BOOK REPORT project IDEAS
To earn complete credit for your book you must choose any combination of exercises below that will
total 100 points or more. If you go over 100 points I will award extra credit (up to 20 extra points).
Only fully completed projects below will be accepted as counting towards the total. The most
important element is to be creative and show me that you REALLY did read the book by using
quotes, citations, evidence, and critical thought where appropriate. Once done, you will
present what you did to the class in a 5 minute presentation!
1. Create miniature-sized models of any two of the characters from your
book and dress them as they are dressed in the book. In a brief
paragraph, explain what their roles are in the book and how they relate to
the plot of the book. [25 points]
2. Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood,
clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An
explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany
the sculpture (minimum 50 words). [35 points]
3. Interview a character from your book in a fictional interview. Write ten
questions that you would want to ask the character. [10 points]
4. Give one of the characters in your book the opportunity to discuss
his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. (50 word
minimum) [ 20 points]
5. Write a diary with at least 5 entries (5-7 sentences each) that one of the
story's main characters might have kept before, during, or after the
book's events. Remember that the character's thoughts and feelings are
very important in a diary. [35 points]
6. Write a brief movie script for the book (minimum 50 words) and read the
manuscript to the class. [30 points]
7. Prepare an oral report of 5-10 minutes explaining the central theme/idea
of your book. Give a brief summary of the plot and describe the
personality of one of the main characters. Be prepared for 3 formal
questions from Mr. E and additional questions from the class. [50 points]
8. Give a written out sales pitch to Mr. E. by pretending that you are trying
to sell this book to the Jenkins Language Arts bookstore and you want
the school to buy 500 copies. (you must be convincing to earn credit)
[40 points]
9. Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book (out of a shoe-box,
tackle-box, other square box, etc.). Include a written explanation of the
scene. [35 points]
10.
Make 5 sketches of some of the scenes in the book and label them.
[20 points]
11.
Write the first and last sentence for each chapter in the book.
[5 points]
12.
Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read.
Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a formal letter to a movie
producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a
movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a
good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the various
roles.
[25 points]
13.
Write a book review as it would be done for a newspaper. ( Be sure
you read a few before writing your own.)- Minimum 150 words [20 points]
14.
Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of the
book as it might be found on the front page of a newspaper in the town
where the story takes place. Make sure your story article looks just like a
newspaper. Minimum 190 words [25 points]
15.
Write a letter (3 paragraph 150 word minimum) to the main
character of your book asking questions, explaining a situation, and/or
making a complaint and/or a suggestion. This must be done in the correct
letter format. [30 points]
16.
With a friend, make a video performance of MASTERPIECE BOOK
REVIEW, a program which reviews your book and interviews your author.
Act out the roles of the author and the interviewer (you could even have
audience participation!) Your interview must last 10 minutes minimum
and you must ask at least 20 on topic related questions to the books
author.
[80 points]
17.
If the story of your book takes place in another country, prepare a
tri-folding travel brochure (3 panels) using pictures you have found or
drawn to explain the place and why it may be fun to go there. [30 points]
18.
Write a FULL (physical, emotional, relational) description
of three of the characters in the book. Draw a personal picture
portrait to accompany each description. [25 points]
19.
After reading a book of history or historical fiction, make
an illustrated timeline showing events of the story and draw a
map showing the location(s) where the story took place. Make
sure at least 20 events are documented. [20 points]
20.
Read two books on the same subject and compare and
contrast them in a “T” chart. (Minimum 30 comparisons.)
[20 points]
21.
Read a book that has been made into a movie/play/video.
(Caution: it must have been a book FIRST. Books written from
screenplays are not acceptable.) Write a 350 word paper
comparing the movie version with the book. [25 points]
22.
Create a mini-comic book about a chapter of your book.
Make sure your “comic book” has at least 30 captions of
drawings and dialogue. [25 points]
23.
Make three movie posters about the book using two or
more of the following media: paint, crayons, chalk, paper, ink,
real materials. [25 points]
24.
Design costumes for dolls and dress them as characters
from the book. Explain who these characters are and how they
fit in the story on a note-card with each character. (15 points)
25.
Write and perform an original (3 minute minimum) song
that tells the story of the book. This could be done live in class,
or on tape/CD if you can record music. (50 points)
26.
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After reading a book, do any three of the following:
write an original poem about the story (minimum 100 words);
3) act out a line in the poem for the class;
4) display a set of 4 pictures which describe the poem;
5) write original music for the poem;
6) add 6 more original verses of your own to a poem you
write about the book.
(50 points)
27.
Be a TV or radio reporter, and give a report of a scene
from the book as if it is happening "live.” Write out your script
and video-tape yourself giving the eye-witness news “report.”
(40 points)
28.
Design a book jacket for the book. I STRONGLY suggest
that you look at an actual book jacket before you attempt this.
(15 points)
29.
Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in
one article, cover the weather in another, do a feature story on
one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an
editorial and a collection of ads that would be pertinent to the
story. (40 points)
30.
