7th Grade

Name: Homeroom:

Non Fiction Class Period:

7th Grade Winter Break Reading Homework 20177th Grade Winter Break Reading Homework 2017  

Books You should read: 2-3 Books within your Reading Level every week. ThisBooks You should read: 2-3 Books within your Reading Level every week. This  means you should read 6-9 books TOTAL over break.means you should read 6-9 books TOTAL over break.    Check your Reading Progress on Accelerated ReaderCheck your Reading Progress on Accelerated Reader 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” – Dr. Seuss

The reading logs below are designed as a tool to help you keep track of your reading.

You must to read 35-40 pages each day of a book in your level. You need to complete a

reader’s response for days shaded in gray.

Date Title Pages Range Read Minutes Read Parent Signature

12/15       

12/16

12/17

12/18

12/19

12/20

12/21

12/22

12/23

12/27

12/28

12/29

12/30

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/5

1/6

Winter Reading Homework Calendar - Mark Off As you Complete 

Saturday 12/15

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Sun 12/16

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

Mon 12/17

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Nonfiction

Day 1

Tues 12/18

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

❏ Nonfiction Day

2

Wed 12/29

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Nonfiction

Day 3

Thurs 12/20

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

Fri 12/21

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Sat 12/22

enjoy the weekend

Sun 12/23

enjoy the

weekend

Mon 12/24

enjoy your day

Tues 12/25

enjoy your day

Wed 12/26

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Thurs 12/27

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

Fri 12/28

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Sat 12/30

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Sun 12/31

Enjoy your day

Mon 1/1

Enjoy your day

Tues 1/2

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Wed 1/3

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Thurs 1/4

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

Fri 1/5

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

Sat 1/6

❏ 35 pages

❏ Record in log

❏ Reader’s

response

Sun 1/7

Enjoy your day

Monday 1/8

Winter Reading

HW Due

What is a Reader’s Response Journal?

A Reader’s Response Journal is a conversation between the reader and what he or she is reading. This process is

an important way to understand a piece of literature. By writing about literature, you make your own meaning of

the work in order to truly understand it. When you do this yourself, then the text belongs to you--you have made it

yours. The passages are there for everyone to read; however, the connections and interpretations are uniquely

yours. You are neither right nor wrong in your response. So be willing to take risks and be honest.

CHOOSING HOW TO RESPOND

After you read, you will need to make a decision about how you will respond to your reading. You will need to

consider where you are in your book and what you just read. For example, it’s easier to write about the theme of

the story after you’ve read a majority of the book, rather than discussing the theme at the beginning of the book

when the plot has yet to unfold. You will also want to consider the genre of your book. Fiction and Nonfiction

responses should and will look different. For example, it’s very difficult to write about the plot of a nonfiction

book, because typically, there is no plot.

You will be scored based on the quality of your response, not the quantity. Specifically, you will be evaluated

based on your knowledge and understanding of your text, how well you show your thinking, and the structure of

your response.

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For each response you will get to choose what you write about, however your responses will be focused in reading

comprehension skills and/or story elements. The following are the steps required to complete your responses:

1. Choose a prompt from the list or come up with your own.

2. Write the prompt at the top of your page.

3. Respond to the prompt in paragraph format.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:

❏ Include the book title and author’s name in your response.

❏ Copy the prompt you are using onto the top of each response.

❏ Write in complete sentences

❏ Use evidence from the text to support your thinking by using quotes.

❏ Reread your response to check for missing words, spelling, punctuation, complete sentences.

Making Connections

•Describe something you have read that is similar

to this.

•If you were a character in this book, who would

you be? Why?

•Who is the most important character to you?

•Does this book relate to another book you’ve read

before? How?

•Does this book relate to something in the real

world?

Determining Importance

•Describe the most important event. Give at least

three reasons why you think it is the most

important event.

•How does the author let you know a certain event

or passage is important? Explain your thinking.

•Were there any parts that you felt were not

important to the text you were reading? Why do

you think this?

Visualizing

•Describe the main character. What do you think

he or she looks like? Draw a picture to accompany

your response.

•Find a sentence or two from your reading that

describes the setting. How does this description

help you visualize the setting of the book?

•Which part from your reading today really helped

you visualize something in the book? Identify the

part and explain why.

Synthesizing

•Describe the major conflict? What (or whose)

side are you on?

•Describe what was either believable or

unbelievable about your text. Defend your

opinion.

•What have you learned about life from your

reading?

•How did the main character show growth in the

text you have read?

Summarizing

•Summarize what you read today.

•Write you a review of what you just read

(summary plus opinions).

•Write a short summary explaining what would

happen if your book had a sequel.

Monitoring Comprehension

•What are some things you do when you don’t

understand what you are reading? Give an

example from today?

