Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 5th Graders
Title:
Number the Stars
Author:
Lois Lowry
Assignment: Chapter Summary and Reading Response Journal
Directions:
After reading each chapter of Number the Stars, write a summary which includes the
main idea and supporting details of each chapter. Then, write another brief
paragraph in which you express your thoughts and feelings about that chapter.
Use the following “starters" to help you write your responses. We want to know what you
are thinking about and how you feel as you read this story. Support your work with
specific examples from the story whenever possible. The more details you add, the
better your work will be. Most of all, it is hoped that you enjoy reading this story and are
motivated to continue reading throughout the summer.
Reader Response - Journal Starters: I was surprised when / angry about / satisfied with / moved by / incredulous at/... I liked the way the author... I noticed how the author... I don’t get why the author... I f I were the author I would have... I’d compare this author to ... This book reminded me of... The main character... The character development... The narrative voice... I wish that... I didn’t agree with... I understood... I couldn’t understand... Why did... This is how I read this book... I rated this one because... I was struck by / interested in / convinced by this passage “...” The climax of the plot... shows ... about this author’s writing. The resolution of the main character’s problem... The genre of this book... The climax of the plot... I’d say a theme of this book is... The structure of this book... *DueuponreturntoschoolinSeptember*
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 6th Graders
Title:
My Life in Dog Years
Author:
Gary Paulsen
Assignment: Reader Response Journal
Directions:
As you read each chapter of My Life in Dog Years, think about your feelings, reactions,
thoughts and ideas. Write a journal entry after each chapter that you read. Use one
of the “starters” from the list below or come up with one of your own. You can't be
wrong in your responses, so take risks and be honest. You are not required to
summarize each chapter, but write your own reaction to what you have read.
Sometimes a summary might be necessary to get your point across but a chapter by
chapter summary is not what is expected. We want to know what you are thinking about
and how you feel as you read this story. Support your work with specific examples from
the story whenever possible. The more details you add, the better your work will be.
Most of all, it is hoped that you enjoy reading this nonfiction story and are motivated to
continue reading throughout the summer.
Reader Response - Journal Starters: > Choose one each time you write a journal entry OR come up with your own. Try and
use a different “starter”
I'm not sure _______ .
I began to think ________.
I love the way _________ .
I felt sad when _________.
I like the way the author ________ .
I wonder _________ .
I can't believe _________ .
I wonder why ________
If I were __________ .
I felt sad when _________.
I like the part where
This made me think of _______.
I wish that _______
I was surprised_________.
It seems like __________ .
I'm not sure _________.
I began to think of __________ .
I really don’t understand how___________.
I really like/dislike this idea because __________ .
If I were (name of character) at this point, I would ___________ .
This part is very realistic/unrealistic because ___________ .
I like/dislike (name of character) because __________ .
This situation reminds me of a similar situation in my own life. It happened when ____________ .
*DueuponreturntoschoolinSeptember*
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 7th Graders
Title:
So B. It
Author:
Sarah Weeks
Assignment: Reader Response Activities
*Choose two assignments from the choice board below to complete.
*Support your work with specific examples from the story whenever possible. The more
details you add, the better your work will be. Most of all, it is hoped that you enjoy
reading this story and are motivated to continue reading throughout the summer.
Pretend you are Heidi. Write a
Retell the story of So B. It in your own Design a movie poster for the novel.
friendly letter to Bernadette
words - to an audience. Have
Provide a large illustration/picture as
expressing your feelings about what someone record or videotape you. well as a brief synopsis (what it’s
you went through in the novel.
This should be at least 3 minutes about). Select actors to play the
long.
major characters. Give it a rating.
Write a song (rap or other) about the
Create a special edition of a
Write a poem about coming of age as
role that truth plays in the novel.
newspaper with at least five articles it relates to the novel. Use at least
Use at least three examples of
that describe characters and events three examples of figurative language
figurative language and three sound from the book. Include a newspaper
and three sound devices.
devices. Perform and record your
title and headlines for each article.
song or choose an existing melody.
You may also include pictures,
captions, obituaries, ads, and letters
to the editor.
Create a Venn diagram and compare Create a map of Heidi’s bus journey. Create a “soundtrack” for the book.
yourself to Heidi. Explain yourself Include whom she met and what she Choose at least ten songs, and set
where necessary.
learned along the way. Your map them to particular scenes in the book.
Provide lyrics and explain why each
should be colorful.
song fits a particular scene.
Provide illustrations for at least 7
scenes in the book. Describe/label
each illustration.
Act out two scenes from the book. Create a scrapbook for Heidi. Include
Have someone videotape your
pictures, captions, and other
performance. You may include other mementos that detail what Heidi
people in your video.
experiences in the novel.
*DueuponreturntoschoolinSeptember*
Summer Reading Assignment for Incoming 8th Graders
Title:
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Author:
Mark Twain
Assignment: Reader Response Activities
*Choose two assignments from the choice board below to complete.
*Support your work with specific examples from the story whenever possible. The more
details you add, the better your work will be. Most of all, it is hoped that you enjoy
reading this story and are motivated to continue reading throughout the summer.