Do a collage/poster showing pictures or 3-d items that
related to the book, and then write a sentence or two beside
each one to show its significance. (15 points)
31.
Do a book talk. Talk to the class about your book by saying
a little about the author, explain who the characters are and
explain enough about the beginning of the story so that
everyone will understand what they are about to read. Finally,
read an exciting, interesting, or amusing passage from your
book. Stop reading at a moment that leaves the audience
hanging and add "If you want to know more you'll have to read
the book." If the book talk is well done almost all the students
want to read the book. (30 points)
32.
Construct puppets and present a show of one or more
interesting parts of the book. (50 points)
34.
Draw a comic strip of your favorite scene. (20 points)
35.
Make a model of something in the story. (25 points)
36.
Use magazine photos to make a collage about the story
(35 points)
37.
Make a mobile about the story. (30 points)
38.
Make a mini-book about the story. (40 points)
39.
Practice and then read to the class a favorite part. (10
points)
40.
Retell the story in your own words to the class. (20 points)
41.
Write about what you learned from the story. (15 points)
42.
Write a different ending for your story. (15 points)
43.
Write a different beginning. (15 points)
44.
Write a letter to a character in the book. (20 points)
45.
Write a letter to the author of the book. (20 points)
46.
Make a community journal. (35 points)
47.
Write Graffiti about the book on a "brick" wall, make a
brick-like master and then run this off on red construction
paper. Cut your words out of construction paper and glue them
on the wall. ( 35 points)
48.
Compare and contrast two characters in the story. (15
points)
49.
Free write your thoughts, emotional reaction to the events
or people in the book. (15 points)
50.
Sketch a favorite part of the book--don't copy an already
existing illustration. (35 points)
51.
Make a time line of all the events in the book. (35 points)
52.
Make a flow chart of all the events in the book. (25 points)
54.
Make a message board for all the characters in the book.
(20 points)
55.
Make a map of where the events in the book take place.
(20 points)
56.
Compare and contrast this book to another. (30 points)
57.
Do character mapping, showing how ALL characters
reacted to 3 specific events and changed. (30 points)
58.
Make a list of character traits each character has. (15
points)
59.
Make a graphic representation/drawing of an event or
character in the story. (20 points)
60.
Make a Venn diagram of the people, events or settings in
your story. (15 points)
61.
Make an action wheel for the story. (15 points)
62.
Write a diary that one of the story's main characters might
have kept before, during, or after the book's events. Remember
that the character's thoughts and feelings are very important in
a diary. (25 points)
63.
Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book.
Include a written explanation of the scene. (35 points)
64.
Make a poster advertising your book so someone else will
want to read it. (25 points)
65.
Keep and open mind journal in three or four places in your
story. (20 points)
66.
Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story
of the book as it might be found on the front page of a
newspaper in the town where the story takes place. (25 points)
69.
Make a cutout of one of the characters and write about
them in the parts. (15 points)
71.
Make a character tree, where one side is event,
symmetrical side is emotion or growth. (15 points)
72.
Choose a quote from a character. Write why it would or
wouldn't be a good motto by which to live your life by. (10
points)
73.
Learn something about the environment in which the book
takes place. Write your findings down in a summary paragraph.
(15 points)
74.
Tell 5 things you leaned while reading the book. (5 points)
75.
Retell part of the story from a different point of view. (10
points)
76.
Choose one part of the story that reached a climax. If
something different had happened then, how would it have
affected the outcome? (15 points)
77.
Make a Venn diagram on the ways you are like and unlike
one of the characters in your story. (15 points)
78.
Write about one of the character's life twenty years from
now in a well written paragraph. (20 points)
79.
Write a letter from one of the characters to a beloved
grandparent or friend. (20 points)
80.
Send a postcard from one of the characters. Draw a
picture on one side, write the message on the other. (20 points)
83.
Plan a party for one or all of the characters involved.
Include party invitations and announcement pictures. (20
points)
84.
Choose birthday gifts for one of the characters involved.
Tell why you chose them. (15 points)
85.
Draw a picture of the setting of the climax. Why did the
author choose to have the action take place here? (15 points)
88.
Stories are made up; on conflicts and solutions. Choose
three conflicts that take place in the story and give the
solutions. Is there one that you wish had been handled
differently? (20 points)
89.
Pretend that you are going to join the characters in the
story. What things will you need to pack? Think carefully, for
you will be there for a week, and there is no going back home to
get something! (20 points)
91.
Write a letter (10-sentence minimum) to the main
character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation,
and/or making a complaint and/or a suggestion. (25 points)
94.
Outline the story, then use the outline to expand into
paragraphs. (15 points)
95.
Choose 2 pages of the text and delete some of the words.
Create a fill in the blank worksheet from it. (20 points)
96.
Make a chart of 40 interesting words and give their
definitions. (40 points)
100.
Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of
soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any
other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the
book should accompany the sculpture. (40 points)