Report #1 - November 20

Report #2 - February 10

Report #3 - April 21

Students are required to do a report from each category; one written, one oral, and one creative report. One report must be on a Nonfiction Text Each student will do a report on the book he/she reads before each due date. Plan ahead so that you have time to not only read the book, but complete the report prior to the due date.

Written reports should be typed or neatly written on notebook paper. They should contain carefully checked spelling, punctuation, and paragraph form.

Oral reports are graded on verbal and visual presentation, so prepare and prac-tice ahead of time. Speak loudly and clearly, and strive to keep the interest of your audience.

Creative reports may require more time to prepare, so start early.

** There will be a 5 minute time limit on all oral or creative reports! **

Reports should be a high quality product and be able to be displayed in our hallway as applicable. Videos from any category will be shown in class. GET CREATIVE AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN!!

Remember that each book report must include the title of the book and the author’s name!

Ready, Set… Read!!

1. Rhyme Time! Summarize your novel in the form of a poem. You must compose a minimum of 20 lines. Remember that the key to effective poetry is word selection and your poems do not have to rhyme (regardless of the title of this option). A thesaurus

might come in handy with this one.

2. Tough Cookie! Use the fortunes found in real fortune cookies! Choose 6 characters from your book - remember that charac-ters aren’t always people. Choose a message/fortune for each

character and explain using examples from the story why their

messages are amazingly appropriate. When you turn this one in, you must include the original fortunes in a Ziploc baggie.

3. Square One! Make a crossword puzzle using vocabulary from your book. You want to select words that have to do with the plot of your story. You must have at least 25 entries and 25

clues. The clues should demonstrate that you have read the en-tire story. Please provide one blank copy and one that contains the answers. If you choose, you can distribute your crossword to classmates that you know have read the same book as you. I

wonder how they will do?

Written Reports

4. Surf’s Up! Find and list the top 10 web sites a character in your book would most frequently visit. Include 2 - 3 sentences for each site, describing why your character would find this site meaningful, interesting, or useful.

5. Pop Quiz! Write a test for your novel. Include 10 true/false questions, 10 multiple choice questions, and 10 short essay ques-tions. Don’t make it too easy! Provide two copies of the test - one with answers and one without.

6. The Book Was Better! Compare the book to the movie or televi-

sion version. What aspects of the book have been changed and why? Do these changes make the story better? Describe 6 scenes from the movie in which either the story was changed and is not as good, or in which the story was perfectly filmed just as you imagined it!

7. Setting the Scene! Write a 1 - 2 page research paper on the setting of your novel. Your setting could be a city, like San Francisco, a state, like California, or an environment, like the desert. You could not do a research paper on Gotham City, since

that is not a real place. Try to include interesting details that you didn’t know before, and add 3 illustrations. The illustrations

Written Reports

7. Setting the Scene! Continued…

should not be included when determining the length of the paper. As with all research, put this information into your own words. Do not copy directly from a source. And be sure to tell where you

found your information (Author, Title, Location of source).

8. Out of Time! Display 15 important events from your novel on a poster size timeline. Include at least 5 illustrations. This would be a nice choice for a biography or other nonfiction text. Make sure that your timeline is organized in chronological order (order in

which the actual events took place in the biography or story).

9. Next Question, Please! Write a question and answer interview with one or more of your main characters. You can be a reporter if you like, or you can ask the questions as if you were a close friend. Dig into the details of the story with your questions. Ask

questions about what your characters were thinking and feeling at different points in your book. Find out what your characters learned from their experiences. You need to have a minimum of 15 questions and answers. Get creative with your answers - step into the role of the characters and try to decide what they were

thinking and feeling and learning from the events in your story.

Written Reports

Remember to practice an oral report out loud to make sure you are loud and clear in front of the class. Your presentation is part of your grade. You may not go over 5 minutes.

1. Soundtrack! Choose 5 songs that you would include in a sound-track for your novel if it were a movie. As a portion of your song plays, describe (not read) each scene in your own words and explain why you chose the song for that scene. Due to the 5

minute time limit, each song does not have to play all the way through. Do not choose this report if your book is already a movie. You can easily use your iPod and connect to our classroom speakers. The content of the songs and the lyrics must be appropriate for school and preapproved by your teacher.

2. Shutterbug! Be a photographer and take 15 photos to put onto a poster. Label each photo. In your presentation, explain why

these photos are keepsakes for your character. You could choose to speak as your character, or tell about your character as you would a close friend. Remember, you will be graded on

your description of the photos in your presentation, not the photos themselves.

Oral Reports

3. In the Spotlight! Pretend to be your character on an interview. You can dress up or use props if you wish. You will need a partner to help you present this one. Write 15 or more questions for your-

self to answer, and have your partner be the interviewer. (The partner or interviewer will not receive a grade for this report). Make your questions fun and interesting. Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” unless they include a follow

up “why.” This report could work very well for a biography.

4. Step up your Tech! Create three Prezi presentations on your

three favorite characters. Include for each character three of their outstanding traits. With each character trait, include a quote or quotes from the text that are evidence of that trait. Prezi will allow you to include pics and videos as well. Explore this presentation style and have fun!

