Summer Reading List for Incoming Students

Rose Park Fifth Graders

2009-2010

We are very excited and looking forward to our next group of fifth graders that will be attending Rose Park Magnet Middle next school year. To prepare for your first year in middle school, we are going to require all fifth graders to read two books from our summer reading list. Any of these books can be found at your local library or bookstore. In addition, you will need to complete a project from the list below for each book. You are not required to complete all of the projects; however we prefer that you choose different projects for each book. The reports are to be completed at home, and they will be due the first week of school in August. Also be prepared to take an Accelerated Reading Test on each book when school begins. The following is a list of the choices you have:

1. Bookmark A bookmark will be made out of poster board. The bookmark must be 2 inches wide by 8 inches long. On one side you need to choose one character from the book and draw a picture of him or her. On the reverse side, you need to write the title of the book, the author, and a summary of the book. The summary must be at least four paragraphs in length and include the major events in the book. Your summary must be typed.
2. Puppet and Description Using a brown paper bag, create a puppet for one of the characters from your book. You will need to use materials on your puppet that make the puppet 3 dimensional. For example, you may use yarn, buttons, glitter, cloth, sticks, cotton balls, etc. Also, you must include a one page typed paper describing the character and his or her role on the book.
3. Diorama Using a standard size shoebox, create a scene from the book using 3 dimensional items. Make sure that you type up a one-paragraph statement explaining the scene.
4. Postcard On a 5x8 index card. On one side of the postcard, draw a picture of a character, scene, or important item from the book. Make sure that it is hand drawn and colored. On the other side, format the side in the same way as a regular postcard, where on half of the paper a letter is written to and from characters in the book, and on the other half write the name and address of the character receiving the postcard. Your letter must be at least 8 sentences long, and must demonstrate your knowledge of the book.
5. Poster Create a poster advertising a movie for the book you read. Make sure you list the names of the actors in the movie, the director, the screenplay writer, and the rating for your movie. Also, you must create an advertisement that demonstrates the content of the book.
6. Play Write a play that includes at least four characters from your book. Make sure that you include a list of characters and a scene from the story. Your play must be five pages long, and it must include dialogue appropriate for the characters.

List of Books

The Summer of the Swans, Betsy Byars

The Great Gilly Hopkins, Katherine Patterson

Baby, Patricia MacLachlan

Getting Near to Baby, Audrey Couloumbis

The Family Under the Bridge, Natalie Savage Carlson

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Jack Gantos

Because of Winn Dixie, Kate DiCamillo

A Year Down Under, Richard Peck

The View From Saturday, E. L. Konigsburg

The Giver, Lois Lowry

Missing May, Cynthia Rylant

The Giver, Lois Lowry

Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds

The Whipping Boy, Sid Fleishchman

The Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinly

Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Clearly

Dicey’s Song, Cynthia Voight

Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Patterson

A Gathering of Days, Joan W. Blos

The Land, Mildred Taylor

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Elaine Konigsburg

The Road to Memphis, Mildred Taylor

Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World, Mildred Pitts Walter

CrazyLady, Jane Leslie Conly

Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan