Project Ideas
1. Advertisements: create an advertising campaign to sell a product. The
product can be real or imaginary. Try using this to teach persuasion, as
an assignment for speech class, or to reinforce skills learned in a
consumer class.
2. Album Covers: create artwork for an album. The album may be
connected to a skill (such a multiplication) and should demonstrate or
explain how that skill is used. Or the album cover may be connected to a
novel and the art work might present a relevant theme in the story.
Another use would be to have students create natural disaster album
covers in a science class where the cover would depict and explain the
event.
3. Autobiographies: write the story of your life. This assignment may help
you teach autobiography or reinforce a broad range of writing skills.
4. Awards: create awards to present to historical figures, scientists,
mathematicians, authors, or characters from a novel.
5. Banners: create an informational banner. Students could create time
lines of the American civil war or the Spanish alphabet.
6. Bar Graphs: create illustrated bar graphs. These may be used to explore
data sets, use statistics to support a point, or illustrate a growth or
change in a market.
7. Biographies: write the life story of someone else. It could be a friend,
family member, historical figure, or a fictional character.
8. Blogs: create blogs for literary characters or historical figures. Create an
actual blog for free at blogger.com or just have students write and
organize articles on white printer paper if the internet is not available.
9. Blueprints: create blueprints or floor plans of a scene described in a
novel, an historic setting, or an earthquake proof bridge or structure.
10. Boardgames: create boardgames where students review course
concepts. Game play should be based around answering review questions
correctly.
11. Book Clubs: Students read either novels or selections from the text book
and discuss the readings in small groups. Students might be required to
take notes about the discussion or provide an audio recording of the
discussion as the artifact to be evaluated. Students might also create
discussion questions beforehand and have these approved by the
instructor. This activity may be applied to reading selections in any
subject.
12. Booklets: create an informational booklet. In the past I’ve had students
create booklets showing comma rules, narrator’s perspective, genre,
figurative language, and more. Booklets can be applied to almost any
unit of study and all they require to make are some blank white printer
paper folded in half, one of my favorites.
13. Bookmarks: create illustrated bookmarks with relevant information. A
bookmark might summarize previous chapters or contain the definitions of
challenging vocabulary words.
14. Brochures: brochures can be made as either tri-fold or bi-folds. Students
can create informational brochure’s about geographic locations, a story’s
setting, or a natural event such as how a tidal wave is formed or how the
food chain works.
15. Calendars: create a calendar charting the dates of key events. This can
be applied to an historical event (like a famous battle), a scientific event
(such a the path of Hurricane Katrina), or the sequence of events in story.
16. Casting Calls: select people (fictional, famous, or otherwise) to play the
role in a movie version of story or historic event. Explain which character
traits were considered in each selection.
17. Cheers: create a cheer explaining a scientific or mathematical process.
Alternately, a cheer could summarize the events of a novel or an historic
episode.
18. Classified Ads: create classified type ads as seen in newspapers. It
could be a wanted ad or a M4F type ad depending on the age of your
students. Update the concept and have students create Craigslist ads or
Ebay listings. Example applications include covering vocabulary words,
introducing multiple characters in a drama, examining figures in an
historical event, or studying endangered and extinct plants and animals.
19. Coat of Arms: create a family coat of arms for a character from a novel
or a person from history. A good activity for teaching symbolism.
20. Collages: create a collage or collection of images related to a topic.
Images can be hand drawn, printed, or clipped from a magazine or
newspaper. These work best with large thematic ideas that give students
the ability to maneuver, like a collage representing slavery, the 1920s, or
an entire story.
21. Comic Strips or Books: create an illustrated comic strip or book
representing events from history or a work of fiction.
22. Crossword Puzzles: create a crossword puzzle to review definitions of
challenging vocabulary words. Great for science, social studies, reading,
and even math terms.
23. Diary Entries: create a diary entries for a person from history or a
fictional character who experienced an historic event. Can also be applied
to characters in a story or survivors of a disaster.
24. Dramas: create a play. Students might adapt an existing story or create
original works and plays can be centered around any event in history.
25. Editorials: provide an opinion about a hot topic in history or science.
Should the space program be reduced? Is US military intervention in
current conflicts appropriate? Is global warming a concern?
26. Fables: create fables that teach a lesson. Students may create
illustrated story boards of their original fables or even dramatic
adaptations which they then perform. A good character building activity.
27. Flags: create a flag representing either an actual county (like Libya) or
fictitious place (like Narnia). This project should be accompanied by a
brief report explaining what ideas the colors and images on the flags
represent.
28. Flash Cards: create cards helpful for study and review. Flash cards can
be created for any subject and topic.
29. Flowcharts: students create flowcharts analyzing and representing a
mathematical process, a natural event, or an event in history or literature.
30. Glossaries: If students need to understand a large array of vocabulary
words, consider having them construct glossaries to help them study and
review.
