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Page 1: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies

24 Shoshone Street • Buffalo, N.Y. 14214 • (716) 710-3065 • (716) 862-3912 Fax • www.csat-k12.org

Mr. J. Efrain Martinez, Superintendent Mr. Brandon Pafk, Principal - CMSAT Mrs. Nadine Williamson - CMSAT June 1, 2015 Dear Parents/Guardians, The 2014 – 2015 school year has gone very smoothly, and we cannot thank you enough for your support in this endeavour. The transitioning of grades 6 – 8 to the new middle school location at 24 Shoshone Street has been a success. We are hopeful that the 2015 – 2016 school year will bring us even more success! With the current school year coming to a close, we want to focus your attention on the required summer reading project for all CMSAT students. The summer reading program is just one way to keep students engaged during the summer months, in between school years. Each student will be given a summer reading assignment packet before the end of the school year. They are to borrow a book from the local library or purchase a copy of one of the books listed and use it to complete the summer reading assignment. The completed assignment will be turned into your child’s reading teacher (for grade 6 students) or ELA teacher (for grades 7 & 8 students) on or before August 28, 2015. The project will be your child’s first grade in quarter one. In addition to completing the required summer reading project, your child may choose to complete a bonus project as well. The optional bonus project should be turned into your child’s reading teacher (for grade 6 students) or ELA teacher (for grades 7 & 8 students) on or before August 28, 2015. Any student who completes and turns in their bonus project will receive a surprise incentive. In addition to the bonus option, we will have other fun surprises taking place throughout the summer. Visit our school webpage at www.csat-k12.org to learn about reading activities over the summer. If you are in need of further information please contact the main office at (716) 710-3065. Have a super summer and keep reading! Sincerely, Brandon Pafk Principal, CMSAT

Page 2: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

 Summer  Reading  Books  7th  Grade  

 

Book   Summary  The  Isle  Lost    

By  Melissa  De  La  Cruz      

   

 

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost--a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world.

Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon's Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the Dragon's Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.

 Wonder  

By  R.J.  Palacio    

 

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.

.

Page 3: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

   

Out  Of  My  Mind  By  Sharon  M.  Draper  

 

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but

she has a photographic memory; e can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

 The  Crossover  By  Kwame  Alexander  

   

   

       

Twins Josh and Jordan are junior high basketball stars, thanks in large part to the coaching of their dad, a former professional baller who was forced to quit playing for health reasons, and the firm, but loving support of their assistant-principal mom. Josh, better known as Filthy McNasty, earned his nickname for his enviable skills on the court: "…when Filthy gets hot/He has a SLAMMERIFIC SHOT." In this novel in verse, the brothers begin moving apart from each other for the first time. Jordan starts dating the "pulchritudinous" Miss Sweet Tea, and Josh has a tough time keeping his jealousy and feelings of abandonment in control. Alexander's poems vary from the pulsing, aggressive beats of a basketball game to the more introspective musings of a child struggling into adolescence. Despite his immaturity, Josh is a likable, funny, and authentic character. Underscoring the sports and the fraternal tension is a portrait of a family that truly loves and supports one another. Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart.

     

Page 4: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

CREATIVITY BONUS You will have an opportunity to receive extra credit! If

you read an additional book of your own choosing or that is on the book list, you can complete one of the following assignments and

receive extra credit for ELA!

Option #1: Create a Movie Poster! If your novel were turned into a movie, what would it look like? Who would play the main

characters? Make sure it models an “authentic” poster.

Option #2: Comic Strip: Create a comic strip of a main scene in your novel. Make sure it is complete with captions so it is clear as

to what is going on and why it is important.

Option #3: Alternative Ending: If you could, how would you change the ending of your novel? Write at least a one-page

alternative ending to your book. What would be different? Be very specific.

Remember, this is BONUS! It is to be done in addition to the required reading assignment!

   

Page 5: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

Summarizing  Your  Book  7th  &  8th  Grade    

When  you  tell  someone  about  your  day,  you  include  the  important  people,  places,  and  events  but  leave  out  the  little  details.    Similarly,  a  summary  of  a  story  is  a  brief  retelling.    It  includes  only  the  main  characters,  setting,  

conflict,  and  important  events.    

When  reading  a  story,  you  might  have  personal  opinions,  or  feelings,  about  it.    You  might  also  make  judgments  about  the  story  –  whether  it’s  believable,  well-­‐written,  and  so  on.    Although  it’s  fine  to  have  opinions  and  make  judgments,  don’t  include  them  in  a  summary.    A  summary  is  supposed  to  be  objective,  or  tell  only  the  

facts.        

Directions:  Complete  the  graphic  organizer  as  you  read  your  book.    If  you  are  familiar  with  the  five  stages  of  plot,  you  can  use  them,  or  you  can  use  the  beginning,  middle,  and  end  column  to  guide  your  work.      

 

Plot   Notes  

Beginning  

Exposition  Introduces  the  setting  and  the  characters  Sets  up  or  hints  at  the  conflict  (problem)      

 _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  

 

Middle  

Rising  Action  Shows  how  the  conflict  becomes  more  difficult  Builds  suspense  

 _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  ______________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  ______________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________    

Climax  Is  the  most  exciting  part  and  a  turning  point    

 _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  

Falling  Action  Eases  the  tension  Shows  how  the  main  character  resolves  the  conflict  

 _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  

End   Resolution  Reveals  how  everything  turns  out  Sometimes  ends  with  a  surprise  twist  

 _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  _____________________________________________________________  

   

Page 6: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

 Main  Character  

 What  makes  the  characters  in  a  story  seem  real?    It’s  all  in  the  details.    Authors  can  describe  the  characters’  

attitudes,  or  how  they  think,  act,  and  feel.    They  can  also  describe  the  characters’  motivations,  or  the  reasons  for  their  actions.  Often,  a  character’s  attitude  and  motivation  change  during  a  story.    As  the  story  unfolds,  readers  learn  more  about  a  character  based  on  how  that  person  responds  to  events.  

 Directions:    Complete  the  graphic  organizer  as  you  read  to  show  how  your  character  changes  throughout  the  book.  

       

 Beginning  of  Book  

What  the  Main  Character  Does  

Why  He/She  Does  It   What  This  Shows  About  Him/Her  

Example:  Benny  takes  an  ice  cream  cone  from  Lisa.  

Example:  He  might  think  it  is  funny.  

Example:  He  is  not  always  kind;  he  likes  to  play  jokes.  

         

   

         

   

 Middle  of  Book  

What  the  Main  Character  Does  

Why  He/She  Does  It   What  This  Shows  About  Him/Her  

         

   

         

   

 End  of  Book  

What  the  Main  Character  Does  

Why  He/She  Does  It   What  This  Shows  About  Him/Her  

       

 

   

         

   

 

Name  of  Main  Character:  _____________________________________________    

 

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childhood          courage          death          faith          family          freedom          friendship          self-­‐reliance  

 success          growing  up          hate          hope          identity          independence          justice          

love      trust    

truth          loyalty          nature          patience          patriotism          prejudice          race  relations    

self-­‐improvement          unhappiness          violence          war  

 Determining  Theme  

 “Winning  isn’t  everything.”  “Follow  your  heart.”    You’ve  probably  learned  lessons  like  these  at  one  time  or  

another.    Your  own  experience  is  usually  the  best  teacher,  but  literature  can  also  communicate  important  truths,  or  themes.    A  theme  is  a  message  about  life  or  human  nature  that  a  writer  wants  readers  to  understand.    

 To  determine  a  theme  in  your  book,  you  must  first  decide  on  a  topic.    A  topic  is  one  or  two  words  that  sum  

up  what  the  book  is  about.        

Directions:    Circle  the  topics  that  are  related  to  your  book.    

Common  Topics  Found  in  Books                        

Directions:    Select  two  topics  from  the  box  and  name  a  theme  that  relates  to  each.    If  you  choose  the  topic  of  friendship,  for  example,  you  might  use  the  theme,  “Treat  others  as  you  wish  to  be  treated.”  Using  specific  details  

from  the  text,  explain  how  your  book  teaches  these  themes.      

Topic                  Theme   Details  From  Book  

 _________________________  

 

 

__________________________________________  

__________________________________________  

__________________________________________  

*Use  at  least  four  sentences.    

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

 

 _________________________  

 

__________________________________________  

__________________________________________  

__________________________________________    

*Use  at  least  four  sentences.    

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

__________________________________________________________________________  

 

 

Page 8: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

 Paragraph  #1  

       

Be  sure  to  …  • include  the  title  and  author    • use  details  from  the  graphic  organizer,  Summarize  Your  Book  • use  any  relevant  details  from  your  book  • include  at  least  10  sentences  

                                                                                       

     

 

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Summarize  your  book.    

Page 9: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

Paragraph  #2          

Be  sure  to  …  • include  the  name  of  the  main  character  • provide  details  from  the  beginning,  middle,  and  end  of  the  book    • use  details  from  the  graphic  organizer,  Main  Character  • include  at  least  10  sentences  

                                                                       

             

   

     

Describe  how  the  main  character  changes  throughout  the  book.    

 

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Page 10: Charter Middle School for Applied Technologies...with empathy ,compassion, and acceptance. "Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com

Paragraph  #3          

Be  sure  to  …  • name  the  theme  • explain  how  the  book  teaches  this  theme  • use  details  from  the  graphic  organizer,  Determining  Theme  • use  any  relevant  details  from  your  book  • include  at  least  10  sentences  

                                                               

   

 

Explain  a  theme  that  is  taught  through  your  book.    

 

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