Newbery Award Novel Project
Subject: Language Arts; Reading; Writing Grade Levels: 5-8 Teacher Comments: This is a wonderful way to have students monitor and reflect upon what they are reading. I gave this project as an "at-home assignment" and have received awesome parent feedback. Procedure: Please note: The due dates for this lesson plan will vary depending upon when you assign it. Tell Students: During the month of January, you will read and present a project based on one of the Newberry Award winning novels. You will present your final project on January 29th or 30th. We will draw names on January 29th to see in which order projects will be presented. This project must be completed outside of school; however you may use SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) time to read your chosen book. The following is a list of important dates relating to this project: Step 1: Choose a book from the list of Newbery Award winners. Go here for list of winners. Step 2: Begin reading the book and decided on one of the following projects: Project 1: Sculpture Create a sculpture of a character in the story. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object you chose. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture. This project will be graded as follows: 50pts- Sculpture of one of the characters in the story. Project 2: Character Description Write a description of three of the characters in the book. Each description should be three paragraphs long and contain information on both the physical appearances of the character and an emotional description. Draw a colored portrait of each character to accompany each description. This project will be graded as follows: 50pts- Description of characters in three complete paragraphs each. Project 3: Newspaper Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in another, do a feature story on one of the more important characters in another. Include an editorial, at least four ads that would be pertinent to the story, and one picture about the story. This project will be graded as follows: 15pts- Write an article summarizing the plot of the story using correct paragraph form. Project 4: Mobile Create a mobile about the story. The mobile must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story. The mobile must have at least 5 moving parts and each part must have a paragraph explanation of each part in correct form. This project will be graded as follows: 25pts- Mobile with at least 5 moving parts. Project 6: Song Write and perform an original song that tells the story of this book. The song must include the title of the story, the name of the author, setting, and characters of the story. This project will be graded as follows: 50pts- Writing of the song must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and characters. Step 3: Write and turn in to your teacher one paragraph (in correct paragraph form) including what book you have chosen, the author of the book, and how you are doing on the project. This paragraph is due January 10th and is worth 25pts for being in correct paragraph form and on time. Step 4: Write and turn in to your teacher one paragraph (in correct paragraph form) including what project you have chosen to complete, the characters of the story, and the setting of the story. This paragraph is due January 17th and is worth 25pts for being in correct paragraph form and on time. Step 5: Write and turn in to your teacher one paragraph (in correct paragraph form) discussing any problems you may be having with the project. This paragraph is due January 24th and is worth 25pts for being in correct paragraph form and on time. Step 6: Present your final project on January 29th or 30th. |