Self-Motivated Active Reading Time

Sharing Activities

 

You know the best and nicest requirement of Reading Workshop—You get to READ every week.

 

Now, here are some activities you’ll be working on this quarter to share what you’ve been reading.  There are five levels of SMART activities.  Each assignment you do gets a grade…but some assignments will take more effort than others, so they will be rewarded with more points.  Here’s the system:

 

 

 

 

 

BRONZE ACTIVITIES (Value 2)

 

B—1  If you could change places with one character, who would it be and why? Your explanation should be at least one page.  Remember to describe the character and their situation well because your audience may not have read the book.  Give EVIDENCE--examples of things the character has done or said that supports your description.

 

B—2  Which character is most like you?  Why?  Your explanation should be at least one page.  Remember to describe the character well because your audience may not have read the book.  Give EVIDENCE-- examples of things the character has done or said that support your description.  Also, give EVIDENCE of what it is about you that is similar to the character--these might be examples of things you have said or done.

 

B—3  Choose one character, tell how they behaved/what they were like in the beginning, how they behaved/what they were like at the end, and how they changed.  Your description should be at least one page.  

 

B—4  Draw a scene from the book.  Your drawing will be scored based on how much detail is included.  Make sure you somehow show who the people are in your picture.

 

B—5  Make a collage of a major theme from the book.  Use clippings from magazines, newspapers, etc.  The collage should include at least 10 different clips.  On the back explain in one paragraph what theme you are representing and what it has to do with your novel.

B—6  Imagine your book is being turned into a movie--who would play each character?  Name at least 5 characters and who would play them (explain in at least one sentence why and include a quote from each character that makes your point) and tell where you would film the movie.

 

SILVER ACTIVITIES (Value 4)

 

S—1  Make a soundtrack for the book by choosing at least 10 songs.  You may choose any kind of songs you wish.  For each song, explain in at least one sentence why you chose the song and how it relates to the events or characters in the book.  If the song you’ve chosen is not a popular one, you might need to include the words, or a description of the song, so your point is clear. (You can also quote from the book, of course.)

S—2  Change the time and place of the novel.  Explain how this would change the story.  First tell where and when the novel takes place.  Then tell where and when you would change it to.  Focus on how the characters would be different and on how the plot (what happens) might change.  For example, if your book takes place in 1920 and has a female character who is a nurse, you might change the time to 2002 and say that nowadays, a woman interested in medicine can be a doctor.  

S—3  Become one of the characters and describe your experiences during a certain event that happens in the book.  Your description should be at least one page.  Write in the FIRST PERSON (using 'I') and remember to use as many senses as possible in your description.

S—4  Make a cartoon of the book or a chapter or a scene (at least 8 panels in full color with text.)

S—5  Describe an experience you've had that was like something that happened in the book.  Your description should be at least one page.  First, describe the event in the book, then describe the event that happened to you.

S—6  Write a song for a character.  Include a one paragraph explanation after the song of why this song is appropriate for the character.

S—7  Write an obituary for a character (at least one page—look in a newspaper for examples, if you need to.)

S—8  Draw a map (in color) of one place in the book, labeling landmarks and points of interest.

S—9  Find and read an interview with the author or a review of the book.  Read it and write a summary (attach a copy of the interview.)  What surprised you? What didn't surprise you?  Your summary should be at least one page.

GOLD ACTIVITIES (Value 6)

G—1  Write a letter to a character.  Then, have that character write a letter answering back in the voice of the character (using words they would use and saying things they would say.)  Each letter should be at least one page.  

G—2  Pretend you are a newspaper reporter and write out an interview with one of the characters (at least 10 OPEN questions and answers.)

G—3  Write an original song about the book (at least 20 lines.)  Include an explanation (one or more paragraphs) of how the song relates to the events and characters of the book.

G—4  Become a character and write a diary with at least 5 entries.  Include events from the novel and how you feel about them.  Write in the voice of the character (using words they would use and saying things they would say.)

G—5  Make an illustrated timeline of events in the book, make sure your timeline includes at least 10 events with a two sentence description and small picture or clipping describing each event.

G—6  Make a character up!  Imagine a character that was not in the book but that could have been.  Write a conversation between this character and one of the existing characters (one page) and tell how the book would change with this new character (half a page.)

G—7  What could happen after the story is over?  Write a brief summary (two pages) of a sequel to the book (describe the main characters, tell what the plot would be.)

G—8  Write an imaginary interview with the author (at least 15 open questions and answers.)

G—9  Write letters from one character to another, with the second character responding.  Each letter should be one page and in the voice of the character.

G—10 Redesign the front and back cover of the book, complete with a blurb and quotes on the back (these should be made up!).

G—11  Write a "Dear Abby" column with questions from at least four characters asking for advice and your answers as Dear Abby (each should be at least 1/2 page).  (“Dear Abby” is an advice column; people write to her with personal problems, and she answers in her newspaper column, giving advice on how to deal with the problem.)

G—12  Get two different colored pens and choose a page from the book that you particularly liked.  Begin by writing the first sentence from the page in the book in one color.  Then add a sentence of your own in another color.  Then go back and write the next sentence in the book.  Continue alternating until you have finished the page.  The sentences of your own can be reactions, or add to the action in the book in any way you would like.

G—13  Make a mobile of a character from the book.  On the front of each piece have a picture that represents a character; on the back have a description of the character and your favorite quote that describes them or your favorite quote that the character said.  (Try to make the mobile balance!)

G—14  Write and perform a TV commercial for your book in front of the class.  The performance should be at least 2 minutes.

PLATINUM ACTIVITIES (Value 8)

P—1  What else happens?  Add a chapter to the end of the book.  This should be at least three or four pages and in the style of the book.

P—2  What do you think should have happened that didn't?  Write a chapter that's missing in the middle of the book.  This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P—3  What happened first?  Write a chapter that comes before the book began.  This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P—4  Pick two characters from different books.  Describe a meeting between the two of them (where and when and how it would take place) and write twenty or more lines of dialogue between them.

P—5  Rewrite a section of the book from a different character's point of view than is in the original book.  This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

P—6  Rewrite a section of the book with yourself as a character.  This should be at least four pages and in the style of the book.

DIAMOND ACTIVITIES (Value 10)

D—1  Act out and video tape several scenes from the book.  The tape should last at least ten minutes.  Present it to the class.

D—2  Write and illustrate (you can use cut-outs) a full children's book telling the story of your book—with a cover.  Make this quality work.

 

 

 

 

 

Make sure to label each activity turned in, so I can properly grade it!

 

 

 

***Your Final work must be submitted no later than Friday, January 14, 2006***