31. Hieroglyphics: create pictures that represent vocabulary words.
Alternately, students could retell the events of a story or historical
episode in simple pictures.
32. ID Badges: create identification cards for characters from a work of
literature or for people involved in an historical event. Include relevant
details on the badges.
33. Illustrated Quotes: Have students choose a meaningful quote from a
text that they are reading. They should explain why the quote interests
them and then write the quote on a blank sheet of paper and draw related
images.
34. Instructions: write instructions on how to perform an operation or
experiment, diagram a sentence, or start a World War.
35. Inventions: create and illustrate your new invention that address a
problem in nature or society. Address environmental or sociological
issues.
36. Limericks: write limericks about events from history or scientific
discoveries such as, “There once was a man named Sir Newton…”
37. Magazines: create magazines covering large units of study such as the
Industrial Revolution or Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, that way many
articles can be written. Images may also be drawn or printed and added
to the publication.
38. Maps: create maps based on actual geographic or national boundaries
and landmarks or maps illustrating the setting of a story and the journey
of a character.
39. Merit Badges: create vocabulary merit badges where the term is defined
in three or fewer words and a small image is drawn to represent the
definition.
40. Movie Adaptations: plan a movie version of a novel, scientific discovery,
or historical event. Pick who will play what role, plan scenes, write dialog,
even create a soundtrack.
41. Murals: create a mural or a large drawing of many images related to a
larger idea. A mural about the Harlem Renaissance might contain images
of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and W.E.B. DuBois.
42. Myths: write creation myths to account for scientific or historic events or
for a creative writing assignment.
43. Newscasts: deliver important information from literature, history,
science, or math in the form of a newscast. Newscast can be prerecorded
or presented live.
44. Pen-pals: write letters to and from important people from history or the
characters in a story.
45. Poems and Raps: write a poem or rap reviewing any topic.
46. Postcards: similar to the pen-pals assignment above, but postcards have
illustrations representing thematic concepts.
47. Posters: create posters to review skills. As a bonus, many of these
posters can often be displayed during state tests, so if your students
create high quality posters, the posters may be a useful resource during
the test.
48. Questionnaires: create a questionnaire and survey students to gather
an understanding about thematic issues from a text or social problems for
a speech or presentation.
49. Radio Broadcasts: create a script for a radio program covering any
appropriate field of study.
50. Reader’s Theater: silently act out the events of a story or text alone or
with a group of people while someone reads the text aloud. Students
should be given time to prepare their acting.
51. Recipes: students can create recipes about how atoms combine to form
molecules (H2O), or how to create events like the French Revolution or
World War I (add one Arch Duke).
52. Scrapbooks: create a scrapbook of your favorite poems or important
events from a decade.
53. Skits: create a short skit to bring an historical event to life.
54. Slide Shows: if you have access to enough computers and a projector, I
suggest having students create PowerPoint presentations. With just a
little instruction, students should be able to create pretty flashy
presentations, and you can combine this project with a research paper as
a culminating activity.
55. Soundtracks: create a soundtrack for a movie version of a novel or
historical or natural event. Use actual songs or just describe the mood of
each song if you do not know song titles. Explain why you feel that each
song matches the event. A good activity to review mood.
56. Stamps: students create commemorative stamps honoring people,
depicting elements from the periodic table, or challenging vocabulary
terms.
57. Storyboards: create story boards summarize a short story or to plan a
narrative, movie, or presentation.
58. Tests: write a test to help you review unit goals and objectives.
Questions can be multiple choice, matching, and true or false. Answer
keys should be provided.
59. Vocabulary Quilts: create quilts with badges representing the meanings
of vocabulary terms. Badges should have an image and a few words.
60. Websites: design websites that historical figures, scientists,
mathematicians, authors, or characters from novels would have had.
Also, student can create websites for historical movements, scientific
theories, or literary concepts.
61. Worksheets: create review worksheets. Worksheets can be applied to
any subject and topic of study.
62. Yearbooks: create yearbooks reviewing the characters and events from
several stories that the class read or containing information about many
important figures from history.
91 Ways to Respond to Literature
1.WRITE THE STORY IN THE BOOK FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. Take an entire story (or part of it)
and write a version as someone else would tell it.
2.WRITE THE DIARY A MAIN CHARACTER MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN. Imagine you are the person in your
book. Write a diary for a few days or weeks as she or he would have done.
3.WRITE A CHARACTER SKETCH OF SOMEONE IN THE BOOK. This might be the central character or a
minor supporting character in the story. Tell what he looked like, but also include favorite color,
horoscope sign, sports liked, and even a bumper-sticker or a T-shirt.
4.REARRANGE A PASSAGE AS A "FOUND" POEM. Find a particularly effective description or bit of action
that is really poetry written as prose. Rewrite it. Leave out words or skip a sentence or two, but arrange
it to create a poem.
5.WRITE A PARODY OF THE BOOK. This kind of humorous imitation appeals to many students. Parody
the entire book or one scene.
