tamblyn, Bledel, Ferrera PG Du Maurier Rebecca 880 1940/Hitchcock, director Fontaine, Olivier NR Goldman Princess Bride 870 1987/Elwes, Patinken, Reiner PG Dumas Man in the Iron Mask 950 1997/DiCaprio, Irons, Malcovich PG13 Asimov Fantastic Voyage (na) 770 1966/Boyd NR Alcott Little Women 1230 1994/Ryder PG Stockett The Help 730 2011/Stone, Howard, Taylor PG13 Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone(series) 880 2001/Radcliffe, Grint, Harris PG Riordan The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson 680 2010/ Lerman, McKidd, Coogan PG Tolkien Lord of the Rings Trilogy (select one ) 810-920 2001/Wood, McKellen PG13 Stevenson Treasure Island 1100 1989/Heston PG Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo 930 2002/Caviezel, Pearce PG13 S.E.Hinton The Outsiders 750 1983/Dillon,Macchio PG13 Sachar Holes 660 2003/ LaBeouf, Weaver, Voigt PG Hickam, Homer October Sky/Rocket Boys: A Memoir 900 1999/ Gyllenhaal/Cooper PG Mass Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life 770 2011/Sorvino, Pantoliano PG Levine Ella Enchanted 670 2004/Hathaway, Dancy, Elwes PG Zusak Book Thief 730 2013/Nelisse, Rush, Watson PG13 Martel Life of Pi 830 2012/Sharma, Khan, Tabu PG Forman If I Stay 830 2014/ Moretz, Enos, Blackley PG-13

Saxe Language Arts Department 2019

Name:________________________________________________

READ A BOOK, WATCH THE MOVIE

SUMMER READING PROJECT GRADE 8

Directions: After reading your book AND watching your movie, be sure to take notes on this note-taking page as this sheet will help you write an essay for your language arts teacher in the fall. You will also submit this completed page for credit so provide enough detail to show that you have read and watched carefully. You may need to skim the book a second time and watch the movie more than once. We have provided specific criteria that we would like you to examine.

- During reading, take notes as you typically would to comprehend the story (sticky notes, readers’ notebook, double entry journal, etc.) These will not be collected; the purpose is for your own comprehension.

- After you read, stop and take notes in the beginning, middle, and end of the story/movie. The attached forms will be collected.

- Think about the theme that the author is trying to teach you as you take notes, as your notes should support your theory about theme.

- Use the attached author’s techniques/director’s techniques to help guide you. - Be sure to write down page numbers and quotes from the book when judging its ability to tell the

story. (See sample notes included in this packet.)

Sample Note-taking: Bridge to Terabithia

Theme: Friendship allows friends to find their identity and have a safe place to be one’s self. Technique BOOK Technique MOVIE

Characterization:

- Dialogue - Revealing

actions - Point of

view Foreshadowing:

• Opens with the sound of a truck • Jess warns sister to be quiet as he leaves to

run at dawn (sneakiness creates suspense) • Find out he is only boy with 4 sisters, also

fastest runner in school – a 4th grader. • Family is poor, works hard on farm; Jess

has responsibilities • Point of view is Jess’s – “he could hear the

third grade boy’s screaming…” (p. 4)

• Foreshadowing: family moves in to next farm. Was “probably the biggest thing in his life but he didn’t know it then.” (p. 8)

Characterization:

- Dialogue - Revealing

actions - Point of

view - Camera

angles

• Boy is running past a farm house • Girl his age introduces self as new neighbor,

says “nice meeting ya” • Sister tells boy that mother will be angry for

his being late • He yells at her, then comforts (can tell the

boy is loving and not cruel) • Point of view is objective (the camera’s) • Scene changes to school room

Saxe Language Arts Department 2019

THEME (goal):

BEGINNING

Please include quotations (cited correctly) to support your thinking.

Technique BOOK Technique MOVIE

Saxe Language Arts Department 2019

MIDDLE Please include quotations (cited correctly) to support your thinking.

Technique BOOK Technique MOVIE

Saxe Language Arts Department 2019

END Please include quotations (cited correctly) to support your thinking.

Technique BOOK Technique MOVIE

May be reproduced for classroom use. © 2014 by Lucy Calkins and Colleagues from the TCRWP from Units of Study in Argument, Information, and Narrative Writing, Grades 6–8 (firsthand: Portsmouth, NH).

G7B2_CD.indd 14 4/23/14 5:03 PM

 

Directors  

Use Techniques Such As… 

Actor’s Facial Expression 

 

 

Costume 

 

Color 

 

Set/Background 

 

 

Lighting 

 

 

Editing 

 

 

Music 

 

Sound Effects 

 

 

Special Effects 

 

 

Camera Angle 

 

 

 

Actor’s Body Language 

 

Props