Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School
14900 Kyle Seale Parkway ◊ San Antonio, Texas 78255
210-397-8400 ◊ 210-695-3830
www.nisd.net/garcia
Tracy Wernli, Principal
Veronica Poblano, Academic Dean
Sherry Mireles, Vice Principal
Theresa Diaz, Assistant Principal
GT/ Pre-AP Texas History 2017 Summer Project
We are proud to introduce the HGMS Pre-AP Texas History Summer Reading Project. Research has
shown that students who read during the summer months retain more knowledge and enter the new
school year more prepared than students who do not engage in summer reading. Reading is an
important skill that is the foundation of not only current academic success, but success as an adult. The
HGMS History Summer Reading Project is a great opportunity for our students, because it gives them
the opportunity to enjoy books in a relaxed environment and encourages the development of a lifelong
love of reading. All History Pre-AP students attending Garcia Middle School for the 2017-2018 school
year will be required to complete the summer reading project. Please read this information carefully.
This project will be one of the first assessment grades earned in history class.
Project is due on Friday, September 15, 2017.
Step 1: You will need to get the following book to read over the summer break. Your project
and analysis sheets will be completed using this book.
Dark Water Rising by
Marian Hale
How will you be graded?
20% - Summarization Analysis
50% - Project Menu selection (choose 1)
30% - Reading Questions
Step 2: Complete any ONE of the projects from the menu provided. (See attached form
labeled menu.) Students will pick only one option from the menu to complete and turn in
on September 15th, 2017
Step 3: Complete the Summarization Analysis Sheet and the Primary Source Analysis Sheet.
The Summarization Analysis, Project Menu selection, and Reading
Questions are all due:
Friday, September 15, 2017
**NO EXCEPTIONS**
Pre-AP Texas Summer Reading Project Menu
2017-2018
Board Game
 At least 4 thematic game pieces.
 At least 25 colored/thematic
squares.
 At least 20 question/activity
cards.
 Include a thematic title on the
board.
 Include a complete set of rules
for playing the game.
 At least the size of an open file
folder.
Brochure/
Pamphlet
 At least 8.5” by 11”
 Must be in three-fold format;
front fold has the title and
picture.
 Must have both pictures and
written text.
 Information should be in
paragraph form with at least five
facts included.
 Can be created on computer.
 Any pictures from Internet must
have proper credit.
Video Play
 Must be between 5-10
minutes long.
 Script must be turned in with
video play.
 Should have props or some
form of costume(s).
 Can include more than one
person.
 Must be sent by e-mail, flash
drive, or DVD.
Poster Board
 Should be the size of a
standard poster board.
 Must provide an over view of
the book.
 Must have at least five pieces
of important information
from the book.
 Must have title
 Must contain both words and
pictures.
 Name should be written on
the back.
Cartoon or Comic
Strip
 At least 8.5” by 11”
 At least 6 cells on each
side of the paper.
 Must have meaningful
dialogue.
 Must include color.
Video Commercial
 Must be 4-6 minutes in
length.
 Script must be turned in with
commercial.
 Must be sent by e-mail, flash
drive, or DVD.
 Should have props or some
form of costume(s).
 Can include more than one
person.
Class Game
 Game will allow everyone
in a class to play.
 Must have only a few,
easy-to-understand rules.
 Should be inventive or a
new variation on a current
game.
 Must have multiple
question opportunities.
 Must provide answer key
when turning in game.
PowerPoint
 At least 15 slides and one
title slide with student’s
name.
 No more than 15 words
per slide.
 Slides must have color and
no more than one graphic
per slide.
Chapter Scrapbook
 Each chapter must have a
page in the scrapbook.
 Cover of scrapbook must
have a meaningful title and
student’s name.
 Must have at least three
themed pages per chapter.
 Each page will have at least
one meaningful picture.
 All photos must have
captions.
Name_____________________ Class Period
Date
Summarization Analysis
Pre-AP Texas History 2017 Summer Project
Name of Book:
Author:
Topic of the novel:
Protagonist:
Antagonist:
Main Characters and explain who they are and their role:
Setting: (include time period and place)
Type(s) of conflict
(i.e. human vs. nature, human vs. human, etc.):
Interesting historical facts included in the novel (minimum of 4):
Describe the most interesting chapter in the novel: (include why you
thought it was most interesting)
Social Studies Summer Reading Questions
Complete the following questions on your own paper as you read the novel. Keep in mind that the page numbers in the
questions may vary slightly depending on what copy of the book you have.
Chapter 1: 1. Tell three facts about Galveston during 1900 mentioned in this chapter.
2. Dark Water Rising is told from ____________’s point-of-view. This is called______-person.
Chapter 2: 3. Why did Seth think Ben and Lucas would make good doctors? Does Seth want to be a doctor? How
do you know?
Chapter 3: 4. Why was Seth grinning at Matt after supper? Would you have grinned if that was you? Explain.
Chapter 4: 5. What simile did Seth use about how the ocean made him feel?
Chapter 5: 6. What is your impression of Henry Covington? How does Seth feel around Henry?
Chapter 6: 7. To what did the author compare the connection between Zachary, Josiah, and Seth on page 49?
Chapter 7: 8. Explain why all the roofs in Galveston are slate.
Chapter 8: 9. Explain Josiah’s actions on page 63.
Chapter 9: 10. What did Seth see everywhere he looked? (p. 72)
Chapter 10: 11. What was the problem with slate shingles?
Chapter 11: 12. Explain Seth’s decision of objects to put in his pockets. (p. 84)
Chapter 12: 13. What is Seth’s biggest concern? (p. 96)
Chapter 13: 14. Describe the problem with the cisterns. Why is this bad for everyone?
Chapter 14: 15. What simile was used to describe the bodies tied to the nun’s body?
Chapter 15: 16. Why couldn’t Josiah call Seth by just his first name? Is this still true today? Explain.
Chapter 16: 17. What did the author mean on page 122 by “stories crowded the streets”? Describe Aunt Julia’s
house after the storm.
Chapter 17: 18. How was Matt reacting to what he had seen?
Chapter 18: 19. Whose job was it to clear away the corpses?
Chapter 19: 20. What did the author mean on page 157 by this sentence: “There just weren’t words big enough to
speak of such things.”
Chapter 20: 21. Describe Ella Rose’s actions on page 164.
Chapter 21: 22. Why are the bodies being burned?
Chapter 22: 23. List 5 things that showed life was returning to normal in Galveston.
Chapter 23: 24. Should Seth’s family move away from Galveston? Explain your answer.
Chapter 24: 25. Explain Seth’s feelings when he realized his father was watching him work on page 194.
Chapter 25: 26. What metaphor did the author use on p. 202?
Chapter 26: 27. List two reminders of the hurricane and three ways Galveston was recovering on page 203.
Chapter 27: 28. What fraction of students was missing from school when it reopened?
Chapter 28: 29. What was Seth hoping to avoid on page 212?
(Adapted from http://www.thomas.k12.ga.us/userfiles/435/Classes/31107/Dark%20Water%20Rising%20questions%20final%20project.pdf )