6.WRITE A PROMOTION CAMPAIGN FOR A MOVIE ABOUT THE BOOK. This could include newspaper ad
layouts, radio and television commercials, and any special events.
7.WRITE A LETTER TO THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK. While authors may not have time to respond to each
letter they receive, they do enjoy letters from their readers - especially those that discuss the books in
the reader's own terms. Send letters in care of the book publishers if you cannot locate the author's
address in Who's Who, Current Biography, or other reference sources.
8.PUT TOGETHER A CAST FOR THE FILM VERSION OF A BOOK. Imagine the director-producer wants a
casting director to make recommendations. Decide who would be the actors and actresses. Include
photos and descriptions of the stars and tell why each is "perfect" for the part. Write a report to
convince the producer of the selections.
9.WRITE A REPORT OF RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT ONE TOPIC OR PERSON IN THE BOOK. For
example, research information about the trial of Benedict Arnold, how the covered wagons traveled,
fishing off a particular island, and so on.
10.MAKE A NEW BOOK JACKET. It should include an attractive picture or cover design, an original
summary of the book, information on the author and illustrator, and information about other books by
the author.
11.CONVERT A BOOK TO A RADIO DRAMA. Give a live or taped version about the story - or a scene from
it - as a radio play. Include an announcer and sound effects.
12.DO A DRAMATIC READING (READER'S THEATER) OF A SCENE. Select the scene and ask friends to help
read it dramatically.
13.CONVERT A BOOK INTO A PUPPET SHOW. Make simple puppets (stick puppets, finger puppets, paper
bag puppets, and so on) or complex puppets (marionettes) and present the story or an exciting scene
from it.
14.DO A "YOU ARE THERE" news program reporting on a particular scene, character, or event in the
book.
15.WRITE AND STAGE A TELEVISION SERIES EPISODE. Think of a popular television series that a book or
part of it would fit. Then convert it to that series and give the segment before the class.
16.PREPARE A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL ABOUT A BOOK. Imagine a book is the basis for a miniseries on
television. Prepare and give the television commercials that would make people want to watch it.
17.USE BODY MASKS AND PRESENT A SCENE FROM YOUR BOOK. Make full-sized cardboard figures with
cutouts for the face and hands. Use them to dramatize the scene.
18.DRAMATIZE A SCENE FROM A BOOK WITH OTHER STUDENTS TAKING PARTS. If desired, use props
and costumes. If the students know the story, improvise the scripts.
19.PLAY CHARADES BASED ON VARIOUS BOOK MEMBERS OF THE CLASS HAVE READ. Review standard
charade signals. Divide into teams. Then have the students draw titles of books or the names of
characters in the books, concentrating on those that have been most popular.
20.MAKE A SOAP OR PARAFFIN CARVING ABOUT AN EVENT OR PERSON IN A BOOK. These are
inexpensive materials and soft enough so there is little danger from the tools used for carving.
21.MOLD PLASTER RELIEF DESIGNS. Pour plaster into a form over various objects and then antique or
shellac them to make interesting displays.
22.MAKE LIFE-SIZED PAPER-STUFFED ANIMALS, PEOPLE, OR OBJECTS FOUND IN A BOOK. Cut out two
large sheets of wrapping paper in the shape desired. Staple the edges almost all the way around. Stuff
with crumpled newspaper, finish stapling, and paint.
23.MAKE HAND LOOMS AND WEAVINGS THAT PORTRAY A DESIGN IN A BOOK. Almost anything - from
paper plates to forked sticks - will make a loom when strung with yarn, rope, or cord. Check art and craft
books for directions. Then use the creations as wall hangings or mobiles.
24.CREATE BATIK DESIGNS WITH WAX AND OLD SHEETS OF TIE-DYE MATERIAL. When dry and ironed,
use them for wall hangings, curtains, and costumes.
25.FASHION A MOBILE FROM ITEMS RELATED TO A STORY. The mobiles add color and movement to a
room. Display them in the library, the cafeteria, the multipurpose room, or in the hallway.
26.MAKE A "ROLL-MOVIE" OF THE SCENES OR EVENTS OF A BOOK. Put a series of pictures in sequence
on a long strip of paper. Attach ends to rollers and place in a cardboard box. Print simple dialogue to
accompany the frames.
27.MAKE AN ANIMATION OF A SCENE ON AN ADDING MACHINE TAPE. To get animation, draw a
sequence of pictures with each one showing a bit more movement than the preceding one. When this is
rolled quickly, it gives the appearance of motion.
28.CREATE FILM STRIPS OF A STORY. Commercially produced materials is available with special color
pens to make filmstrips.
29.PRINT A DESIGN FROM A STORY IN A BOOK USING A VARIETY OF MATERIALS. Here, too, the process
may be simple or complicated. Use potatoes or other raw vegetables to carve and use. Or try plastic
meat trays and silk-screen prints.
