Summer Reading
Requirement
Students entering 5th
grade will be expected to read
at least ONE book and complete a project based on their
summer reading selection.
These projects are designed to promote creativity,
engagement, and fun with
reading. Students will have
the choice of selecting from a
variety of projects.
Please encourage your
child to do their very best on
this project, as it will be one
of their first Reading grades
in 5th grade. Students will be
expected to take and pass the
AR quiz on their book selection upon returning to
school.
Students MUST choose
from the book list that has
been provided.
Preventing
Summer Slide
For some children, summer
is a time dedicated to playing
video games, sleeping in,
vacationing and relaxing as much
as possible before the beginning
of yet another school year.
Children may argue that summer
should be spent taking a break
from academics and enjoy doing
“nothing”. As educators we want
to prevent the “summer slide”.
The summer slide: it sounds
fun, but it can make the
transition from 4th grade to 5th
grade really difficult. Research
shows that students who do not
read during the summer may
experience a decrease in their
reading level. Students who read
regularly during the summer
often improve their reading level
and ability!
Students can start strong in
the fall if their reading habits
don't “slide” away during the
summer months.
Lansdowne Elementary
5th Grade
Summer
Reading
Requirement!
BOOK PROJECTS
Choose ONE of the following
books to read this summer and complete a project on it by August 19th.
1. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher
Paul Curtis
2. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz
Ryan
3. Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul
Curtis
4. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
5. Hoot by Carl Hiassen
6. A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
7. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine
L’Engle
8. The Secret Garden by Francis Burnett
9. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
10.No Talking by Andrew Clements
11.Holes by Louis Sachar
12.BFG by Roald Dahl
13.The Indian in the Cupboard by
Lynne Reid Banks
14.The Giver by Lois Lowry
15.In the Year of the Boar and Jackie
Robinson by Bette Boa Lord
Each project must include the following story elements...
o Title & Author
o Main Character information (who
were they? A brief description of
character including items such as looks
and character traits/personality)
o Setting (Where did the story take
place, location and time period)
o Plot/Resolution (What was the main
problem/plan/story line and how was
it resolved?)
o Personal Review (Include likes and
dislikes with reasons for both, what
you learned from the book, how you
connected to the characters, would
you recommend this book?)
Write a continuation of your story.
What happens in the new ‘next’
chapter? This should be at least 12 pages in length.
Magazine
Create a full color magazine dedicated to your book. Include all required story elements in your articles, advertisements, etc.
Character Scrapbook Page
Choose a character from your book
and create a scrapbook
page. Be sure the items on the page
represent the characters personality,
hobbies, life experiences, etc. On the
back side of the page write detailed
descriptions of why you chose the
items.
Write a diary.
Write a two week diary as if you
were the main character of the
book. In your daily entries include
at least one illustration as well as
your feelings about what is happening to you (as the main character).
Five Artifacts
Find five things from the book that are
important to the story. Create an artifact for each of those things. The artifacts should help you retell the main
ideas of the story. For example, in
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you
could create a gold foil-wrapped candy
bar, or a puppet of an Oompa Loompa.
You must also include at least a one page
report with the required story elements.