Augusta Raa Performing Arts Magnet Middle School
Summer 2016
Seventh Grade Summer Reading
All students entering seventh grade in August 2016 at Raa Middle School will read the
book Downriver by Will Hobbs. ALL students will answer questions while reading and
turn those questions in the first week of school. Students in gifted/talented classes will
have a project due Friday, August 19th.
Downriver: Seven teenagers sent to
a nine week wilderness survival camp
known as “Hoods in the Woods”. The idea
of the program is to help the troubled teens
"find themselves" by putting them in lifethreatening situations that they work as a
group to resolve. What are the
consequences to their decisions and
potential reckless actions? Read to find
out!
Read Downriver in
Ten Weeks:
A suggested pacing
guide!
Chapters 1-3 – June 6th-10th
Purchase your book at Raa Middle
st
School after May 1 !
Chapters 4-6 – June 13th-17th
Why Summer Reading and Downriver?
Chapters 7-8 – June 20th-24th
th
Chapters 9-10 – June 27 -July 1
st
Chapters 11-12 – July 4th-8th
Chapters 13-14 – July 11th-15th
Chapters 15-16 - July 18th – 22nd
Chapters 17-18 – July 25th – 29th
August 1st-5th – Final Project
August 8th-12th – Make sure
everything is ready to turn in to
your language arts teacher!
*** If you are planning to
enroll in a gifted/talented
class, please refer to the
school website for your
final book project
instructions!***
Research has shown that students who do not read during the summer lose three
months of reading gains. Raa Middle School is committed to ensuring students
continue to grow and expand their reading comprehension skills, not lose them.
Downriver is a coming-of-age young adult novel about a group of young people who
have been arrested for non-violent offenses. Their parents have opted to send them
to a survival camp instead of juvenile detention. The seven teens do not know what to
expect. They are forced to deal with the issues of leadership, peer pressure,
responsibility, and acceptance. These topics are important for students who are
growing up and making choices that could impact their lives. Students who read this
novel during the summer will be able to share their own growing up experiences,
compared to those in the novel, with a literary experience that allows us to guide them
through critical thinking and decision making. This novel is also cross-curricular as it
covers many themes covered in civics, teen court, and adjudication of juveniles here in
Florida.
***Per School Board Policy 2240, Leon County Schools recognizes that certain
instructional materials may conflict with a student’s or parent’s value system. In
such cases, a parent may request in writing an alternative summer reading
assignment. Please direct inquiries to Jessica Fuesy, Assistant Principal at Raa
Middle School.***
Steps to a Successful Ramtastic Summer!
1.
2.
3.
Read at least 15 minutes four days a week!
Follow the suggested reading guide!
Answer the guided reading questions AS you are reading,
and not after you finish the entire book.
Guided Reading Questions: Answer all questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES!
Chapters 1-3 (June 6th – June 10th)
1. In Chapters 1-3 of Downriver, Will Hobbs gives us a little background on each of the characters
in this novel. In a sentence or two (for each character), describe each of the following
characters only using information from chapters 1-3: Jesse, Star, Heather, Rita, Troy, Pug,
Freddie, Adam, and Al.
2. Look up these words and write the definition: hypothermia, dehydration, and heat stroke.
These words will be important to your reading!
3. What does it mean to “blow the whistle”?
4. Why do you think it is so difficult for these kids to share information about themselves?
5. Do you think Jessie has a right to be so tough on her father? Explain why or why not in two
sentences.
Chapters 4-6 (June 13th-17th)
1. In chapter 4, what trick do the girls play on the boys after returning from the mountain-climbing
trip? How do the boys retaliate? What is the result?
2. In chapter 4, what does Jessie discover about Star after the mountain climbing incident? Why do
you think the author included this scene? Explain in two sentences.
3. Do you think Jessie will reconcile with her dad? What in chapter 5 makes you think that?
4. In chapter 6 the group heads to the Grand Canyon, whom does Jessie feel their lives will depend
on? What action shows her fear and hesitation?
5. What is the point of departure? What happens?
Chapters 7-8 (June 20th-24th)
1. Who seems to be the leader in the group? Is he a natural leader or “self-appointed”? Explain
your answer in two sentences.
2. In chapter 8, what do Star and Jesse reveal to each other?
3. A metaphor is a comparison of two things. Find a metaphor on page 66.
4. A simile is a comparison of two things but uses the words like or as to make the comparison.
Find a simile on page 79.
5. What is “soul-color”? What would your “soul-color” be?
6. In these chapters, focus on what you see, hear, taste, feel, and smell. Explain in two sentences!
Chapters 9-10 (June 27th –July 1st)
1. Look up the following words and write down the definitions: cavorting, crystalline, and rouge.
These words will help you understand what is going on in these chapters.