30.IMPERSONATE A CHARACTER AND TELL AN EPISODE IN A BOOK. Dress up as a character and retell
the story.
31.DISCUSS THE BOOK INFORMALLY WITH ONE OR TWO OTHER STUDENTS. The reader should choose
two people he or she thinks might enjoy the book. Find a quiet corner to talk about it.
32.INTERVIEW A CHARACTER FROM A BOOK. Prepare questions to give another student. The reader
assumes the role of the character in the book and answers the questions as that character.
33.CONDUCT A SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION. Several students who have read a particular book should
get together and discuss it.
34.FOCUS A DISCUSSION ABOUT A PARTICULAR PERSON. Compare biographies of characters in historical
fiction.
35.COMPARE VERSIONS OF THE SAME STORY. Contrast different versions of one story or several stories
with similar themes.
36.HAVE A PANEL OR ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION ON THE SAME TOPIC. Use one of the bibliographies of
books on a particular topic (death, loneliness, handicaps, heroes and heroines, and so on). Have the
group present summaries of their books.
37.PITCH A SALES TALK FOR A BOOK. Give everyone in the class tokens, play money, or straw votes.
After the sales talk, take bids to get the most for the book.
38.INTERVIEW A BOOK'S AUTHOR. The reader becomes the author and comes to visit the class who in
turn interviews him or her.
39.PORTRAY A BOOK CHARACTER. Ask another reader of the same book to role play a different
character. The two characters can meet to talk about themselves and what has happened to them. This
is especially appropriate if they have something in common: similar adventures, similar jobs, and so on.
40.MAKE A TALKING DISPLAY OF A BOOK. Tape a dialogue or description about an event, scene, or
character.
41.DRAW A SCALE MODEL OF AN ITEM IN A STORY. Making an object from the story to scale presents
many challenges. For example, try a go-cart, a match-lock gun, or any other item.
42.COOK A FOOD MENTIONED IN YOUR BOOK. It is always fun to share something to eat. Please cook
your recipe at home.
43.BUILD A RELIEF MAP OF THE SETTING OF THE STORY. Use clay, sand, or papier-mache.
44.DESIGN AND MAKE YOUR OWN T-SHIRT OF AN ILLUSTRATION ABOUT A BOOK. Create a design, using
color-fast marking pens.
45.CONSTRUCT A BUILDING FROM A STORY. Work together with others to build an item from the story
that they have read also.
46.MAKE SOME COSTUME DOLLS FOR A DISPLAY OF CHARACTERS IN A BOOK. Create costume dolls and
display them.
47.COMPLETE SCALE DRAWINGS OF ROOMS IN A BOOK. Use graph paper with a set scale and design
places portrayed in a book.
48.LEARN TO PLAY A GAME MENTIONED IN A BOOK. Teach it to the rest of the class. (This might be an
old-fashioned game or one from another country.)
49.ASK OTHERS IN THE CLASS TO DESIGN AND CREATE SQUARES FOR A QUILT. Depict favorite scenes or
characters. Then stitch/draw/paint the quilt together. The individual squares may be drawn with
marking pens or done in stitchery. The quilt may be a wall hanging, a curtain for a private reading area in
the room, or presented to the school as a class gift.
50.CONVERT THE EVENTS OF A STORY INTO A BALLAD OR SONG. Write the lyrics and music or adapt
words to a melody by someone else.
51.MAKE A LITERARY MAP OF THE AUTHOR'S WORKS AND LIFE. Use references, biographical, and
autobiographical materials (articles, books, interviews) to create an informative and colorful map.
52.INVENT WORD GAMES FOR YOUR BOOK. Create crossword puzzles, word games, and acrostics
incorporating unfamiliar vocabulary words, characters, and settings. Distribute to the class.
53.COMPARE LIFE STYLES. As a group project, have the students compare the way of life in the book to
present day living in their community. This can be presented in panel format. For example, the methods
of transportation, fashions, foods, customs, religious practices, types of government can be compared to
their modern counterparts.
54.GROUP PERFORMANCE. Select a crucial scene from the novel and have the members of the group act
it out. Have one member interrupt it posing as a reporter. Have him/her interview each character for an
on-the-scene "minicam"
55.THE WRITTEN WORD VERSUS THE VIDEO. Compare the book to the movie or television version of it.
What aspects of the book have been altered for the visual performance and why? Do these alterations
make the story "better"? Why or why not?
56.THE NOVEL OUTSIDE THE ENGLISH CLASS. Show how a historical novel could be used in a history class
or how a science fiction novel could enliven a science course.
57.RETURN TO THE FUTURE. Pretend that you are one of the characters who has "come back" 25 years
after the novel has ended. Describe your reactions.
58.WRITE OR ACT OUT A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO OF THE CHARACTERS.
