Ideas for Alternatives to Standard Book Reports
Mohawk Trails Elementary School
1. Write a Bio Poem about a character in the book. (See Bio Poem Template,
below.)
2. Write an acrostic poem about a character in the book.
3. Describe the many facets of a character’s personality. Print out the
octahedron template at
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/math/geometry/solids/Octahedron.shtm
l . Write a different description in each panel, cut out, and glue into a 3-d
shape.
4. Write a letter to the author asking where he or she got the idea for the
story. For technology integration and keyboarding practice, use the Letter
Generator at http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/ .
5. Write a letter to a character in the story. Explain why and how you would
have done something differently than they did in the story.
6. Collect 3-5 artifacts and explain how they relate to a certain character in
the story.
7. Write a paragraph comparing this book to another book in the same genre or
by the same author.
8. Write a different ending to the story.
9. Compare yourself to a character from the story. Create a Venn diagram to
show how you are alike and how you are different. For technology
integration, use the “Character Comparison” template in 50 Quick and Easy
Reading and Writing Computer Activities, by Tammy Worcester (PL 372.6
50Q).
10. Write a paragraph explaining text to self connections: how did this story
remind you of something that has happened to you? How did a character
remind you of someone you know?
Bio Poem Template
Line 1: Your character’s first name
Line 2: Four words that describe your character
Line 3: A character in (title of the book, by author’s name)
Line 4: Who loves...(three things or people)
Line 5: Who learns…
Line 6: Who feels…
Line 7: Who fears…
Line 8: Who dreams about...
Line 9: Title of the book
Line 10: A book that…
Sample Bio Poem
For “Jessie” from When Jessie Came Across the Sea
by Amy Hest, illus. by P.J. Lynch,
Candlewick Press, 1997
Jessie
Auburn haired, ginger freckled teacher and creator of lovely lace,
A character in Amy Hest’s story of immigration, love, and opportunity,
Who loves her grandmother, Lou the cobbler, and the rows of books in the library,
Who learns that America’s streets are not paved with gold, but that its buildings
touch the sky and hard work brings rewards,
Who feels heartbroken to leave everyone behind,
Who fears failure and loneliness,
Who dreams of bringing grandmother to America and of wearing her mother’s
silver wedding band
When Jessie Came Across the Sea
A book that draws inspiration from those who have the courage to seek a better
life.