SUMMER READING
Intermediate Grades 5th and 6th
Berean Christian School
All 5th and 6th grade students at Berean Christian School are expected to complete a
summer reading assignment. Reading over the summer will help each student improve
vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills that will make all studies more beneficial
to academic achievement.
The summer reading/writing assignments for all intermediate students will be due as
follows:
• Objective Test over the required book will be on Friday, August 12, 2011.
•
The writing assignment based on the chosen book will be due on Tuesday,
August 16, 2011. (SUMMER READING 2011 RESPONSE SHEET-see
below)
Upcoming 5th Graders:
Required book: 770 Lexile - The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George
Choose one from this list for the Response to Reading assignment:
1. 690L Snow Treasure, Marie McSwigan
2. 740L A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
3. 750L Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
4. 750L Miracle on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen, Joe Krush, and Beth Krush
5. 770L Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
6. 780L The Borrowers by Mary Norton
7. 790L Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
8. 830L King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
9. 860L The Cay by Theodore Taylor
10. 860L Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. 910L Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Upcoming 6th Graders:
Required book: 780Lexile - Crispin, Cross of Lead by Avi
Choose one from this list for the Response to Reading assignment:
1. 860L The Story of Jip by Katherine Paterson
2. 860L Julie of the Wolves by George, Jean Craighead
3. 900L Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
4. 910L Summer Ball (or any book) by Mike Lupica
5. 910L Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary and Paul O. Zelinsky
6. 920L A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
7. 990L The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
8. 1000L Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
9. 1090L Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
10. 1320L The Incredible Journey, by Sheila Burnford
11. NA (6th grade) Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
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It’s summer and you don’t want your brain to turn to mush! Summer
Reading to the rescue! As you read your chosen book from the list of
choices, you will focus on some of these amazing reading skills that you
have learned so far.
Essential Reading Skills:
1. Making inferences – This is when you take what you read, add what you
already know and make a conclusion based partly on evidence and partly on
your own knowledge. In other words, you figure some things out on your own; the
book doesn’t tell you every little detail.
2. Drawing conclusions – When you draw conclusions, you “put two and two
together.” You take all of the information that you have and make a judgment
about what it means.
3. Comparing and contrasting – When you compare and contrast two things, you
think about ways that they are alike and ways they are different.
4. Evaluating – When you evaluate, you are being a “judge”. You give your opinion
or rate something. You state its strong or weak points.
5. Predicting – When you read, you “guess” what will happen next based on what
you read and your own experience.
6. Connecting – Think about what’s happening in the story. Can you connect it to
any experience that you have ever had? What about the characters? Do you
know anyone like them? Can you connect your own experiences to any feelings,
ideas, or opinions expressed in the story?
7. Visualizing – How do you “see” the people, places, ideas or what is going on in
the selection? Pay attention to the descriptions and try to imagine what things
look like.
As you read your chosen book, use sticky notes to mark passages or chapters that
make you think of the above “essential reading skills”. You will then use those
passages/notes to write your reading responses on the following pages.
You will need to write a response for at least 5 of the 7 skills above. Be sure to use
proper conventions and include the skill word in your answer. (Complete sentences,
proper punctuation, capitalization, etc.) One example is given for you: (Each response is
worth 20 points.)
Example:
(From The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey)
Reading Strategy: Visualize_____
_Pages 5-8_____________________
Quotes(s) from book:
“I don’t like football! I don’t like pain.” Oh, c’mon! They’ll bounce off you like little
pygmy_gnats.”_______________________________________________________________________
My Response:
If Alfred made his football team, assuming he tried out, then I can visualize his team.
At ten years old, six feet tall and two hundred pounds, his team might as well be ten
dwarves and a giant!___________________________________________________________________
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(Turn in to Mrs. Lantz on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 along with essay. See below.)
Name________________________________________________ Date____________________
SUMMER READING 2011 RESPONSE
SHEET
th
th
Intermediate Grades 5 and 6
Berean Christian School
Book Title______________________________________________
Author_________________________________________________
Reading Response 1:
Reading Strategy: ___________________________Pages_______
Quote(s) from book:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My Response:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Reading Response 2:
Reading Strategy: ___________________________Pages_______
Quote(s) from book:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My Response:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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Reading Response 3:
Reading Strategy: ___________________________Pages_______
Quote(s) from book:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My Response:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Reading Response 4:
Reading Strategy: ___________________________Pages_______
Quote(s) from book:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My Response:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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Reading Response 5:
Reading Strategy: ___________________________Pages_______
Quote(s) from book:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My Response:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Book Review – Essay
Answer each question below in paragraph form. Each response should contain a
sufficient amount of sentences with precise details. You may type your essay or
write it on notebook paper to turn in on August 16, 2011. If typed, follow the MLA
format. If hand-written, double space, please.
•
Plot: (25 points) Explain in paragraph form all of the elements of the plot.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE: Rising Action, the main conflict or problem, the
climax, falling action, and the conclusion/resolution.
•
Characters: (20 points) Describe the main character’s physical
appearance and personality. Second, describe the problem/ conflict the
character encounters. Third, explain what steps the main character takes
to solve the problem. Be sure to support your thoughts with examples and
quotes from the text.
•
Setting: (20 points) Describe the time and place of your story.
•
Theme: (20 points) What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing
this book? What is the message you take away from reading this novel?
•
Evaluation: (15 points) Rate this book on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10
(highest). Explain your reason in three to five sentences.
Be advised a copied summary from an internet source or any other source
is unacceptable. THIS IS PLAGIARISM! Therefore be sure to use your own
thoughts based on the reading when completing the writing assignment.
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Parental Acknowledgment Form
Berean Christian School recognizes the importance of having all
students from elementary to senior high school participate in a
Summer Reading Program to be accompanied by activities and
verification of individual reading times.
This form serves as confirmation that my son/daughter has read the
following chosen book:
____________________________________(name of book) from the
provided list as required by the 2011-2012 school year Summer
Reading Assignment.
I/we understand that the benefits of reading and writing practice
help students in a variety of ways including:
Improve reading, thinking, and writing skills
Foster enjoyment of reading and writing
Acquaint students with a wide range of authors and literature
Parent Signature
Date
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