Summer Reading Project Guidelines—
Grade 6
At YES Prep Southeast, we believe that reading over the summer is very important for keeping
your brain active! Your reading brain is a muscle that needs daily workouts to stay sharp.
Essay-on-a-Poster
Directions:
1) Choose a novel off your grade-level list.
2) Buy the novel at a local bookstore or off amazon.com.
3) Read the novel, annotating as you go. (Annotating means you underline important
quotes, circle unfamiliar words, and write notes about what’s happening in the margins
of your book).
4) Complete the graphic organizers attached—the MAP, vocabulary search, plot lines,
character sketches, and theme and author’s purpose questions. You can either . . .
a. Print the attached graphic organizers and fill them in. OR
b. Copy the graphic organizers onto separate sheets of paper
5) Paste the graphic organizers onto a posterboard. On the poster, please include
a. the title of the novel
b. the author’s name
c. your name
d. drawings/ decorations that relate to the book
6) Present your project to the class on the first day of school. This presentation will be the
first impression you make on your ELA teacher. It’s your chance to prove what you’re
capable of!
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
If you are a NEW 6th grader, you must do ONE poster project.
If you are a RISING 7th or 8th grader, you must complete TWO poster projects on
TWO novels (you may double-side one poster).
Rubric: How You’ll Be Graded!
Category
1. Map—Map is very detailed! Every location is labeled on the
map, or there is a key for labeling locations. You clearly did a
careful job drawing this. The map is colored, on white paper,
not in pen or pencil on lined paper. Excellent work!
2. Vocabulary—You choose interesting words from your novel!
You copied the sentences from the book exactly and you
include the page number for those quotes. The definitions you
found are all correct. Your work is neat, complete, and
accurate.
3. Character—You clearly have a deep understanding of these
characters. Your work is very detailed. You write in complete
sentences. Your quotes reveal something important about the
characters. Your quotes are copied exactly, and include page
numbers.
4. Plot Lines—from reading your plot lines, I get a good idea of
the plot of the book. I can clearly tell what the conflict of the
story is. I also understand the MOST important events from
the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Your work is in
complete sentences and is accurate.
5. Theme and Author’s Purpose—You thought carefully about
your answers! You wrote multiple sentences about your ideas.
Your thinking on this book is accurate. It’s clear you
understand the author’s reasons for writing this book.
6. Poster—Your poster includes the title of book, author’s name,
and your name. Your poster is neat and attractive. You
decorated the poster with objects, drawings, or quotes that
relate to the novel. Beautiful!
7. Mechanics—You did your BEST writing on this project. It’s
clear you edited your work, and did multiple drafts of your
writing. Your writing is in complete sentences, and has few
spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
8. Annotations—Your book has clearly been annotated carefully.
Every page is underlined or contains notes about the major
points of the novel.
9. Presentation—During your presentation to the class, you
speak loudly and clearly. You introduce yourself and you
present the main characters and main plot points of the novel.
Your presentation is interesting to listen to and makes me
want to read the book.
10. Audience—You listen attentively and respectfully during
others’ presentations. You ask thoughtful questions at the end
of their presentations which are related to what they’ve said,
not random questions.
No
Almost
Yes!
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Total:_______/30
Setting Map
Below, draw a map of all the important locations in your book. Be sure to label the locations, either by
writing on the map, or creating a key and symbols. Include as many details as you can!
Vocabulary Search
What are some interesting words you have found in your reading? Write down 10 words from any part of your novel.
Then look up the words in a dictionary and write the definition in your own words. If you have access to a computer,
use dictionary.com! Be sure to copy the sentence using the word exactly, and write down the page number!
Word
Sentence from the Book
Definition
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Which word on this list is your favorite word? Write the word and then draw a picture to represent that word.
__________________________________
Character Heads
Choose three important characters from your story. Fill out the character maps below with the information
indicated below. Be sure to write in complete sentences!
Forehead:
what is this character’s
Ideology (what does he/she believe in)?
Eyes: What does this character hope to see?
Mouth: What is one important quote this character says or
is said about this character? What does the quote tell you?
Copy the quote exactly and include the page number!
Plot Lines
Today you will create three timelines for your book. Divide the novel into three sections, beginning, middle, and end.
Then choose the four (4) most important events from each section and write them in the boxes for that particular
section. Remember, choose the events that really stood out as the most important!
Beginning of the novel:
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Middle Part:
End of the Novel
Theme and Author’s Purpose
Answer the questions below in complete sentences. Do your best writing.
How did the main character
change from the beginning to the
end of the novel?
What did the main character learn
about LIFE or PEOPLE? (Theme)
What did YOU (the reader) learn
about LIFE or PEOPLE from reading
this novel?
Why did the author write this
book? What did she want to teach
you?
(Author's Purpose)