The Benefit of Book Projects
Teachers can cut and paste and edit this to use at will. I used book projects to allow students to work within their interests, draw on cross-curricular subject matter, and practice their presentation skills. (I also had a fabulously decorated classroom thanks to my students' creations!)
Book Project Assignment Guidelines
Here is an example reading plan and assignments:- Read your book every day. Divide the number of pages by the number of days you will want to spend reading the book. This will allow you to finish the book and give you enough time to do the project part of the assignment. (A 150-page book to be read in 10 days amounts to 15 pages a day.)
- Write a summary of what you read each day. You may do a one-sentence summary for each page or a paragraph summary (5+ sentences) for every two to three pages. Choose one format and stick with it for the duration of the book.
- Write a response (your thoughts or comments) to the reading at the end of each chapter. This should be about three to four sentences in length. (Teachers can add their own rubric, stipulations for project deadlines, and consequences for late work.)
Book Project Listing
Projects require students to use their talents and show a cumulative understanding of the content. Please note the following legend. It consists of codes that are used throughout this listing to note what gifts are highlighted for each project. Optimally, students choose one project that allows the expression of their gifts.
Do a costumed presentation of your book. Dress either as the author or one of the characters. (A, O)
Write a letter from one character to another character. (W)
Write the first paragraph (or two) for a sequel. Outline what would happen in the rest of the book. (W)
Write a new conclusion. (W)
Write a new beginning. (W)
If a journey was involved, draw a map with explanatory notes of significant places. (A, W)
Make a diorama and explain what it shows. (A, W)
Make a diorama showing the setting or a main event from the book. (A)
Make a new jacket with an original blurb. (A, W)
Use email to tell a reading pen pal about the book. (T)
Participate with three or four classmates in a television talk show about the book. (O, C, W)
With another student, do a pretend interview with the author or with one of the characters. (O, C, W)
Cut out magazine pictures to make a collage or a poster illustrating the idea of the book. (A)
With two or three other students, do a readers' theatre presentation or act out a scene from the book. (O, W)
Lead a small group discussion with other readers of the same book. Focus on a specific topic and report your group's conclusion to the class. (O, C)
Write a book review for a class publication. (T, W)
Find a song or a poem that relates to the theme of your book. Explain the similarities. (A, O, M)
For fun, exaggerate either characteristics or events and write a tabloid-style news story related to your book. (A)
Draw a comic-book page complete with bubble-style conversations showing an incident in your book. (A, W)
Use a journalistic style and write a news story about something that happened to one of the characters. (W)
Write a paragraph telling about the title. Is it appropriate? Why? Why not? (W)
Decide on an alternate title for the book. Why is it appropriate? Is it better than the one the book has now? Why or Why not? (W)
Make a poster advertising your book. (A, W)
Make a travel brochure inviting tourists to visit the setting of the book. What types of activities would there be for them to attend? (A, W)
Write a letter to the main character of the book, and write the letter he or she sends back. (W)
Make three or more puppets of the characters in the book. Prepare a short puppet show to tell the story to the class. (A, W, O)
Write a description of one of the main characters. Draw or cut out a picture to accompany the description. (A, W)
Make an ID card that belongs to one of the characters. Be sure to make the card look like the ones for that particular state, country, or fantasy land. Include a picture and all information found on an ID card. Don't forget the signature!! (A, W, R, T)
Dress up as one of the characters and tell the story from the first-person point of view. (O, W)
Rewrite the story as a picture book that can be enjoyed by a child in grades K-2. Use simple vocabulary so that it may be enjoyed by younger students. (A, W)
Write a diary as the main character would write it to explain the events of the story. Must have at least 5 entries. (W)
Make a map showing where the story took place. (A)
Make a dictionary containing 20 or more difficult words from the book. (W)
Describe the problem or conflict existing for the main character in the book. Tell how the conflict was or was not resolved. (O, W)
Make a mobile showing pictures or symbols of happenings in the book. (A)
Make a collage representing some event or part of your book. (A)
Make a crossword puzzle using ideas from a book. Need at least 25 entries. (A, W)
Choose any topic from your book and write a mini-research report on it. On the title page, include a one-paragraph explanation as to how the topic applies to your book. The report should be about two pages. (W)
Design and make the front page of a newspaper from the events in the book. (T, W)
Write a song for your book. (Extra credit if sung in class, instead of read.) (W, M)
Write two poems about your book. (W)
Design and write a 10-page comic book of your book. (W, A)
Make a display of the time period of your book. (A, R)
Make a banner of cloth or paper about your book. (W, A)
Create a two to three-minute movie trailer for your book. (W, A, T, C)
Create a radio ad for your book. Write out the script and tape record it as it would be presented. Don't forget background music! (W, A, T, M)
Make a "wanted" poster for one of the characters or objects in your book. Include the following: (a) a drawing or cut-out picture of the character or object, (b) a physical description of the character or object, (c) the character's or object's misdeeds (or deeds?), (d) other information about the character or object which is important, (e) the reward offered for the capture of the character or object. (W, A)
Research and write a 1-page report on the geographical setting of your story. Include an explanation as to why this setting was important to the story. How did it affect the story? (W, R)
Design an advertising campaign to promote the sale of the book you read. Include each of the following: a poster, a radio or TV commercial, a magazine or newspaper ad, a bumper sticker, and a button. (W, A, M)
Find the top 10 websites a character in your book would most frequently visit. Include 2-3 sentences for each on why your character likes each of the sites. (W, T)
Write a scene that could have happened in the book you read but didn't. After you have written the scene, explain how it would have changed the outcome of the book. (W)
Create a board game based on the events and characters in the book you read. By playing your game, members of the class should learn what happened in the book. Include cards, pawns, etc., as needed to play your game. (W, A)
Make models of three objects which were important in the book you read. On a card attached to each model, tell why that object was important in the book. (W, A)
Design a movie poster for the book you read. Cast the major character in the book with real actors and actresses. Include a scene or dialogue from the book in the layout of the poster. Remember, it should be PERSUASIVE; you want people to come to see the movie. (W, A, R)
If the book you read involves a number of locations within a country or geographical area, plot the locations of the story on a map. Create a legend for your map. Write a paragraph for each location that explains the importance of the events that took place there. (W, A, R, T)
Complete a series of five drawings that show five of the major events in the plot of the book you read. Write captions for each drawing so that the illustrations can be understood by someone who did not read the book. (W, A)
Select one character from the book you read who has the qualities of a heroine or hero. List these qualities and tell why you think they are heroic. (W, O)
Imagine that you are about to make a feature-length film about the novel you read. You have been instructed to select your cast from members of your class. Cast all the major characters in your novel from your classmates, and tell why you selected each person for a given part. (W, O)
Plan a party for the characters in the book you read. In order to do this, complete each of the following tasks: (a) Design an invitation to the party that would appeal to all of the characters. (b) Imagine that you are five of the characters in the book and tell what each would wear to the party. (c) Tell what food you would serve and why. (d) Tell what games or entertainment you will provide and why your choices are appropriate. (e) Tell how three of the characters will act at the party. (f) What kind of a party is this? (birthday, housewarming, unbirthday, anniversary, etc.) (W, A, O, R)
Obtain a job application from an employer in our area, and fill out the application as one of the characters in the book you read might do. Before you obtain the application, be sure that the job is one for which a character in your book is qualified. If a resume is required, write it. (W, R)
References: Projects are sourced from a variety of sites and have been altered for clarity.