Entering 6th Grade
Summer Reading Assignments
All students entering 6th grade are asked to read Call it Courage, The Children's Plutarch, and The
Lightning Thief. Upon completion of reading the books, the children are asked to complete the
assignments. All assignments are due the first day of school, August 24, 2016. Any assignments
turned in after that date will be given partial credit.
All books can be found at the Barnes and Noble at 170 S. Abilene st., at your local library, and a
small quantity are available for checkout at Vanguard Classical School.
Call it Courage
Choose one of the following assignments to work on while reading Call it Courage.
Option 1: Gifts
Tangible gifts are gifts that can be touched or felt. Intangible gifts are gifts that cannot be touched or
felt. Think about the main character, Mafatu, and figure out ten things that you believe he needs or
wants the most. Draw or cut out pictures to represent these "gifts." Then, along with each gift, write
a message to Mafatu explaining why you picked these things out for him.
OR
O?ption 2: PhotoAlbum
Think about the events that happened in Call it Couraqe. Decide which scenes or pictures from the
book that Mafatu would want to remember. Then draw at least ten of these "photos" and write at
Ieast 3 complete sentences for each about why you think Mafatu would want this picture in his photo
album.
OR
Option 3: Mafatu's Alpha0et
Create sentences based on the alphabet scheme that demonstrate your knowledge of him.
For example:
*
AisforAFRAlD.Mafatuwasafraidofthewateratthestartofthebookandhewasmade
fun of for it.
e
B is for the BREADFRUIT and BANANAS that Mafatu cooked for himself when he first
anded on the island.
*
C is for the CANOE ...
OR
Option 4: Auction Items
rhink of 8 objects that were important to Mafatu during the book. Pretend that these items are for
sale at an auction. For each item, write a paragraph of at least 5sentences describing the items,
axplain why it was important to Mafatu, and what the starting price for the item would be.
The Children's Plutarch
While reading the The Children's Plutarch, students will annotate Mark Antony chapter in order to
prepare for a-n in-class Socratic seminar. The seminar will focus on the following questions:
*
What were the important events in Mark Antony's life?
How did the Mark Antony's actions affect others?
*
What was Plutarch or Gould trying to say by writing-about Mark Antony?
@
What insights into today's problems and issues does this section provide?
*
After reading students should choose one subject (not Mark'Antony) and write a character analysis.
The following is a basic outline for the character analysis:
'1. IntroductionParagraph
1. 1 . Attention Grabber
1.2.. Thesis statement - including Iist or hint of main ideas
2. Body Paragraph
2.1. Character Trait 1
2.1 .1 . Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.1 .2. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.1 .3. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.2. Character Trait 2
2.2.1. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.2.2. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.2.3. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.3. Character Trait 3
2.3.1. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.3.2. Supporting detail from text with explanation
2.3.3. Supporting detail from text with explanation
3. Conclusion Paragraph
3.1 . Restate Thesis
3.2. Clencher Sentence
Rubric for Character Analysis
Trai}s
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
Introduclion
The introdua4ion is
The introduction
The introducffon s{ates
There is no '
inviling, states the main
topic and previews the
s(ruaure of the paper.
dearly states the main
topic and previews the
struc(ure of the paper,
but is not particularly
invi}ing to the reader.
the main topic, bu} does
not adequately preview
dear
the strudure of the
the main topic or
paper nor is il
particularly inviting to
slruclure of the
0 poinls
introduc(ion of
paper.
the reader.
Organiza(ion
Details are placed in a
Iogi>l order and the
way they are presented .
effectively keeps the
De}ails are placed in a
Iogizl order, but the
way in whioh they are
presented or
interest of the reader.
introduoed sometimes
Many details are not in
a Iogical or expected
T'here is Iitlle
order.
wriling is
organized.
sense thatthe
makes the wri(ing Iess
interesting. Same
details are not in a
logiml or expeded
order, and this
dis(racts the reader.
Support details and
Support details and
Support details
information are
information are
and information
relevant, but one key
issue or portion of the
storyline is
unsupported.
relevant, but several
key issues or portions
of the storyline are
are typimlly
Three diaracter traits
Two charader traits
At Ieast two charac(er
Significant
are well supported wi}h
are adequately '
character trails
amirate information
supported wi}h
traits are adequa(ely
supported wiih
and supporl
provided
from the text.
Word Choice
' unsupported.
undear or not
related to }he
topic.
Only one
character }rai}
was adequately
supporled wilh
accurate information
information from }he
from the text.
text.
informalion from
the text.
Wri!er uses vivid words
Wri}er uses vivid
Writer uses words that
Writer uses a
and phrsses that Iinger
or draw pidures in the
reader's mind, and the
choice and placement
words and phrases
(hat Iinger or draw
pictures in the
reader's mind, bu(
occasionally the words
are used inazurately
a:immunimte dearly,
Iimited
l
l Iden}ify
l
Relevant, telling, quality
de(ails give the reader
important information
Ihat goes beyond the
obvious or predictable.
Support for
Topic
l
of the words seems
accurate, natural and
not forced.
' but the writing Iacks
variety, punch, or flair.
voaabulary tha}
does not
communim}e
strongly or
mpture the
reader's
or seems overdone.
interest. Jargon
or dich6s
l'
Transi(ions
Transitions show
Some transi}ions work
jhe transi}ions
well; but connec}ions
ideas are connected.
dearly how ideas are
connected, but there
is Iittle variety.
between ideas is
undear or
nonexis}ent.
There are very few, if
There are few errors.
There are several
' The paper is
errors
' riddled wi(h
i Avariety of thoughtful
transitions are used.
They dearly show how
' any errors.
are fuzzy.
errors.
l
Conventians
between other ideas
The Lightning Thief
While reading The Lightning Thief pick one of the following assignments to complete as you read.
Create a PowerPoint
Make a Road Map
Use your computer to create a
PowerPoint (or similar program)
presentation detailing the connection
Everyone needs a map to get
them to where they are going.
Create a color map that
describes the choices Percy
between the main character of the
book and the core virtues of heroism
and Ioyalty. You may use animations
and sound effects. Start with the title
and loyalty.
does the situation or character
exemplify these virtues? Does the
character do the opposite? Ask other
questions to prove your point.
Turn in this assignment by bringing a
jump drive or c.d. with the project
saved, or print out the slides from
your powerpoint.
Use a large piece of construction paper
(at least 11x17) or a tri-fold poster
board to create a brochure for your
book.
and his friends make that
show the virtues of heroism
of the book and the author. Next,
clearly define the virtues of heroism
and Ioyalty and give some examples
that you see in your own life. Last,
give specific details from the book
that show heroism and loyalty. How
Create a Brochure
Take a piece of llxal7
construction paper and create
a "road" for the main
characters. It must have start
and end point, traffic Iights
(challenges that stop the
characters along the way),
and detour signs, that follow
the plot of the book. You must
have twelve major events
segmented into spaces and
numbered on the map.
It should include:
The title, author, copyright date, and
the connections to heroism and Ioyalty.
Two paragraphs explaining how
specific details from the book show the
core virtues of heroism and Ioyalty.
Illustrate an event from the book
showing the core virtues.
Three paragraphs summarizing of the
book. These paragraphs should also
have hand-drawn illustrations.
Write at least one sentence
In addition, create an advertisement for
explaining the significance in
relationship to heroism and
loyalty.
a store or place from the book. Your
advertisement must present something
having to do with heroism and loyalty.