Lesson Author: Shannon Saxton-Murphy

Subject: Language Arts; Reading; Writing

Grade Levels: 5-8

Overview: Students will read a Newbery award-winning book and complete a project. Students will monitor their progress by giving the teacher periodic updates on how the project is progressing.

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 wonderful 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:

January 3rd: Project assigned.
January 10th: Due: 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.
January 17th: Due: 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.
January 24th: Due: One paragraph (in correct paragraph form) discussing any problems you may be having with the project.
January 29th: Final Project Due

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.
25pts—Explanation of how this character fits into the story in correct paragraph form.
25pts—Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and
            explanation of sculpture.

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 appearance 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.
25pts—Colored portraits drew of each of the characters.
25pts—Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, the setting, and description of
            the three characters.

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.
15pts—Write an article covering what the weather is like in the setting of the story using correct
            paragraph form.
15pts—Write a feature story on one of the important characters in correct paragraph form.
15pts—Write an editorial giving your opinion of the story in correct paragraph form.
15pts—Write 4 ads which would be pertinent to the story.
5pts—  Drawing of one picture about the story.
20pts—Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and
            explanation of newspaper.

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 five 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.
25pts—Must include the author, title, setting, and characters of the story.
25pts—Explanation of each part in complete paragraph form.
25pts—Presentation must include the title of the story, the author, characters setting, and
            explanation of mobile.

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.
50pts—Performance 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) that includes what book you have chosen, the author of the book, and an explanation of 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) that includes what project you have chosen to complete, the characters of the story, and a description of 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.