7th Grade History/English Required Summer Reading Project
This summer, as students entering Seventh Grade, you will be expected to read Blood on the
River by Elisa Carbone. You will then complete one project relating to the book. You may
choose any of projects to complete. Please pay close attention to the rubrics provided, which
show how these projects will be graded.
The project should be done at home over the summer; you will not be given class
time to work on them. The project will be due in History class on the first day of school. If
you have any questions about summer reading or the projects, you may email Mr. Mento at
[email protected]. Please keep in mind that email may not be checked every day over
the summer.
A detailed summary of the chosen novel is below:
Samuel'Collier,'a'rough/and/tumble'young'orphan,'becomes'Captain'John'
Smith's'page'on'his'journey'to'the'New'World.'Brought'up'in'poor'conditions,'
Samuel'is'street/smart'but'also'quick/tempered.'He'has'to'learn'to'control'his'
anger'and'to'use'his'head'instead'of'his'fists.'During'the'journey'on'the'ship'the'
Susan'Constant,'Samuel'begins'to'learn'how'to'determine'right'from'wrong.'
Through'his'interactions'with'other'boys'his'age'and'with'key'figures'such'as'
Captain'John'Smith,'Reverend'Hunt,'and'Master'Wingfield,'Samuel'discovers'
ways'to'avoid'conflict.'His'first'encounters'with'the'native'peoples'in'the'
Caribbean'and'in'the'New'World'further'teach'Samuel'about'different'
perspectives'and'about'the'value'of'culture.'Survival'in'the'new'colony'tests'
Samuel'as'he'evaluates'these'life'lessons'and'learns'to'make'good'choices'using'
his'heart'and'his'head.'
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Summer Reading Project Option #1 – Storyboard
Your assignment is to create a storyboard (on poster board) for your novel. You will incorporate detailed
drawings to represent your novel. You are required to have at least 8 boxes in your storyboard.
There should be a pictorial representation of each of the following: The beginning, the middle, the end,
the theme, the setting, the problem, the climax, and your favorite scene. Feel free to add more boxes.
There should also be a written explanation of each of the pictorial representations. Each box should
be described in a minimum of 4-5 complete sentences and should include specific detail from the story.
Storyboard Project Rubric
Element
Beginning box
Middle box
End box
Theme box
Setting box
Problem box
Climax box
Favorite scene box
Quality of storyboard
Effort, including spelling
and grammar
Colorful
Total points
Possible Points
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
14
5
100
Points Earned
Summer Reading Project Option #2 - Character T-Shirt
Your assignment is to create a “Character T- shirt” for a character from your novel. You will use both
words and pictures to represent your character.
The front of the t-shirt must include (but not limited to): Story title, author, character’s name, and a
picture of character
The right sleeve must include: At least three strengths of the character
The left sleeve must include: At least three weaknesses of the character
The back of the t-shirt must include: A description of the character in words and pictures, and at least 2
important scenes to the character. The scenes should be described in no less than one complete paragraph
(5-6 sentences).
T-Shirt Project Rubric
Element
Story title
Author’s name
Character’s name
Picture of character
Extra pictures or info on front
Strengths on right sleeve
Weakness on left sleeve
Description of character on back
2 important scenes to the character
Quality of t-shirt
Effort, including spelling and grammar
Colorful
Total points
Possible Points
5
5
5
10
5
5
5
10
20
15
10
5
100
Points Earned
Summer Reading Project Option #3 – Rewrite the Ending
For this creative writing assignment, you are to think about how the book you read ended and imagine
either an alternate ending or a sequel to the book. This should be written as though you are writing a story!
You should use dialogue and description; do not tell me what you think would happen – write about it as if
it actually happens!
You must: Make it clear if you are writing an alternate ending or a sequel, give your chapter or book a
name, use characters and information from the book you have read, explain what happens to each of the
characters in the end or after the story has ended, explain how any problems are solved, use colorful and
descriptive language to describe the characters and what happens, be imaginative and creative in thinking
about what you would change or where you think the story would go after the point the author ended, and
use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Creative Writing Project Rubric
Element
Alternate ending/sequel explanation
Chapter/Book Title
Use of characters/information from book
Problems are solved
Creativity and descriptive language
Shows what would happen after the novel or
what would have happened in a different ending
Grammar, spelling and punctuation
Effort
Passed in on due date
Total points
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Possible Points
5
5
10
20
20
10
15
10
5
100
Points Earned
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Summer Reading Project Option #4 - Mobile
Using a wire coat hanger, paper towel tubes etc., you will construct a visual arrangement based on your
summer reading novel.
You must represent: The title, the author’s name, the main character, the conflict, the setting, a symbol
which represents the novel, and a quote
The mobile must: Be able to hang, be colorful and be creative. You may use index cards, objects, photos,
etc. to represent the items based on the novel.
Mobile Rubric
Element
Possible Points
Includes title of novel with author’s name
10
Symbol to represent the novel (either an actual item, picture of
symbol, or drawing of a symbol) with some explanation on why
you chose this symbol. *Explain what the symbol represents and
why you chose this symbol somewhere on the mobile*
20
Protagonist- information representing main character and some
information based on the character
10
Conflict- Explain what kind of conflict exists in the novel. Be sure
to include what kind: person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs.
society, etc.) There may be more than one conflict!
20
Setting- clearly identify the setting of the novel (time and place)
10
Creativity-the mobile is colorful, creative, and represents the novel.
10
Quote-Choose a quote that best sums up the novel/main character
or the underlying theme of the novel.
10
Effort, including spelling and grammar
5
Passed in on time
5
Total points
100
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