6th Grade Summer Reading Project: The Swallow Field Guide
Description: In Return to Sender, the author Julia Alvarez uses swallows to illustrate some of the book’s themes. For the 6 th Grade Summer Reading Project, we
will create a Swallow Field Guide. A Field Guide is a book designed to help people identify wildlife by providing detailed descriptions of plants or animals.
Creating this project will prepare you for the first few weeks of 6th Grade English, when we focus on descriptive writing.
Grading: This project will be graded as a minor project, which is similar to a quiz grade. Also, this project will serve as an important step in preparing for the
first MAJOR Essay assignment of the year in 6th Grade English.
Due Date: The Swallow Field Guide and the Reflection Question are due Friday, August 22, 2014. Please contact me at sramirez@bdhs.org, if there are any
questions.
Instructions:
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Print the packet. Print this packet as a single-sided document. The first three pages of the packet list the instructions, and can be thrown away when
you are finished with the project. The fourth page has a reflection question that you need to answer before starting work on the Field Guide. You will
use the last four pages of the packet to create the Field Guide.
Answer the Reflection Question. Find the fourth page in this packet, titled “Reflection Question.” Use a pencil when answering the question. Read
the instructions carefully. Notice that the question requires you to write three separate paragraphs. The “Reflection Question” page should be turned
in with your Swallow Field Guide.
Complete the charts on the last 3 pages of the packet. Now you are ready to begin working on the Field Guide. If you look at the last 3 pages in this
packet, you will see that each page focuses on a different kind of swallow, and that each page includes two charts. You must fill in the charts on each
page with specific information about that particular bird. First, look at some sample charts, so you will understand how to fill out the charts in your
packet. Then I will tell you where to look on the web to find information about the birds.
The sample chart below is like the first chart you will find on each of those last 3 pages. To demonstrate, I have filled in the chart with information
about the Northern Mockingbird. Notice that in the left column the chart lists different parts of the bird’s body. In the right column, I have written
adjectives describing the color, shape, or size of that body part on the bird (these can be single words or phrases). I found these adjectives by looking
on the internet. I will show you where to look for information when you are filling out your charts.
Body Parts:
Back
Description: write at least one word or phrase that
describes the color, shape, or size of the body part
gray-brown
Chest
paler gray-brown
Wings
short, rounded, broad; dark gray with a
white patch
Bill
long, thin, with a hint of a downward
curve
Tail
white outer tail feathers
The sample chart below is like the second chart you will find on each of the last three pages in this packet. Notice that in the left column, the one
titled “Actions,” I have written action verbs that I found describing different ways the bird acts. In the right column, I have written words or phrases
that describe details about where, when, or in what way the bird performs these actions.
Actions: write action
verbs used to
describe the bird’s
behavior
sits
Specifics: write details about these actions,
telling where, when, or in what way the birds
perform these actions
chases
aggressively
sings
endlessly
conspicuously
Now you are ready to begin filling in your charts. Use a pencil in case you need to make changes. You can always go over it later with a pen. For each
bird, I have listed a particular webpage you should use to find information for the charts.
Tree Swallow – http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/id
Cliff Swallow – http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/id
Barn Swallow – http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/barn_swallow/id
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Color the pictures of the birds. After you have completed the charts on each page, you need to color the pictures using colored pencils. Your coloring
should accurately depict what each bird looks like, so be sure to use photos of the birds from the webpages as your guide.
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Construct the book. Now it’s time to put it all together into a book. Follow the step-by-step instructions on the next page.
1. First, take the page that looks
like this:
5. Place those three pages oneinside-the-other, like this:
2. Fold it in half along the dotted
line, to look like this:
3. Take the pages that look like
this:
This will be the cover of your book.
Note: Unlike the pages shown in
this picture, your pages should be
filled in and colored!
7. Staple it all together near the
folded edge, like this:
6. Slide the pages inside the cover,
like this:
4. Fold them along the dotted
lines, to look like this:
These will be the pages inside your
book.
8. Then, write your name on the
cover.
Now you are finished!
Reflection Question
In Return to Sender, the author Julia Alvarez finds several opportunities to incorporate swallows into the novel. Ms. Alvarez has made it clear that she chose to
include swallows in her novel because she noticed several similarities between swallows and the main subjects of her book, migrant workers.
Below, I’ve listed 3 topics. Next to each one, write a paragraph (3-5 sentences) explaining how swallows and migrant workers are similar in relation to that
topic.
Home:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Traveling:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Seasons:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
The Swallow Field
Guide
By
Body Parts:
Description: write at least one word or phrase that
describes the color, shape, or size of the body part
Back
Chest
Wings
Bill
Tail
Actions: write action
verbs used to describe
the bird’s behavior
Specifics: write details about these actions,
telling where, when, or in what way the birds
perform these actions
Body Parts:
Description: write at least one word or phrase that
describes the color, shape, or size of the body part
Back
Chest
Wings
Bill
Tail
Actions: write action
verbs used to describe
the bird’s behavior
Specifics: write details about these actions,
telling where, when, or in what way the birds
perform these actions
Body Parts:
Description: write at least one word or phrase that
describes the color, shape, or size of the body part
Back
Chest
Wings
Bill
Tail
Actions: write action
verbs used to describe
the bird’s behavior
Specifics: write details about these actions,
telling where, when, or in what way the birds
perform these actions