This year Central Elementary school has decided to no longer use Accelerated Reader (AR) in our
classrooms. Each grade level is choosing to their own type reading comprehension activities. Fourth grade is
choosing to give the students a choice in the activity to show their comprehension of the book. We are asking
that every student completes four “Book Reports” each month. Below you will find different styles of book
reports that correlate with different reading genres. If your child wants to try a different book report other
than the ones listed, have them talk to their teacher. Remember these are just some ideas, if you child wants
to do a different book report they NEED to get the book report approved by the teacher first. The students
can use the teacher READ ALOUD books from their classroom and library time to count as well.
Book Reports for Fantasy:
o Design a game. Create a board game centered on your novel. Use the problems from the book
as ways to get ahead, or fall behind in the game. Include game pieces in a zip-lock bag and
directions for playing your game. Include all of your information on the back of the board.
o Create a comic book. Turn your favorite scene from the novel into a comic book, complete with
comic-style illustrations and dialogue bubbles. You can draw it by hand or use a computer
program to help you. Final product should be in color!
o Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. Write a review of the book you just finished in the style of a movie
review. Conclude by awarding thumbs up or thumbs down for the book. Make sure you give
detailed reasons for you final score. The review should be at least one full page in length.
o Interview a character. Write six to eight questions to ask a main character in the book you
read. You will supply the answers as the character would. Choose a character you feel you
understand well and stay true to his/her personality when writing the answers.
o In the News. Create the front-page of a newspaper describing the events in the book you just
read. The newspaper page may include weather reports, an editorial, an editorial cartoon, ads,
etc. the title of the newspaper should be appropriate to the book. Include information from
the plot of the book in the articles as well as your information as the editor-in-chief of the
paper.
o Student Choice. Come up with your own project. You must get approval of your idea from the
teacher before you proceed with the project. Be prepared to give a detailed explanation of
what you intend to do when you speak with your teacher.
o Channel 6, Eyewitness News. Script an evening news report that would occur sometime during
the plot of your book. Then film it. Include breaking news, weather, and sports. Be creative
and have fun!
Book Reports for Realistic Fiction:
o My Day With… Choose a character from the book to spend a day with. Describe the character
and give detailed reasons why you chose him/her. Then, describe your day with this character.
This should be at least one page in length.
o Meanwhile… Create another story that could have happened at the same setting during the
story detailed in the book. Include two major characters in your story and give them a problem
to overcome. You must stay true to the setting of your book.
o The Final Setting. Examine the setting of the climax of your book. Draw a picture or make a
model of the setting. Write up detailed reasons why the author chose to have the climax of the
story take place in this place.
o Create a comic book. Turn your favorite scene from the novel into a comic book, complete with
comic-style illustrations and dialogue bubbles. You can draw it by hand or use a computer
program to help you. Final product should be in color!
o Write a sequel or prequel. Hollywood loves sequels (and prequels), so write one for your book.
Length should be at least one page and should not exceed four pages. Use characters from the
novel and create your own problems and solution.
o Student Choice. Come up with your own project. You must get approval of your idea from the
teacher before you proceed with the project. Be prepared to give a detailed explanation of
what you intend to do when you speak with your teacher.
Book Report for Informational texts
o Design a game. Create a board game centered on your novel. Use the problems from the book
as ways to get ahead, or fall behind in the game. Include game pieces in a zip-lock bag and
directions for playing your game. Include all of your information on the back of the board.
o Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down. Write a review of the book you just finished in the style of a movie
review. Conclude by awarding thumbs up or thumbs down for the book. Make sure you give
detailed reasons for you final score. The review should be at least one full page in length.
o Ten Facts. Create a “Ten Facts About [book title]” poster that lists ten facts you learned from
reading the book. The facts may be bullet points or complete sentences. These should be facts
you did not know before reading the book.
o Pen Pals. Write a letter from one character to another from the book. Then, write back as the
second character. Include details from the book in the letters. Make sure you stay “in
character”.
o Student Choice. Come up with your own project. You must get approval of your idea from the
teacher before you proceed with the project. Be prepared to give a detailed explanation of
what you intend to do when you speak with your teacher.