59.NOVEL COURT. Hold a "mock trial" to permit one of the characters to defend what he has done in
some controversial scene in the book. Let members of the class deliberate as the jury and arrive at a
verdict.
60.SILENT PLAYS. Have a group of students pantomime a scene from the book. Give special attention to
movement and facial expressions to convey the meaning of the scene.
61.WRITE A SHORT PLAYLET BASED ON SOME CHARACTER OR EVENT IN THE STORY. Be sure to provide
accurate and interesting stage directions.
62.PERSONAL TASTE. Select one character from the book. If he/she were living today, what kind of
clothes, books, records, movies, etc. would he/she select? Why would he/she do so?
63.DESIGN THE FRONT PAGE OF A NEWSPAPER. Write a short news story describing the major event in
your book. Include an attention grabbing headline and teasers for the rest of the paper.
64.WRITE A HUMAN INTEREST STORY ON ONE OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY.
65.WRITE AN EDITORIAL ON SOME CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE RAISED BY THE BOOK.
66.DESIGN A COMIC STRIP RETELLING SOME EVENT IN THE STORY. This may be expanded to tell the
whole story of the novel as a comic book.
67.DESIGN A CHILDREN'S STORY RETELLING SOME EVENT IN THE STORY. This may be expanded to tell
the whole story of the novel as a children's book.
68.DESIGN A TIME LINE FOR THE EVENTS IN THE STORY.
69.DESIGN A DETAILED MAP OR MAPS FOR THE SETTING(S) OF THE BOOK.
70.DESIGN A BULLETIN BOARD TO STIMULATE CLASS INTEREST IN THE BOOK.
71.WRITE A LEGEND, FABLE, OR MYTH BASED ON SOME EVENT IN THE STORY.
72.PEN SOME POETRY. Write a limerick or a short poem about one of the characters or some event in
the novel.
73.WRITE A BALLAD AND/OR MUSIC TELLING THE STORY. This can be delivered/sung to the class.
74.CREATE AN EYE-CATCHING POSTER. Choose a scene from the book and cast it in a poster which
would attract potential readers or buyers to the book.
75.FICTION OR REALITY. Choose a character who seems to have realistic experiences. Write about
something similar that has happened to you.
76.FUNCTION AS AN EDITOR. Treat the book as a manuscript and rewrite the pages (or chapter) you
consider "weak". What needs to be redone to make the book stronger?
77.TRADING PLACES. Write a short paper explaining why you would or would not like to change places
with one of the characters in the novel.
78.DESIGN THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE BOOK.
79.WRITE A PERSONAL LETTER TO ONE OF THE CHARACTERS YOU ADMIRE OR DESPISE.
80.CORRESPOND WITH ANOTHER CHARACTER. Pretend that you are one character in the book. Write a
friendly letter to another character.
81.A CHARACTER IN SEARCH OF A JOB. As if you were a character in the book, compose a resume and
cover letter for your character, who is applying for a job suitable for the character and the setting of the
novel, Does your character have any references?
82.ONCE UPON A TIME. Write a fairy tale about some event or character in the book.
83.BE A MODERN ARTIST. Using various mediums, create a collage that comments on a particular theme
or issue in the book.
84.CREATE A DOSSIER ON A CHARACTER. Pretend that you are a foreign spy sent to report on your
chosen character. Compile into a secret file general and specific information regarding your character.
Don't forget the photo.
85.DESIGN AND PRODUCE A POSTCARD OR A SERIES OF POSTCARDS. On one side draw/paint/reproduce
an appropriate photo and on the other side compose a message to me from one of the characters.
There will be automatic A's for the best design, most intriguing message, most distant postmark, and
most appropriate postmark (mail it to me from there!).
86.PUBLISH A YEARBOOK. Create a yearbook - alias annual, alias classbook, alias memory book - based
on the people and events in your book. Refer to a real yearbook for ideas on layout and sections.
87.BE A LITERARY AGENT. Pretend you are a literary agent representing the author of your book. Write
to Harry Decision, editor of young adult fiction at Bantam Books, explaining why you feel he should
publish your author's book.
88.COMPILE A SCRAPBOOK OR A MEMORY BOX. Choose one of the major characters in your book, and,
as that person, put together a scrapbook or memory box of special memories and mementoes. Be true
to your character.
89.DESIGN A TRAVEL BROCHURE. Illustrate and advertise the "world" of your novel.
90.THE FORTUNE COOKIE REVIEW. Explain why their messages, given to each of the novel's characters,
are amazingly appropriate.
91.THE EDIBLE (CHOCOLATE?) REVIEW. Sir Francis Bacon said, "Some books are to be tasted, others to
be swallowed, and some to be chewed and digested."
