Summer Reading—Extension Menu
Write a eulogy or found poem for
a character in your novel that
details the character’s personal
conflicts
____________________________
Write and act a 1 minute version
of you novel that includes the key
scenes and ideas from each act.
This can either be performed live
for the class or shot on video and
played for the class.
--OR-Write a two-page scene based on
a section of your novel, but set
somewhere else, like a skyscraper
office or a mental ward. Be true to
the plot, but make sure the
characters fit the setting.
Rewrite a chapter from your
novel as an illustrated children’s
story using the key elements.
Paste the pictures and typed text
on the front and back of
construction paper (or
Astrobright) and bind it together
with an illustrated front and back
cover.
_________________________
Character Word Collage: Very
similar to a picture collage except
you obviously don't use as many
pictures. Find a subject or an idea
and write or glue words (no
pictures besides the main pictures)
around that particular subject
(Characters or the whole book),
characteristics, quotes, and quotes
about each important character in
the story.
Note: You can't do this unless you
TRULY read the book. Sparknotes
and Shmoop aren't going to help
much. It's completely obvious if
you didn't read because you won't
be able to elaborate on your
collage.
Comic strip/Graphic Novel
Students should produce
a comic strip of the play (or an act
of the play) for young children.
Decide on the features that would
appeal to a 5-8 year old audience.
Explore what should be included
and what omitted for this age
range. Careful thought would be
needed here, to include
excitement, but delete anything
too disturbing.
Write text appropriate for 5-8 year
old students.
Create images that help illustrate
the text and make understanding
easier for a young audience –
students might want to label
characters and add speech
bubbles to reinforce main points.
Include literary elements and at
least 5 underlined vocabulary
words.
Print in comic strip/graphic novel
form and display.
____________________________
Research: What is a major issue in
your novel? ( For example, in Me
Before You, euthanasia )
Find no less than three current,
reliable sources on the topic and
create a works cited. Summarize
the main points of each source
and draft your own opinion on the
issue, citing your research for
support. Your opinion should be in
paragraph form, include citations,
and be a minimum of 200 words.
Add a visual element (collage,
common symbols, pictures, etc…)
____________________________
Collage: Create a collage of images
and/or quotations from your novel
that somehow demonstrate the
theme or message. Include an
explanation for each image and/or
quotation that appears on the
collage—why was it included and
its significance to the work.
Create an illustrated timeline of
events in the novel.
______________________________
Newspaper—Create a newspaper
outlining the major events in the
novel. Write articles and include
appropriate pictures (hand or
computer drawn, cut from
magazines or newspapers, or found
on the Internet). In addition to
major articles, include typical
newspaper features like editorials,
obituaries, advertisements, and
comics.
______________________________
Create a board game, with a board,
game pieces, question cards, and a
spinner or dice for moving through
the game. The board and questions
must reflect a clear/obvious
connection to the novel focusing on
the plot, at least 5 literary elements,
and vocabulary words in book.
Include directions for how to play.
There must be a specific start and
clear winner/ending to the game.
Create a mobile that symbolizes 6-8
moments from your novel. Be sure
you understand what each symbol is
and how it works in the book.