Information on Reading Contract Projects
Below is the information given to students regarding ideas for quarterly reading contract projects. Each quarter, students are required to read at least 2 books. For one of the books, students choose a reading contract project idea from the list below. For the second book, students are required to write a 7-10 sentence summary.
(Students received a copy of a 6-Block Comic Strip and Book Report to have on hand should they choose to complete one of these project suggestions. They are also always welcome to type their report information!)
(Students received a copy of a 6-Block Comic Strip and Book Report to have on hand should they choose to complete one of these project suggestions. They are also always welcome to type their report information!)
FORMS OF READING CONTRACT PROJECTS
Student Created Idea
Students are always welcome to develop an idea of their own for their reading contracts; however, should students choose to develop ideas of their own, they will need to speak with me to have these ideas confirmed and to ensure these ideas meet project requirements.
Character Interview
Here, a student will create questions as a reporter who is interviewing a character (or characters) from the book. They should interview at least one of the main characters using 8-10 questions. Questions can be about the character himself as well as the plot, settings, conflict and resolution within the story. These questions should be deep thinking questions that you will answer (or present in an iMovie) to show your knowledge of the reading you completed. (Last year, I also had a student ask me to be the reporter in a skit or a friend to be the reporter and the student acted as the character(s). That is fine too!)
HINT: Please get a draft of your questions checked by Mrs. Roach.
Book Report
In a book report, you have to give a summary of the book (concentrating on the main story elements of characters, setting and plot), tell what your favorite or least favorite part was and why, give messages or take aways you found in the book, and tell whether you would recommend the book to other fourth graders or not and why. For the summary, I expect 7-10 sentences. For the other sections of the report, I expect at least 5-7 sentences.
PowerPoint
In a PowerPoint presentation, you must have a slide for each of the following pieces: summary of the plot (7-10 sentences), list of the characters (can consider one slide each for major characters and minor characters) with description of the main personality traits of the characters, list of the settings and how they are important to the story, and discussion on whether or not you recommend this book and why. You may include a slide where you say “If you like this book, you may also want to check out….(and list other books with a similar premise or idea).” Picture support for characters or settings is a great idea, too!
6-Block Comic Strip
In a detailed comic strip, you must draw (and provide speech bubbles for, if needed) what you consider to be the six most important events in the book OR you must draw the most important scene separated out into six smaller pieces. I emphasize the importance of detail in these pictures. Again, think about the story elements we have discussed. You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Mind Map
A mind map is a way to organize thoughts and ideas. In reading, it is a way to organize pictorially (using pictures) the various story element main ideas: characters, settings, and plot. It uses a combination of pictures and minimal text surrounding the main ideas; all of the main ideas should be blocked off pictorally; this blocking off should be done in picture form that further supports the text (ie. If the characters are all basketball players, the section on characters can be separated by lines made of basketballs). (Mrs. Roach can give you paper if you choose this option!) You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Diorama
A diorama is a 3D scene created out of a shoe or gift box. You may use premade figurines to add to your scene or you may construct figurines of your own creation to put inside the diorama. For this accountability, you must choose an important scene from the book and create a detailed diorama of the scene. The diorama must include a background and other important plot and setting elements of the scene. On the back of the diorama, provide a 7-10 sentence paragraph summary of the book and a 5-7 sentence paragraph that explains the scene and why it is important to the characters and to the plot as a whole.
Character Box
Using a cereal box or shoe box, the student will cover the outside of the box by creating a new cover for the book (the cover must include the title, author and a student created picture or “graphic” that represents a theme or an important idea from the book). Inside the box, the students must place objects to represent each of the main characters in the book (for example, if the book has four main characters, there should be four objects total in the box, one object for each character). Also inside the box, include a notecard for each of the objects that gives a 3-4 sentence explanation of how the object represents the character (think about the character’s interests, personality, relationships to other characters in the book or growth when choosing the object). (Again, if there are four objects, there should be four 3-4 sentence notecard descriptions in the box.) You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Reading Journal Entry
The student writes a journal entry about his or her book. The entry will be two paragraphs long. The entire entry should start with “Dear Mrs. Roach,” and end with “Fondly, (student name)”. The first paragraph should be a 7-10 sentence summary of the book. The second paragraph should be a 5-7 sentence paragraph answering one of the prompts from their prompt page they received in class. To answer the prompt, students must give 2-3 specific reasons that help answer the prompt. They should also try to use evidence or examples from the book to support their reasons.
Timeline
Divide a poster board into six equal sections. Choose six scenes that represent the characters and plot throughout the story from beginning to end. Carefully hand illustrate the scenes in sequential order. Type a 3-4 sentence summary of each scene and paste them to the illustrations. On the reverse side of the poster board, write a 3-4 sentence paragraph explaining if you would or would not recommend the book to other fourth graders to read and why.