2. Why is the climb to the cave important to the story?
3. A big crisis happens in this chapter. What is it, and do you think the seven will survive? Explain
in two sentences why you think that.
4. Jessie is having flashbacks about her dad. What do these flashbacks tell us about Jessie?
5. Focus on your emotions after the first big crisis. How would you be feeling and thinking if you
were in that situation? Explain why in two or three sentences.
Chapters 11-12 (July 3rd – 8th)
1. Al has re-appeared. Why do you think Troy wants to get rid of Al? Why does Freddy want to
keep Al?
2. Why is the guidebook so important?
3. What does Jessie notice about Freddy when they go through Hance?
4. What conflicts amongst the characters have arisen since Al reappears?
Chapters 13-14 (July 11th-15th)
1. Look up the following words in the dictionary and write down the definitions: regalia, tandem,
and vantage. These words will help you understand what is going on in these chapters.
2. What is significant (important) about Jessie not taking Troy’s side? What does this say about
Jessie?
3. Explain the conflict between Troy and Freddy as the group approaches Crystal.
4. Why are the results of Troy’s actions?
5. Focus on the problems the group is encountering. What do you think will happen to the group?
Chapters 15-16 (July 18 -22)
1. Look up the following words in the dictionary and write down the definitions: deluge and
vindicated. These words will help you understand what is going on in these chapters.
2. Draw a picture of what happened during the night.
3. Think about the two sides that have formed. If you had to choose a side, which side would you
choose?
4. Who is a better leader: Troy, Freddy, or Jessie? Explain your choice in two sentences.
Chapters 17-18 (July 25-29)
1. What happens to all the members of the group?
2. What specifically happens to Troy? What lesson might this teach readers?
3. What lesson can you learn from Jessie?
Writing Project (August 1-5)
Consider the possible themes (little life lesson) in the book: courage, heroes, leadership, accepting
responsibility for your actions, trust, and friendship. Write a paragraph (7-9 sentences) explaining the
theme. Make sure you include the following:
1. The theme you chose.
2. The lesson the book teaches about theme. Give examples from the text.
3. Why this theme is so important to teach to students your age.
Wrap Up any loose ends (August 8-12)
Downriver Gifted/Talented Project!
Newspaper Book Report
This book report takes the form of a newspaper. Use the following requirements to
design and lay out your book report. Place the articles and features where you think
they fit best. Your newspaper should be neat, clean and free of
spelling/grammar/punctuation errors. Since all of this will not fit on a single sheet of
paper, you may have to use two or three sheets and staple them together.
Check off each requirement after you’ve completed it.
REQUIREMENTS
TITLE/NAME OF NEWSPAPER (5 points)
Create a title for your newspaper. It can be related to the book or one of the
characters in the book. Don’t forget to include your name as the editor.
ARTICLES
Summary (10 points)
At the top of the first page, write a summary of Downriver in a well-developed
paragraph.
1. Make sure your summary answers who, what, where, when, and why.
2. Create a headline that relates to the summary.
Teen Court for Juveniles (15 points)
First you will research Teen Court using this website:
http://198.180.240.206/teenCourt//
1. Describe what teen court is, who qualifies, how teens are involved…etc.
2. Create a headline that relates to the article.
3. Include a picture
A Character in Teen Court (15 points)
You will choose a character from Downriver who would most benefit from Teen
Court. You must have already researched Teen Court to do this section
1. In a good paragraph, explain who that character is and why he/she
would most benefit.
2. What would his/her sanction be and why?
3. Create a headline that relates to this section.
4. Include a picture of the sanction you choose.
Leadership (15 points)
Leadership is very important in the book Downriver.
1. Come up with FIVE most important traits good leaders need to possess.
2. Why are these traits important - - use evidence and examples from
Downriver to explain your answer.
FEATURES
Editorial (10 points)
Choose an issue related to your book and take a position on it.
1. Write a letter to the editor describing how you feel about this issue.
2. Think carefully and honestly about what you want to say.
3. Create a headline for the editorial.
Comics (10 Points)
Design a four-panel comic strip that illustrates the importance of leadership in
Downriver.
1. Use the four squares as a guide or as the actual comic strip.
2. Create a title for your strip.
Advertisements, Crosswords, and More (5 Points)
All the space in your newspaper should be filled. After you have written all that is
required, be creative to fill up the remaining spaces. Suggested possibilities include
want ads, advertisements, crossword puzzles, word searches, riddles, or obituaries if a
character in the book dies. Make sure everything relates to the story you read.
15 points for neatness, organization, spelling, and conventions.
***Due in class the first week of school!***