Retell the story of The Adventures of Design a movie poster for the novel.
Pretend you are Tom. Write a
Tom Sawyer in your own words - to Provide a large illustration/picture as
friendly letter to Aunt Polly
expressing your feelings about events an audience. Have someone record or well as a brief synopsis (what it’s
videotape you. This should be at least about). Select actors to play the major
from the novel.
3 minutes long.
characters. Give it a rating.
Write a song (rap or other) about how
Tom’s actions affect other characters
in the novel.
Use at least three examples of
figurative language and three sound
devices. Perform and record your
song or choose an existing melody.
Create a special edition of a
Write a poem about coming of age as
newspaper with at least five articles it relates to the novel. Use at least
that describe characters and events three examples of figurative language
from the book. Include a newspaper
and three sound devices.
title and headlines for each article.
You may also include pictures,
captions, obituaries, ads, and letters
to the editor.
Create a Venn diagram and compare Create a map of St. Petersburg that Create a “soundtrack” for the book.
yourself to Tom. Explain yourself outlines Tom’s adventures. Number Choose at least ten songs, and set
them in order. Your map should be them to particular scenes in the book.
where necessary.
colorful.
Provide lyrics and explain why each
song fits a particular scene.
Provide illustrations for at least 7
scenes in the book. Describe/label
each illustration.
Act out two scenes from the book. Create a scrapbook for Tom. Include
pictures, captions, and other
Have someone videotape your
mementos that detail what Tom
performance. You may include other
experiences in the novel.
people in your video.
*DueuponreturntoschoolinSeptember*
9TH – 12TH GRADE SUMMER READING RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT
DIALECTICAL JOURNALS
The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation
involving question and answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a series of conversations with
the text as you read. Your journal is due on the first day of school. All entries should be
hand written.
PROCEDURE:
o
o
o
o
o
o
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Divide the page in half vertically.
In the left column record passages from the text – include the page number.
In the right column respond to each recorded passage.
Fahrenheit 451- Complete an entry for every four pages of text in a marble
composition notebook.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Complete an entry for every six pages of text
in a marble composition notebook.
The Things They Carried – Complete 2 entries for every chapter of text in a
marble composition notebook.
Into the Wild - Complete an entry for every five pages of text in a marble
composition notebook.
CHOOSING PASSAGES FROM THE TEXT (LEFT COLUMN):
Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking, or puzzling. For example, you
might record:
o Effective and/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices.
o Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before.
o Structural shifts or turns in the plot.
o A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before.
o Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
o Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary.
o Events you find surprising or confusing.
o Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting.
RESPONDING TO THE TEXT (RIGHT COLUMN):
Once you have identified a passage from the text, respond using one of the following methods:
o Ask about something in the passage that is unclear.
o Record the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the context of the sentence, surrounding
sentences, paragraph, etc.
o Make a connection to your life, the world, or another text.
o Predict what will occur based on what’s in the passage.
o Answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction.
o Think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense. What conclusions can you
draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work?
o Make a judgment about the character(s), their actions, or what the author is trying to say.
o Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery).
o Make connections between different characters or events in the text.
o Analyze a passage and its relationship to the story as a whole.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Passage
Response
“With his symbolic helmet numbered 451
on his stolid head…he flicked the igniter
and the house jumped up in a gorging fire
that burned the evening sky read and
yellow and black” (3).
Bradbury starts off the book with the image of what
seems to be a firefighter, but ironically it seems that
instead of putting out fires, this character is starting
them. I also noticed that the number on his helmet is
the same number in the title of the book, so this must
be one of the main characters.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Passage
Response
“If growing up is painful for the Southern
Black girl, being aware of her
displacement is the rust on the razor that
threatens the throat” (4).
Angelou uses a striking metaphor at the opening of the
book that compares living in the South to a razor at a
person’s throat. This makes me think that the setting is
during a time of racial segregation. The perspective
and awareness of the speaker being the rust on that
knife further foreshadows the difficulties the speaker
will face while living in the South.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Passage
Response
“…they carried like freight trains; they
carried it on their backs and shoulders-and
for all the ambiguities of Vietnam, all the
mysteries and unknowns, there was at
least the single abiding certainty that they
would never be at a loss for things to
carry” (2).
O’Brien chooses to end the first section of the novel
with this sentence.
He provides excellent visual
details of what each solider in Vietnam would carry for
day-to-day fighting. He makes you feel the physical
weight of what soldiers have to carry for simple
survival. When you combine the emotional weight of
loved ones at home, the fear of death, and the
responsibility for the men you fight with, with this
physical weight, you start to understand what soldiers
in Vietnam dealt with every day.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Passage
Response
“Gallien wondered whether he’d picked up
one of those crackpots from the lower
forty-eight who come north to live out illconsidered Jack London fantasies” (4).
Krakauer starts the book with a foreboding tone with
his use of the words “crackpots” and “ill-considered”.
This is further illustrated with the allusion to Jack
London, an author who wrote of Alaskan adventures
that are probably not able to be replicated if attempted
by someone in real life. This makes me think that the
main character might not survive his stay in Alaska.