Woodville Middle School
Summer Reading Assignment
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream
school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new
classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller, begins from
Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates’, his sister’s, her boyfriend’s, and others’. These
perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. R.J.
Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater
appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that
you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.
After reading Wonder by R. J. Palacio, you will complete a three-part assignment:
1. Creating and sending your precept
2. TWO Written Responses
3. A creative project
Precept Project: Reread the precepts generated by Mr. Browne’s students at the back of the novel. (Precepts are
directions given as rules of action or conduct.) Think about a message that you would choose to act on as your own
personal precept. You must create your own personal precept to live by this school year or borrow a quotation, song
lyric, poem verse, etc. from someone else as long as you give them credit for their work. (Although you may borrow an
idea or quotation from another source, you may not use one of the precepts included in the novel). Your precept about
your beliefs and/or values should be: global, inspirational and/or motivational, and attributed to its source (you or
another author). You can design your postcard on the computer, buy one and write your precept on, or draw it your
self. Make sure you write a note explaining why you think the precept is an important rule to live by!
Example:
Front
Back
Dear WMS,
“Your deeds are
your monuments.”
-Mr. Browne
I think that “Your deeds are your
monuments” is an important rule
to live by. Monuments are left
behind as a reminder of
something or someone; they are
what people are remembered for.
Your deeds are your actions and
accomplishments. I know that
what I do in life is what I will be
remembered for. When I think
about that, I am inspired to do
better and be better so that my
monument is one I can be proud
of!
Sincerely,
Student name
Stamp
Woodville Middle School
1900 Natural Bridge Road
Tallahassee, Florida
32305
Once you have created your own precept to live by, write it on a postcard and mail it to:
Woodville Middle School
1900 Natural Bridge Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32305
Written Response Assignment (complete 2)
***This ONE is required
 Write a letter from August’s point of view (First person point of view) explaining the conflict in the
story. Write the letter to a “pen pal” who does not know the other characters or the situation in which
August finds himself.
***Choose ONE of the three below
 Choose two characters from the book and one choice that each character made. Write a paragraph or
create a diagram comparing and contrasting the characters’ choices.
 Write a well-written paragraph identifying the rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of the
book.
 Write a well-written paragraph explaining what you think the author’s main purpose for the story is. In
addition to the purpose, include a possible theme and explain it.
All writing assignments should include basic paragraph construction including a topic sentence, supporting
sentences with specific details, and a concluding sentence. Assignments should be typed if a computer is
available. A handwritten assignment will be accepted.
Each activity should be on a separate sheet of paper.
Written Response Scoring Rubric
Score and Criteria
8-point response clearly demonstrates exceptional understanding of the task, completes all requirements,
and provides an insightful explanation/opinion that links to or extends aspects of the text.
6-7-point response demonstrates a basic understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides
some explanation/opinion using situations or ideas from the text as support.
4-5-point response may address all of the requirements, but demonstrates a partial understanding of the task,
and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an inconsistent or flawed explanation.
2-3-point response demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete the requirements,
and provides only a vague reference to or no use of the text.
Response does not provide enough information for the teacher to evaluate.
1-point response is irrelevant or off-topic or has been plagiarized.
Creative Projects
Students must choose ONE of the projects below to complete at home.
Choice #1: Book Jacket
Create a colorful, engaging book jacket that includes the following:
Cover: New cover for the book with illustration, title, author, and student name.
Inner Flap (left side): Summary –Sequential summary of key story events from the exposition, rising
action, climax, falling action and conclusion of the novel.
Inner Flap (right side): Text connections (text to text, text to self or text to world)
Back Flap: Theme – Description of the theme supported with examples from the story.
Rubric:
The summary is detailed and well written; the jacket is colorful, neat, and eye catching, the text connection is
meaningful and purposeful, careful proofreading is evident, and the theme is thoughtful and clearly explained.
(8 points)
Story summary (2 points)
Picture (2 points)
Theme / Text connection (2 points)
Grammar, spelling, mechanics (2 points)
Choice #2: Bookmark
Create an eye-catching bookmark that complements your summer reading book by illustrating a key event
that is pivotal to the climax and list 3 examples of figurative language used to bring key details and events to
life (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, etc.). The exact sentence from the novel
containing the example of figurative language must be included, along with the page number and labeled with
the type of figurative language it reflects. (8 points)
Format: (bookmark should be no smaller than 8 ½” x 3 ½”)
Front: Title, author, setting, theme
Back: 3 examples of figurative language
Rubric:
Title, author, setting (2 points)
Illustration is detailed, colorful and clearly a key event (2 points)
3 examples of figurative language (labeled), page number (2 points)
Grammar, spelling, mechanics (2 points)
Choice #3: Scrapbook
The scrapbook will include pictures, artifacts, and a short description that demonstrates the students’
understanding of and reflection on the novel, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. In addition, the student will design an
attractive cover or title page including the title of the novel and the author. (8 points)
Pages should include the following topics (organized in this order): 1. Setting 2. Characters 3. Major plot
events 4. Themes / lessons learned 5. One significant quote
Rubric:
Cover with title and author noted (2 points)
Each page topic includes pictures and a short description that explains its relevance to the novel (2
points)
Correct spelling, grammar, mechanics (2 points)
Creativity, neatness (2 Points)