Book Club 1

GUIDELINES: Your group may be allowed to help create your own timeline on

the calendar. Since all groups’ books are different, determine how many pages you will read each week. Be wise in your timeline.

You will meet on scheduled dates to discuss and possibly create material on your book.

Your discussions will be open, natural conversations about books, so personal connections, digressions related to the text, and open-ended questions are welcome.

Off task behavior will not be tolerated, so govern yourself accordingly.

The teacher(s) will be an observer and facilitator, but you will be in charge of your learning.

Evaluation is by teacher observation, various tasks/assignments and student self-evaluation

Every member is expected to share equally in the work. Everyone must come prepared.

____________________________________________________________________ (Book Title)

Student name: __________________________________

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The Book Clubs Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Dec.4Monster Final

PagesProjects due

Maniac Magee Final Pages

Projects due

Freak the Mighty Final Pages

Projects due

Hatchet Final Pages

Projects due

The Outsiders Final Pages

Projects due

Holes Final Pages

Projects due

The Mighty Miss Malone

Final Pages

Projects due

The City of Ember

Final Pages

Projects due

Crash Final Pages

Projects due

Number the Stars

Final Pages

Projects due

Each week you should come prepared to discuss the reading by answering the questions below before Friday. Additionally, compose at least two questions of your own that come to mind as you read.

Week 11. Why did you choose this book?2. What do you like and/or dislike about the main character so far?3. In what way is the setting important to the story?4. What point of view is used? 5. What is the biggest problem facing the main character

(conflict)?6. What do you think is going to happen next (predict)?7. Summarize what has happened so far. (3 sentences)8. What questions do you have about the story?

Week 21. Summarize what has happened so far. (3 sentences)2. What do you like and/or dislike about the main character so far?3. How is this character like you?4. What point of view is used? (1st/3rd limited/3rd omniscient)

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5. Which conflict (person v. ?) is most important to the story? Why?

6. Have there been any surprises in your book? If so, explain.7. What do you predict will be a lesson the main character(s) will

learn? Why?

Week 31. Summarize what has happened so far. (3-5 sentences)2. What is one thing you like about your book?3. What is one thing you do not like?4. Using your iPad, look up your author’s biography. Give three keys facts from his/her life. Do you see anything from his/her life in your book?5. Illustration- interpret a significant scene from the reading so far. Include a quote that represents the scene. You can use a separate sheet of paper and create on the computer or with cutouts, etc.

Week 41. Summarize what has happened so far. (3-5 sentences)2. What is the biggest challenge your main character(s) is currently facing?3. Which conflict (person v. ?) is most important to the story? Why?4. In what way(s) is the main character(s) like you?5. What are the three qualities that are most important in a book?

Week 51. Summarize the plot. (3-5 sentences) 2. What was the most important conflict? Why?3. Give the sentence and page number of the climax. Explain why you think this is the climax?4. What was the biggest lesson your main character(s) learned? Is this the theme? Explain.5. Was the ending satisfying? Explain.6. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

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Asking Questions: Each time you meet, everyone should come ready to ask a question. Write the date and question in the grid. The question should be relevant to what you have recently read and cannot be a single answer question but a discussion question. In other words, if you can answer with yes/no or with a one-word answer, it is not a good question. The idea is to generate discussion. You can see below for some examples, but they are best created by you based on your book.

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Date:Question:

Question helpers:1. Is the main character similar to a character you found in

another book? What are the similarities?2. Are there any connections between this book and your own life?3. If your book took place in a different setting, how would that

change the story. Why?4. What are your favorite lines or quotes?5. What do you know now that you didn't know before?6. What character do you like least? Why?7. What character do you like best? Why?8. What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story?

Why do you think the author chose this beginning?9. Have any characters changed during the course of the book?

How did they change? What forces caused this change? What is the

10. Does this book seem similar to any other book you have read? In what ways are the two books similar?

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11. What were your feelings after reading the first few pages of the book?