Book Project Choices
These independent literature projects are a wonderful opportunity for students to
experience as much quality literature as possible. The more a person reads, the better
he/she reads. The better one reads, the better one can communicate, understand directions,
think critically, spell, interpret vocabulary, and so much more. Secondly, this project will
tap creative ideas and talents from each student as the different multiple intelligence
activities are completed. From creativity comes critical thinking, success, better self-esteem,
and so on. When the children share their projects, they introduce a variety of books to their
peers and develop their presentation skills. Most of all; however, enjoy - each book is an
adventure.
This independent novel project supplements what is read in the classroom. Notice: students
should not wait until the last minute to complete these projects; most of them require at
least a week's worth of preparation. These projects are due on the first Thursday of each
month (beginning with the first Thursday in October and ending with the first Thursday in
May).
INTRAPERSONAL
PERSONAL JOURNAL: Keep a journal as you read your book. Record your reflections,
thoughts, opinions, and inferences about the events and characters in the book. Date each
entry. Pick one of the entries to share with he class when you present.
DEAR _____: Retell the novel through a series of letters to and responses from advice
columnist (Ann Landers, Abby, etc.). The letters can be from one character or from many.
The responses from the advice columnist are your ( the reader) reactions to the events of
the story. Be creative. Make up your own column!
POINT OF VIEW: Rewrite a chapter from the novel from a different point of view. In
your retelling, use vocabulary and thoughts appropriate for the person telling the story.
Make sure to have appropriate reflections about characters and events for the new point of
view.
TIME CAPSULE: Put together a time capsule for the novel. It will be opened 200 years in
the future, so it must contain items and descriptions that truly highlight the major
components of the novel. What artifacts would be preserved? What letters would the
character write? Where would this capsule be buried? Be creative! Make it colorful!
NEW ENDING: Summarize the beginning and middle of your story. Make up your own
ending to the story. You can write your summary and new ending or record yourself telling
the new ending on a tape. If you write it, be prepared to read it to the class. If you record it,
be prepared to play your tape.
SETTING COMPARISON: Compare where you live to a setting in the book. Get this form
from your teacher.
DEFINITION: Create your own definition for humor. List/describe 5-10 humorous events
in the book on the left side of a piece of paper. On the right side of the paper reflect on the
events. Do they fit into your definition? Why or why not?
VENN DIAGRAM: Compare yourself to one of the characters in the book using a Venn
diagram.
ROLE-PLAYING: Put yourself in the place of the main character and present how you
would have handled things differently in the story based on your personality, likes, and
dislikes.
COLLAGE: Create a self-response collage based on the following questions: (1) why did I
choose this book, (2) what are my opinions, (3) what was my reaction to the main event in
the book, (4) would I read this book again, and (5) how did I feel about the book?
3 W'S CHART: Create a chart on large paper or posterboard and divide it into three
columns. Label one column "What I Already Know", one column "What I Want to Know"
and 1 column "What I've Learned From Reading the Book." Include the book title and
author at the top of the chart. (This is good for informational.)
INTERPERSONAL
NEWSCAST: Pretend that you are the anchor of a local news program. Give an editorial
of your book.
MISSING IN ACTION: The main character of you novel is missing. Develop a missing
person's folder for the police department. Include interviews with key characters, clues
concerning the missing person, and an official police report form. Use information from the
novel as well as creative imagination to put the file together; compile all the pieces into a
manila folder or file.
TALK SHOW: Create a talk show in which audience members (classmates) have the
opportunity to talk with the author (you) of your book.
TIMELINE: Read the same book as a friend. Together create an illustrated timeline of the
events in the book.
INTERVIEW: Read the same book as a friend. One acts as the author or main character
and the other interviews him/her. Make reference to the setting, problem, and character
traits.
GRAFFITI: Read the same book as a friend and create a graffiti poster. The poster should
symbolize the traits of the main characters, most exciting event, and your opinions.
COMMERCIAL: Read the same book as a friend. Each of you should choose a character
from the book and dress up as him/her. Present a commercial that is at least three minutes
long which encourages others to read the book.
BOOK TRIAL: Read the same book as a partner. Each of you will be an attorney with an
opinion of the book. Choose a Judge from the class to listen to each of your opinions about
the book. The rest of the class will be the jury. Each attorney needs to present his/her ideas
about the book( what he/she learned, was it interesting, should it be read by others, etc.)
Have the class come to a verdict about the book at the end of each attorney's presentation.
BOOK TALK: Read the same book as one or two other classmates. Hold a book talk in
front of the class when you present. Summarize the plot and describe the characters when
you discuss the book. Explain your thoughts and opinions about the book. Talk about what
you liked and disliked. Make sure we can tell that you clearly understood the book by what
you discuss.
VISUAL SPATIAL
CEREAL BOX ADVERTISEMENT: Paint or cover a cereal box with paper. Illustrate
your a memorable event from the book. Make a list of ingredients that made your book
good. Use specific adjectives to describe the characters and the plot. Be sure to include the
title, author, your name, etc.
