HSI-Dallas Summer Reading Project Summer 2014 For Incoming 8th Graders The summer slide: it sounds fun, but it can make the transition from sixth to seventh grade really difficult. Harmony students can start strong in the fall if their reading habits don’t slide away during the summer. The more students read, the stronger their skills are in all subject areas. Students will need to read 2 of the following novels for their summer homework. Students are allowed to choose any two novels from the list. You do not need to purchase these novels, only read them. Should you choose to purchase these books, retailers such as Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Half Price Books, etc. should have them. Book titles indicated with an asterisk (*) may be found for free online at Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.us) and read either on a computer or an e-reader. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (*) Divergent by Veronica Roth The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (*) The Lord of the Flies by William Golding (*) The Giver by Lois Lowry The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw After reading, student will choose two projects from the list below to complete during the summer. (Both projects must be different.) These projects are due on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20. Please make sure to bring these projects with you to your English class. 1. Paper Bag Book Talk – Take a plain brown paper shopping bag and fill it with 5-7 items that represent important parts of the story: characters, setting, and conflict. You will use these props as you present your book report, explaining the significance of each item. The outside of the paper bag should be decorated to fit the theme of the story and should include the book’s title and author. 2. Movie Poster – Pretend that your book is being made into a movie, and create a movie poster for it. Poster must look like a real movie poster, list the important characters and which actors/actresses would play them in the movie. You will present your report by pretending you are a movie critic reviewing the movie. You must explain the plot of the movie and why audiences should or should not bother to go to the theater to see it. The review should be written and attached to the back of the movie poster. 3. New Hit CD – Create a soundtrack for both of your novels. Songs must be school appropriate and reflect the theme, conflicts, mood, tone, characters, or plot of both your novel choices. CD’s must be turne in with a case with appropriate cover art and a table of contents labeling each track with its appropriate title and connection. Students will present 1 track off the CD in class and explain the connection. CD’s must have a minimum of 6 songs and a maximum of 10 songs. 4. Puppet Show – You will create a puppet of each of the main characters in your two summer reading novels and write a scene where they meet and discuss solutions to their problems. Create puppets, a script, and a backdrop. Your puppets may be made of paper lunch bags, craft sticks, or any other materials that are easy to find. Additionally, you must introduce your scene, explaining how it fits into both of the stories. 5. Role Play – Choose three chapters from the book and write a script that highlights the events of those three chapters. You must submit a written script of the role play. Students will be “in character” when they perform and use props and costumes to enhance the presentation.
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