5. Stylish! Design costumes for at least 3 of your characters and present and describe them to the class. You could present your costumes in many different ways. You could use sketches and

fabric swatches, actual clothing and accessories, miniature versions of your outfits, computer generated versions shown on the projector: the choice is up to you! Don’t forget accessories or

Oral Reports

5. Stylish! Continued...

items that your characters are never caught without!

6. Getting to Know You! Do some research on your author and pre-

sent your information to the class. As with any research, it must be in your own words and you must tell where the information was found (title of source, author of source, type of source). Tell us all kinds of information. Where is your author from? Which other

books has he/she written? Does your author have any advice for someone who might want to become an author too? You can

present your information in many ways. Use a poster, a Power Point, a Prezi, create a movie, create a mock interview, etc. Include some pictures of your author too. We can’t wait to get to know your author!

7. Double Take! Read two books on the same topic or with similar

subject matter. Then tell us about each book, and give 3 ways the books are alike, and three ways they are different from each other. Be sure to tell us which one you liked better and support

your opinion with why you liked one more than the other.

Oral Reports

8. Spy Kid! You are a foreign spy sent to report on your favorite character who has disappeared. Compile into a secret file as much specific information regarding your character as you can. Where

might your character be found? Whom might they be with? Don’t forget photos. You will present your information to the class as if they will be helping you locate this character. Be sure to give them plenty of details. You can use the projector for this one if you

want. Good luck, 007!

9. Get Packing! Plan a trip with your favorite character! Tell us

where you are going, and bring a suitcase or bag with 10 items that you will bring with you. Explain why a trip with your charac-ter requires you to bring each item. Make your items interesting and able to teach us about the character you are traveling with. For example, everyone would bring a toothbrush - this would not

be an interesting item specific to your character.

10. Party Planner! Plan a party for a character. Tell your audi-ence what kind of party you are having (birthday, anniversary,

etc.). Design and show the audience an invitation to the party which would appeal to all the characters. Tell what foods you would serve and why. Tell what games or entertainment you would

Oral Reports

10. Party Planner! Continued…

provide and why your choices are appropriate. Tell how three of the characters will behave at the party and what is behind their

actions. Tell what gifts, if any, are given and why the character would like them.

Oral Reports

1. Technical Genius! Create and present to the class a slide presentation (or movie) about the setting of your novel. Remember that setting is the time and location that your novel

takes place. Your slide show/movie should include a minimum of 10 slides. As with all research, put the information in your own words and tell where you obtained your information, including the type of source, title, and author. Do not quote directly

from you book or source unless you use a footnote giving credit to the author of the book.

2. Show Me the Movie! Make a movie of your friends and you acting out a scene from your book. Make sure that you write your script first! The script should be written by you and not taken directly from the book. Then show the movie to the class.

3. Job Hunter! Get your hands on actual application forms from

three different companies or businesses. Fill them out as your character would. Include as many details as possible. Focus on your character’s skills and abilities or life experience. You may

have to elaborate a little. Have fun with this one!

Creative Reports

4. Making a Scene! Create a diorama of a scene from your book.

Use a variety of materials to create your environment, but try to avoid pre-made objects or props. Do not use Legos or any Lego

people. Include as many details as possible in your scene. Don’t save this one until the last minute as it may take some time to create!

5. Comic Relief! Create three comic strips. Each should summarize a chapter from your book. You can choose the chapters that you found the most interesting, or show us what happened in the

beginning, middle, and end of your book. Comic strips should have neat illustrations, be legible, and include comments or thoughts of your character during the chapter or scene.

6. Master Chef! Videotape yourself in your kitchen preparing a recipe that is in or related to your novel. You could also prepare a dish you would serve if you were having one of your characters

over for dinner. Remember you are limited to 5 minutes, so edit carefully. Be sure to describe the steps you are taking while cooking; don’t summarize the story. Feel free to bring some of your finished product in to class in individual servings (no peanuts please).

Creative Reports

7. Map it Out! Make a poster-sized map of the setting of your

novel. Remember that the setting includes the time and place in which the story takes place. You can show time period by including

pictures of things on your map that have to do with the period of time in your story. You can use ink, paint, chalk, or any combi- nation of these materials. Your map should be detailed and easy to read.

8. Piece by Piece! Make a mosaic of a scene or character using

birdseed, peas, beans, noodles, beads, etc. Be creative - lots of things will work. Be sure to mount your mosaic on something sturdy (like cardboard or wood) as some can get quite heavy.

9. Wear a Jacket! Design an entire book jacket for your novel. In-clude an interesting cover (including title and author’s name), write a short summary of the novel for the two inside jacket flaps, and

finish with some information about your author on the back cover. Maybe you can find a picture of your author too. Look at an actual book jacket before you take on this project. And always remember to give credit to where you found your research and make sure you write the information in your own words.

Creative Reports

10. Pass the Popcorn! Your favorite novel has been made into a

movie! Design a full-size movie poster advertising the film. Include a striking illustration, the title, author, the director, and names of

starring actors and actresses (have fun casting the roles for this movie). Remember that every movie poster has a tagline (catch phrase) as well. Make your poster fun, colorful, and attractive to draw in a big crowd on opening night! Please do not choose this option if your book has already been made into a movie.

Creative Reports