COMIC STYLE: Relate the highlights of the novel in comic book form. Besides using
drawings, include significant quotes from the novel. Work objects of symbolic importance
into your illustrations. Design an appropriate cover for the comic book. Make sure to
include the following in the comic book: setting, main characters, conflict, key events, and
resolution of the conflict. The comic book must be at least 3 pages in length. (3 separate
cartoon pages)
PRODUCE IT: Produce your novel as a movie. Cast the major roles, draw costume
designs, visualize setting locations, edit the novel, select appropriate background music and
main theme music, identify special effects, write a radio commercial, design a poster, and
decide upon the movie rating. Make sure all the sketches and pieces of this project are
compiled together in a large envelope. Label each aspect of this project.
STORY BOARD: Be a director for a film version of the novel. Before filming begins, a
storyboard of the various scenes of the film must be prepared. A storyboard is a comic
strip style summary of the action of a particular scene. It indicates camera angles, closeups, etc. Choose two scenes from the novel and prepare storyboards for these scenes.
SCRAPBOOK MEMORIES: Create a scrapbook for the main character based upon the
novel. The scrapbook could contain pictures, mementos, postcards, etc. that detail the
story. Each item in the scrapbook should have a note saying why it appears in the
scrapbook. The book should also be in chronological order. Make it colorful and creative.
BOOK CHARACTERS: Design a bookmark that represents a character in your book.
Write the title of the book and the author of the book on the front. Inside or on the back
write about the character's traits.
COMPUTER PRESENTATION: Use Hyperstudio or Powerpoint to create a visual
presentation summarizing the plot, introducing the main characters, and any other
important information about the book.
PUZZLE: Cut a large piece of paper into several pieces to create a puzzle. Write
information and draw pictures about your book on each puzzle piece. Include the main
characters, title, author, setting, main events, etc.
BEDROOM: Think about the main character in your story. Design an ideal bedroom for
him/her based on what you learned from the story. Think about personality, decisions
made in the book, age, likes and dislikes, etc.
MAP THE ACTION: Prepare a map of the places and landmarks mentioned in the novel.
Use evidence from the story and creative imagination to situate the items. Then label each
location with an event from the story. Maps must be colorful, appropriately labeled, and at
least 9 X 12 inches in size.
BOOK JACKET: Design an original book jacket for your book. Include author, illustrator,
a full illustration, descriptive summary, and reviews by you.
IDENTIKIT BOOK: Create a book for the main character in your book. See your teacher
for the instruction sheet.
T-SHIRT: Design a t-shirt that teaches others about your book. Use words, pictures,
and/or designs to explain the characters, problem, setting, etc.
GOIN' MOBILE: Create a mobile of the different components of the novel. Use note cards,
cutout symbols or objects, etc. with a hanger and yarn. On each section of the mobile, write
a paragraph to describe the component of the story. Include: setting, protagonist,
antagonist, conflict, resolution, author's message, and opinion. The mobile should be
colorful.
THE NOVEL MUSEUM: Design a museum based upon the novel. Draw up floor plans
showing how the museum is designed and where the different exhibits are. Write a
brochure describing the different exhibits. Include sketches of what some of the different
exhibits might look like, and be sure to include details, events, and characters from the
book. Name the museum and make it colorful!
MUSICAL RHYTHMIC
SONG REMAKE: Take the words to a song that you know (Brady Bunch, Looney Tunes,
etc.) and replace them with words to match your story. Include names of characters, main
events, setting, etc.
SONG: Find a song that relates to your book and play it for the class. Then give a one or
two minute summary of the book and explain the importance of the song.
GAME: Create a musical game based on your book. Be sure to include the characters,
setting, problem, etc.
SING IT: Imagine you are a musical director for a film version of the novel. Your task is to
select music (jazz, blues, classical, rock, etc.) for ten major episodes of the novel. List the
episodes and then make one or two recommendations for music to accompany each
episode. Don't forget to include the artist or composer for each song. In addition, below
each song, explain why each selection fits the mood and outcome of the scene. (Additional
option: you may prepare a tape of your music and/or include a voice-over reading of the
episodes. However, you must also do the first part of the project.)
SONG REFLECTION: Choose a song that reflects the events in your book. Stop the song
at certain points to explain what happened in the story that relates to parts of the song. (Ex,
The beat is strong and fast which represents the high point of the story.)
SOUND EFFECTS: Write a summary of the story. Produce sound effects that will bring
your story to life. You may bring in a tape of your summary with the effects or you can
read your summary and produce the effect during the reading.
INSTRUMENTS: Choose four or five important events in your story. Create a musical
instrument out of household items to represent each event. Play each instrument and
explain why you chose it.
THREE CHEERS: Create a cheer about your book. Be sure to include the main ideas from
your book.
LINGUISTIC
LIMERICK: Write a limerick for each main character in your book, and present them to
the class. Follow the correct format.