Book Club
During second quarter and fourth quarter, students will have the option to participate in an after school book club that can count as their reading contract project. For book club, students will read a book of my choosing, independently answer questions related to the book prior to the book club meeting, and finally, discuss their answers to the questions in an after school book club meeting.
Student Created Idea
Students are always welcome to develop an idea of their own for their reading contracts; however, should students choose to develop ideas of their own, they will need to speak with me to have these ideas confirmed and to ensure these ideas meet project requirements.
Character Interview
Here, a student will create questions as a reporter who is interviewing a character (or characters) from the book. They should interview at least one of the main characters using 8-10 questions. Questions can be about the character himself as well as the plot, settings, conflict and resolution within the story. These questions should be deep thinking questions that you will answer (or present in an iMovie) to show your knowledge of the reading you completed. (Last year, I also had a student ask me to be the reporter in a skit or a friend to be the reporter and the student acted as the character(s). That is fine too!)
HINT: Please get a draft of your questions checked by Mrs. Roach.
Book Report
In a book report, you have to give a summary of the book (concentrating on the main story elements of characters, setting and plot), tell what your favorite or least favorite part was and why, give messages or take aways you found in the book, and tell whether you would recommend the book to other fourth graders or not and why. For the summary, I expect 7-10 sentences. For the other sections of the report, I expect at least 5-7 sentences.
PowerPoint
In a PowerPoint presentation, you must have a slide for each of the following pieces: summary of the plot (7-10 sentences), list of the characters (can consider one slide each for major characters and minor characters) with description of the main personality traits of the characters, list of the settings and how they are important to the story, and discussion on whether or not you recommend this book and why. You may include a slide where you say “If you like this book, you may also want to check out….(and list other books with a similar premise or idea).” Picture support for characters or settings is a great idea, too!
6-Block Comic Strip
In a detailed comic strip, you must draw (and provide speech bubbles for, if needed) what you consider to be the six most important events in the book OR you must draw the most important scene separated out into six smaller pieces. I emphasize the importance of detail in these pictures. Again, think about the story elements we have discussed. You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Mind Map
A mind map is a way to organize thoughts and ideas. In reading, it is a way to organize pictorially (using pictures) the various story element main ideas: characters, settings, and plot. It uses a combination of pictures and minimal text surrounding the main ideas; all of the main ideas should be blocked off pictorally; this blocking off should be done in picture form that further supports the text (ie. If the characters are all basketball players, the section on characters can be separated by lines made of basketballs). (Mrs. Roach can give you paper if you choose this option!) You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Diorama
A diorama is a 3D scene created out of a shoe or gift box. You may use premade figurines to add to your scene or you may construct figurines of your own creation to put inside the diorama. For this accountability, you must choose an important scene from the book and create a detailed diorama of the scene. The diorama must include a background and other important plot and setting elements of the scene. On the back of the diorama, provide a 7-10 sentence paragraph summary of the book and a 5-7 sentence paragraph that explains the scene and why it is important to the characters and to the plot as a whole.
Character Box
Using a cereal box or shoe box, the student will cover the outside of the box by creating a new cover for the book (the cover must include the title, author and a student created picture or “graphic” that represents a theme or an important idea from the book). Inside the box, the students must place objects to represent each of the main characters in the book (for example, if the book has four main characters, there should be four objects total in the box, one object for each character). Also inside the box, include a notecard for each of the objects that gives a 3-4 sentence explanation of how the object represents the character (think about the character’s interests, personality, relationships to other characters in the book or growth when choosing the object). (Again, if there are four objects, there should be four 3-4 sentence notecard descriptions in the box.) You will also be required to give a verbal summary of the book as a whole at the start of your in class presentation, so you may wish to prepare something in writing to ensure thoroughness and best preparedness.
Reading Journal Entry
The student writes a journal entry about his or her book. The entry will be two paragraphs long. The entire entry should start with “Dear Mrs. Roach,” and end with “Fondly, (student name)”. The first paragraph should be a 7-10 sentence summary of the book. The second paragraph should be a 5-7 sentence paragraph answering one of the prompts from their prompt page they received in class. To answer the prompt, students must give 2-3 specific reasons that help answer the prompt. They should also try to use evidence or examples from the book to support their reasons.
Timeline
Divide a poster board into six equal sections. Choose six scenes that represent the characters and plot throughout the story from beginning to end. Carefully hand illustrate the scenes in sequential order. Type a 3-4 sentence summary of each scene and paste them to the illustrations. On the reverse side of the poster board, write a 3-4 sentence paragraph explaining if you would or would not recommend the book to other fourth graders to read and why.
Book Club
During second quarter and fourth quarter, students will have the option to participate in an after school book club that can count as their reading contract project. For book club, students will read a book of my choosing, independently answer questions related to the book prior to the book club meeting, and finally, discuss their answers to the questions in an after school book club meeting.
