2012 Summer Reading
The Adventure Continues!
HCPS IBMYP Language A: Seventh Grade English
Your quest for knowledge led you to many new encounters in sixth grade, and there is even more adventure
to come in your IB expedition. This summer, we are excited to provide you with the opportunity to continue
exploring the world of literature and the IBMYP. As you read two great books and complete activities that
allow you to document your discoveries, consider your understanding of the Areas of Interaction and Learner
Profile traits. Follow the steps below as the adventure continues!
READ
IT
REQUIRED READING: All incoming IB seventh grade students MUST read the book below and
complete one of the activities that follow.
Elephant Run by Roland Smith
In your own handwriting or typed, complete ONE of the following activities, emphasizing one
Area of Interaction:
 An Illustrated Children’s Book: Write and illustrate a 10-12 page children’s book based on
Elephant Run. Be sure to include: a title page, a page that introduces and justifies the one
Area of Interaction you have chosen, the Exposition (including characters and setting), the
DOCUMENT
Conflict, the Rising Action, the Climax, the Falling Action, and the Resolution. Don’t forget your
YOUR
illustrations throughout the story!
DISCOVERIES
 A Retelling of the Story: Retell three key events in the story that exemplify the meaning of one
Area of Interaction from the perspective of any character other than Nick, such as Mya,
Hilltop, or Magwe. Each one-page tale should mirror the details of the event in the original
story, highlight the Area of Interaction, and be written as a mini-chapter or a diary/journal
entry.
READ
IT
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE: With the help of a parent or adult, select and read ONE
additional book of your choice from the list below. Remember, the second book you read MUST
come from this list. Then complete ONE of the activities that follow.
Mossflower by Brian Jacques
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickman
Ask Me No Questions by Marina Tamar Budhos
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Choose ONE of the following activities and complete it thoughtfully and creatively as you focus on
the characters’ Learner Profile traits:
 A Learner Profile Scrapbook: Choose three characters from the novel and create a six- to
eight-page digital or traditional scrapbook with original drawings or photos you have taken
(not from the internet). As you create, consider which learner profile trait is each character’s
strength and which is his/her weakness. Add captions that connect the photos to specific
information from the book and highlight ways the characters exhibit their strongest and
weakest learner profile traits. Record the characters’ most important quotes to represent each
of the two traits. Include the page number on which the quotation appears.
DOCUMENT
 A Character Journal: Keep a journal in a composition notebook or a Microsoft Word file to
YOUR
document the characters in the novel. On separate pages, identify five characters by name
DISCOVERIES
and record the page number on which each character first appears. Describe each character
using any combination of three of following attributes: Physical (What does he/she look like?
How does that play a role in the story?), Intellectual (How intelligent is he/she? How does that
compare to other characters in the story?), Social (How does he/she get along with others?),
Emotional (How does he/she feel most of the time? What emotions does he/she show when
faced with a challenge?), and/or Philosophical (What does he/she believe about life? What are
those beliefs based on?). Use these attributes to determine which learner profile trait the
character exhibits most strongly, and justify your response. Finally, what did you learn from
each character about how to live in the world?*
*adapted from Teaching That Makes Sense (www.ttms.org)
DUE DATE
September 24, 2012
GRADING
These activities will be
scored as an IB Assessment
and a quiz grade using the
rubric provided below.
GRADING: IBMYP Language A
Criterion C: Style and Language Mechanics
When you are writing the key components of your Children’s Book, a Retelling of the Story, the captions for your
Learner Profile Scrapbook, or your Character Journal, take care to use appropriate vocabulary, correct grammar and
spelling, and clearly understood sentences. Try reading your writing aloud and getting a second person to proofread
for you. To achieve the highest grade, you should use interesting and varied vocabulary words, have very few errors in
your grammar and spelling, and convey a clear message.
Achievement
level
0
Level descriptor
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1–2
You used a very limited range of appropriate vocabulary in your written work. Your writing included
very frequent errors in grammar, which persistently hurt communication. There are very frequent
errors in punctuation and spelling/writing, which persistently hurt communication.
3–4
You used a limited range of appropriate vocabulary in your written work. Your writing had frequent
errors in grammar, which hurt communication.
There are frequent errors in punctuation and spelling/writing, which hurt communication.
5–6
You generally used a range of appropriate vocabulary for your audience. You generally used
grammar accurately with occasional mistakes that sometimes hurt communication.
Punctuation and spelling/writing are generally accurate with a few errors that sometimes hurt
communication.
7–8
You used appropriate vocabulary for your audience. Your grammar was accurate, and the few mistakes
did not hurt communication.
Punctuation and spelling/writing are accurate; with few errors, which did not hurt communication.
9–10
You used an excellent and effective range of appropriate vocabulary for your audience. Your grammar
was accurate with hardly any errors, which did not hurt communication.
Punctuation and spelling/writing are accurate with very infrequent errors, which did not hurt
communication.
Conversion of IB Scores to HCPS Grades for Rising 7th Graders
IB Score
10
9
8
7
6
HCPS Score
100%
98%
95%
93%
90%
IB Score
5
4
3
2
1
HCPS Score
87%
84%
80%
76%
74%