PLAIN LITTLE 'OL ME: If you do not wish to take the creative route, write out a simple
book report/review. It must be typed. Include well-organized paragraphs on the following:
an intro, the setting (time and place), main characters and how they change, the overall
plot, the main problem and its solution, and, as a conclusion, an opinion. Make a colorful
or decorative cover.
RULES: Choose a character from the book who might benefit from following a few simple
rules. Write rules that reflect knowledge of the character's behavior and actions.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Write a newspaper article about a particular event in your
story. Remember to include the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
ABC BOOK: Create an ABC book based on a the events and characters in your story. You
will need something for each letter of the alphabet.
BUSINESS LETTER: Write a business letter to the author of the book. Include questions
to him/her, thoughts on the book, and your opinions. Tell what your favorite part was and
why. Remember to write in complete sentences and paragraphs.
TRIVIA GAME: Create a trivial pursuit game based on your book. Include a gameboard,
game pieces, questions, and answer cards.
DICTIONARY: Create a dictionary of vocabulary words from your book. Definitions need
to be in alphabetical order and in your own words. Include at least ten words. Pick an
event that relates to each of your words. On the left side of the paper write your words and
definitions and on the right side of your paper describe the events and how they fit your
definition.
RECIPE: Write a recipe for your book. Tell what ingredients make your book "delicious""
Give directions for how these ingredients are mixed together to make a great book. (Ex.
Bake at 350 for twenty minutes and serve to any reader who is hungry for a good book.)
POETRY BOOK: Compile a poetry book that includes acrostics, cinquains, diamante,
comparison poems and bio poems that express all aspects of the novel. You must create at
least five different poems based on the novel. Make a decorative or colorful cover for the
booklet. Put each poem on a separate page.
LOGICAL MATHEMATICAL
GAME: Create a boardgame that is based on the plot of your book. Include directions,
title, question and answer cards, and needed supplies. Be colorful, creative, and make sure
your game follows a sequence.
STORY CUBE: Complete a story map of the novel by highlighting the setting, conflict,
resolution, characters, author's message, and your opinion on a 3-dimensional story cube.
Get the format to create the cube from your teacher. Cubes must be decorated or
illustrated with color.
STORY LADDER: Create a ladder of the most important aspects of the novel. Use note
cards or strips of paper and yarn to create a ladder. Describe each component of the story
in one or two sentences for each part of the ladder. Include: setting, plot, conflict,
resolution, characters, author's message, and your opinion. Make the ladder colorful by
including illustrations or decorative borders.
TANGRAMS: Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzles used to tell stories. Use tangram
pieces to summarize the beginning, middle, and end of your story. For example, if the
beginning of your story takes place on a boat you might create a boat out of the tangrams.
MATH BOOKLET: Create a math problem solving booklet about your book. Use
characters and events from your book in your problems. Include the answers to each of
your problems.
BAR GRAPH: Follow these steps to create a bar graph showing the intensity of your
story's events: (1) read your book, (2) identify and order 10 main event sin your story, (3)
rate the intensity of the events on a scale of one to ten, (4) create a bar graph. Remember to
label your graph.
TECHNOLOGY PRESENTATION: Create a presentation analyzing the characters in
your book. Give descriptions for each character and show how they change throughout the
book.
PROBLEM AND SOLUTION DIAGRAM: Create a diagram that shows the problem in
your story and how it was solved.
CHARACTER CHART: Create a character chart for the main characters in your story.
Include each character's role in the story, character traits or personality, and how the
character affected the story.
BODILY KINESTHETIC
ACT IT OUT: Act out your favorite scene from the book. Take on the mannerisms and
personality of the main character in the book.
SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP: A new mall is being developed and it is built along a special
theme. The mall will be based on the main characters. All the stores in the mall will be
connected to the main characters in some way. Design a 3-D layout of the mall, write a
short brochure describing each store or business, and develop a flyer for the grand opening
of the mall. Your mall should have at least ten different businesses in it.
DRESS UP: Dress up like your favorite character. Play a game of charades in which you
act out scenes from the book.
PUPPET SHOW: Create a puppet show which includes the characters from your book. Act
out the most important scene from your book using the puppets.
SILENT SCENE: Act out the main event in the book using only movement (no words). At
the end of your performance summarize/explain what you did.
DANCE: Create and perform a dance that reflects the main event(s), main characters, or
theme from your book.
GAME: Invent a game based on your book that requires movement from those playing it
(think Twister not Monopoly). Include the characters, sequence of events, problem, and
solution.
NATURALIST
MOOD SORT: Choose ten events from your book. Sort them according to the
mood/feelings that were created by the author when you wee reading. Include descriptive
words used by the author to help create the mood.
DIORAMA: Create a model or diorama of the setting of your book using natural materials
such as sticks and grass. Use detail!
MAP: Draw a map of where your story takes place. Include the natural landmarks in your
story on the map. When you present you project make sure you tell about the key events in
your story and show where they happen on your map. Connect the characters and events to
the natural landmarks on your map.