Rising Fifth Grade Students

TITLES:

Students are to choose three books out of this list of recommendations:

v Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

v Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

v Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

v Holes by Louis Sachar

v Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

v Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

v Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien

v Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

v My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

v Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

v Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

v From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiller by E. L. Konigsburg

v Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

v Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska

v National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

v Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

PROJECT GUIDELINES FOR EACH TITLE:

1. Students are required to write two book reports in the following format:

Title

Author Number of Pages

Setting: (When and where the story took place)

Main Characters: (Name and describe the main characters in the story)

Introduction: (How does the story begin?)

Plot: (Give a brief description of the story)

Climax: (Where does the story reach it’s most dramatic or interesting point?)

Conclusion: (How does the story end?)

Your opinion of this book:

2. Book Projects:

In addition, each book report should have one of these projects completed. (Do not complete the same project for both books.)

v Pretend the publishers of this book are looking for a new and exciting book cover design. They ask you to come up with a high quality, attractive cover. Include title, author, an illustration, and an inside cover information summarizing the book.

v Design a “Wanted” poster for one of the main characters in the book. Include the character’s name, physical description, why he or she is wanted, and how much the reward will be. Be creative!!!

v Design a quality t-shirt, advertising your book and its main character. (An actual T-shirt or a paper form of a T-shirt is acceptable)

v Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of the book. Include a written description of the scene.

v Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.

3. Grading:

The book reports will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

v Book Reports

i. Neatness – Reports may be typed or hand written (cursive)

ii. Correct format as stated above

iii. Correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

iv. Complete sentences

v. Content of each book report

v Projects

i. Neatness

ii. Contains all information required by the project

iii. Correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

iv. Creativity

Each of these projects will be displayed in the hallway the first few weeks of school.