•What is something you had to go back and reread

today?

•Why do you think you had to reread it?

•Which part of the text made you stop and think

today? Why?

Theme

Describe the central theme (meaning/message) of

your reading?

What is the author trying to tell you about life in

this story?

Plot

If you were the author, how would the book end?

What incident or conflict does the author use to

being the story? Why do you think the author

chose this beginning?

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How did the theme relate to the problem in the

story?

What part of the story best helped you realize the

theme? Explain using evidence.

What were some of the events that created conflict

in your book?

Is the author giving you clues to help you predict

what is going to happen in the plot?

Setting

•What effect does the setting (time, place) have on

the main character’s thoughts, actions, and

choices?

•Describe the setting time and place.

•Usually an author uses descriptive words to allow

us to set the mood and setting. How does this

author do that?

•What words would you use to describe the

setting?

Character

•Describe a character that you would like to meet.

What questions would you like to ask the

character?

•Describe your least favorite character and explain

why.

•List at least three problems the characters faced?

Which was the most life-changing? Explain.

•Think of a problem that a character had to face.

Write the problem and how the character solved it

or is working to solve. It.

                             

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Date: _________________________  

Prompt:Prompt:

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Date: _________________________  

Prompt:Prompt:

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Date: _________________________  

Prompt:Prompt:

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Date: _________________________  

Prompt:Prompt:

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Date: _________________________  

Prompt:Prompt:

 _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

   

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Date: _________________________    

Non-Fiction Homework Criteria for Success

Criteria for Success - Passage Annotations

[] Unknown words are circled

[] A suggested synonym for the unknown word is added next to the

unknown word

[] Key details in the sentence are underlined

[] The Central idea of the sentence is starred

[] Each passage has two question marks with two questions added in

full writing to explain thinking.

Criteria for Success - Comprehension Questions

[] Important words in the question are underlined

[] Answer is clearly marked (box, circle, highlighted)

[] Answer can be explained by annotations/markings around the

answer showing it is the correct answer vs. the incorrect answer.

Criteria for Success - Constructed response

● Includes a clear answer to the question as a claim.

● Uses quoted, cited evidence from the text.

● Evidence includes a lead-in. (In the article entitled, “...” the

author states in the x paragraph that, “...”)

● Includes an analysis that explains why the evidence is important

and/or how it connects to the claim.

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Non-Fiction Day 1Non-Fiction Day 1  

Read the following article and annotate the article according to the Passage Annotations

CFS (on previous page).

Climate change in Hawaii and U.S. tropical islands

By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adapted by Newsela staff

Overview

The United States controls dozens of islands located in tropical regions of the world. These

include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, and Hawaii and Guam in

the Pacific Ocean. In the minds of many people, such places represent tropical paradises of

bright sun and long beaches. These islands, though, are especially vulnerable to climate change

because of their small size and low elevation. On many, communities are located along

coastlines. These islands feature unique ecosystems, including coral reefs and mangrove forests.

They are home to populations of animals and plants found nowhere else in the world. Island

ecosystems are already stressed from human development and pollution. This makes them more

sensitive to climate change.

Islands worldwide are experiencing changes in climate. These shifts include rising air

temperatures and sea levels; warmer coastal waters; and changes in seasonal precipitation

patterns. These shifts are expected to continue into the future, creating more unpredictable

conditions for the people, animals and plants that live there.

Rising Temperatures And Sea Levels

Islands are experiencing rising air temperatures and sea levels. In Hawaii and the Central North

Pacific, temperatures are projected to rise by 1.5 to 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2050. In

the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is projected to warm by 2 to 5 degrees F by the end of this century. A

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few degrees rise in temperature may seem insignificant, however, scientific research suggests

warming will disrupt traditional weather patterns and ecosystems.

Higher global temperatures are contributing to rising sea levels, as the world's ice caps melt. In

addition, warmer water temperatures cause water to expand. This adds to rising oceans that eat

away at island coastlines. In Rincón, Puerto Rico, for instance, sea level rise is currently eroding

the coastline at a rate of about 3 feet per year.

Water Resources And Communities

Climate change is expected to alter precipitation patterns, affecting the availability of water on

some islands. On islands where precipitation decreases, ground and surface water supplies may

not be recharged. The result is less freshwater for drinking and watering crops. In contrast,

some islands are expected to receive heavier downpours that can cause flooding.

Climate change will also have far-reaching effects on local island culture, health and livelihoods.

Coastal agriculture will likely be affected. Sea level rise can lead to saltwater flooding, causing

soils to become too salty for crops. Residents living near the coasts may be forced to move if

climate-related damage and threats become too extreme. Studies indicate warmer temperatures

will also lead to more disease.

Infrastructure And Economy

Island communities and economic development are at greater risk due to climate change. Most

island towns and businesses sit close to the coasts. This makes them especially vulnerable to sea

level rise, coastal flooding and shoreline erosion.

These changes are expected to affect transportation and other infrastructure. This includes

airports, roads, ports and water systems. In addition, many islands rely on imported food, fuel

and building materials. This makes ports and airports critical to the well-being of island

residents.

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Climate change will also affect tourism, an important source of income for many islanders. Sea

level rise will speed up beach erosion, and increase the chances of damage to buildings,

businesses and ecosystems. Such changes could make these tropical islands less attractive to

visitors.

Ecosystems Are Being Threatened

Islands are home to unique ecosystems and species that provide economic opportunities, safety

and tradition to island communities. Rising sea levels and temperatures of coastal waters are

already threatening these natural places.

Coral reefs, for example, serve as an important habitat for many fish and marine organisms.

They also provide shoreline protection during hurricanes and other strong storms. Reefs also

serve as valuable sources of seafood and bring in tourist dollars. In Hawaii, the goods and

services provided by coral reefs generate about $385 million in business each year.

Reef ecosystems on many islands are already stressed by coastal development and pollution.

Warmer coastal waters further stress reefs, resulting in coral disease outbreaks. As the oceans

warm, coral reefs are expected to shrink.

Coral reefs in most climates can only handle temperatures as high as 84 degrees Fahrenheit. If

the water gets warmer than that, the corals will release the algae living in their tissue. This

process is called "bleaching" because it turns the corals white. More importantly, it increases the

chance they will develop diseases and die. Corals and the algae that live in them need each other

to remain healthy.

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Ocean Is Becoming Less Habitable

Ocean water is also becoming more acidic. It is caused by oceans absorbing carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere. Scientists blame climate change for this too. Acidic water makes it harder for

corals to get calcium. They need calcium for their shells to grow.

As climate change alters coral reefs, the fish populations that inhabit them are expected to

decline. Many island communities depend on local fisheries for food and income. Warming

ocean temperatures can also damage fish habitats. This may lead to shifts in the reproduction or

movement patterns of certain fish species, including tuna. These impacts may ultimately lead to

a decline in the abundance and health of marine life.

Sea level rise will also result in loss of tidal marshes, swamps and other coastal habitats. These

ecosystems provide important habitats for birds and aquatic life. Losses of these habitats will

have a negative effect on many species. In the Caribbean, forests are retreating from the

coastlines. Mangrove forests are shrinking in parts of the Pacific. Mangroves help to protect

shorelines from erosion and limit flooding.

Plants and animals are increasingly stressed by high temperatures and, on some islands, by

reduced rainfall. Climate change is creating conditions affecting populations of native plants and

birds, as well as people.

            

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Non-Fiction Day 2Non-Fiction Day 2   Complete the questions below:   1. Which section of the article BEST explains how changing weather patterns will affect residents' ability

to grow food?

A "Overview"

B. “Rising Temperatures And Sea Levels”

C. “Water Resources and Communities”

D. “Infrastructure And Economy”

2. Which paragraph in the section "Ecosystems Are Being Threatened" BEST explains HOW rising ocean

temperatures harm coral reefs? Circle the paragraph in the article and write the paragraph number below.

Paragraph #:

3. Which of the following statements would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

A. Many island communities will change their transportation due to rising temperatures and sea

levels.

B. Rising temperatures and sea levels are especially threatening to islands and their inhabitants.

C. Increased pollution is contributing most to the negative effects of climate change on many islands.

D. Climate change will make islands less attractive to tourists because buildings will be damaged.

 4. Which option BEST describes two central ideas of the article?

 A. Climate change is affecting seasonal precipitation patterns in many areas around the world.

Changes may also happen to the reproduction or movements of certain species of fish living near

islands.

B. Climate change is affecting dozens of islands in tropical regions controlled by the United States.

Island coastlines and ecosystems have been stressed by human development and pollution for a long

time.

C. Climate change will have serious effects on the resources, culture, and livelihoods of people living

on islands. Rising temperatures and sea levels threaten plants and animals in island ecosystems.

D. Climate change will have serious effects on coral reefs, fish populations, and other marine life.

Ocean water is becoming more acidic because it is absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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Non-Fiction Day 3Non-Fiction Day 3 

Write a constructed response, following the CEAEA format for the following question:

Write a short paragraph that explains the central idea of the article. Use at least two details from the

article to support your response.

Criteria for success:

● Includes a clear answer to the question as a claim.

● Uses quoted, cited evidence from the text.

● Evidence includes a lead-in. (In the article entitled, “...” the author states in the x paragraph that,

“...”)

● Includes an analysis that explains why the evidence is important and/or how it connects to the

claim.

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