12. What do you think of a particular character's actions? Are they right or wrong? Why?

13. What were some of the events that created conflict in your book? What made these things happen? Why?

14. What is the most important part of the book? Why?

FINAL PROJECT CHOICESOr

What do we do once we’ve read?

Once your book has been completed, you must create ONE of the projects below. Choose wisely. Read each project thoroughly. If you are unclear about a project please come and see me promptly. Worth 100 points.

Directions: Choose ONE project to complete, using your chosen book.

1. Collage. Make a collage that represents important themes (messages), symbols and character in your book. It should be on full-sized poster board and your work should cover the entire surface (no white space!). Think about using 3-D items to give your collage some flair! A two-paragraph explanation of your collage and items on it should be pasted on the back. Please note: It is not acceptable to use print outs from the movie version of your book, the cover of the book or any other copyrighted images concerning your book. You need to be creative in what you find and how you use it.

2. C.D. Choose one character from the book and decide what the top ten songs on his/her iPod would be. Create a CD that has all the songs and make up cover art (no printouts from the movie or copies of the cover-be original!) for the front of the CD case. For each song, give a short paragraph explanation of how that song applies to your character. Consider using lyrics from the song and quotes from the book to develop your responses.

3. Game. Create a game (board or computer) that reflects the book. It could be a game that the characters in your book would play or a game someone who read the book would play. Create the board, pieces, cards, rules—whatever you would need to actually play it! Expect a trial run in class. A two-paragraph explanation of the game and your reasoning behind it should accompany the project.

4. Performance. Is there a scene in your book that would make a great performance? Make a movie or re-create the scene in class. Come up with a script, find actors and get going! Don’t forget costumes or props. Turn in a two-paragraph explanation of what you’ve chosen to do, explaining why you picked the scene you did.

5. Website. Create a website for your book. It could advertise the book or be a page that one of the characters in the book would create. Go crazy and develop it as much as you can! Be prepared to launch the page in class. A two-paragraph explanation of the page and your reasoning behind it should be turned in during class.

6. Research. Does something happen in your book you want to know more about? Perhaps a historical event or a reference is made to a disease or a character is interested in something you don’t know much about. Or maybe you want to understand your character and their issues better so you research what afflicts them. Maybe you want to

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know more about the author. Whatever the topic, research it, write up a two-page report of your findings and discuss how the research enhanced your understanding of the book.

7. Other? Does your book inspire you to do another kind of creative project? Maybe poetry, a painting, a bulletin board or composing a song? Creating a diary or blog for the character? Feel free to develop any other kind of project you want as long as you clear it with me first. Do not wait until the last minute on this one, in case we need to tweak aspects of your project. I am excited to see what new ideas you can come up with!

Category 20 15 10 5 2Written/OralPresentation

Project is presentedwith excellent oral or written skills(grammar, spelling,fluency of speech)

Project has few errors inpresentation

Project has errors in one area ofpresentation

Project has many errors in presentation

Project has too many errors to understand the student’s objective

AssignmentRequirements

Project meets all requirements from the assignment sheet

Project meets most of the requirementsfrom the assignmentsheet

Project meets some of the requirementsfrom the assignmentsheet

Project meets few of the requirementsfrom the assignmentsheet

Project meets none of the requirementsfrom the assignmentsheet

Relation to Novel

The relationbetween the novel and the project isclearly evident

The relationbetween the novel and the project isevident when thestudent explains

The relationbetween the novel and the project isweak

The relationbetween the novel and the project isnot explained

The relationbetween the novel and the project isnon-existent

Evidence ofReading

The projectprovides ampleevidence of the student’s having read the novel

The projectprovides someevidence of the student’s having read the novel

The projectprovides evidencethat the student hasread some of the novel

It is evident that thestudent has not finished the novel

It is evident that thestudent has read none of the novel

Effort The project The project The project The project The project

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shows great effort and planning

shows good effort andplanning

shows some effort andplanning

shows little effort andplanning

shows no effort orplanning

Vocabulary

Write down unfamiliar words from the text, and complete the chart below.

Page # Vocabulary Word Using context clues, guess the meaning of the word

Dictionary Definition

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