A Book Report of a Different Color: Part 3

This is the third and final post in a series about engaging, creative assignments that can be used with your choice of literature. These assignments will get your students writing as well as thinking critically about themes, characters, setting, mood, etc! 

Here are five ideas for this week. Be sure to look back at the last two posts for more!

#11. Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it! Write an obituary for each character that dies in the play, novel, etc. If you’re not familiar with obituaries, read a couple from a local newspaper to see how they’re set up.

This assignment isn’t too challenging but encourages students to think about characterization as well as plot elements.

#12. Choose a character from (your choice of literary work) and draw an illustration that represents him or her. Here’s the catch: Your picture can’t be of the actual character. It must be some kind of abstract art that represents the character. Attach your illustration to a paragraph or two that explains why you illustrated the character the way you did. Be specific.

Here are a couple of student examples. The first one includes the written explanation as well. Students create their own symbolism in this more advanced assignment, and they focus on characterization as well.

#13. Choose a character from the novel, play, etc. Pretend to be that character, and create a scrapbook page about a particular event from the novel, play, etc. Be creative. Include pictures, mementos, journaling (that’s writing about the items on the page or about the event), and anything else you can think of that would be appropriate.

Here is a student example. This assignment makes students consider tone, mood, characterization, plot elements, and even setting. 

#14. If all the world’s a stage, you must have costumes! Choose a character from the play, novel, etc. and create a costume or costume part for him or her. You can make your piece from fabric, cut it out of paper, or use recycled household objects—whatever works! Don the costume, take a picture, and attach it to a paragraph explaining why you chose this particular costume for this particular character. Why this design? Why this color? Explain it all! And feel free to wear it to class!

It’s amazing how much fun students have with this remake of the old elementary school book character day. I’ve had everything from a pair of cross-gartered yellow stockings (Twelfth Night) to chains (A Christmas Carol) to a red “A” (Scarlet Letter). Some even wear their costume pieces around school all day!

#15. The game is afoot. Create a board game for (novel, play, etc.). Make it really relevant to the literature and include some elements of skill so a player has a better chance of winning if he or she has read the work. Bring in the game along with necessary pieces and directions so we can play.

Here is a student sample. This game encompassed several different Shakespearean plays, but most students base their games on just one novel or play. Either way, students must have a complete understanding of the work to produce a quality game, and they have a great time playing all of the games when they’re finished. I keep a collection of dice, pawns, spinners, etc. for them to use if needed.

I hope you have picked up a few new ideas in these past three posts. We’ll be moving on to a different topic next week, so be sure to come back!

A Book Report of a Different Color: Part 2

This is the second in a series of posts about engaging, creative assignments that can be used with your choice of literature. These assignments will get your students writing as well as thinking critically about themes, characters, setting, mood, etc!

Below are five ideas for this week. Be sure to look back at last week’s post and check back next week for more!

#6. Produce a (your choice of novel, play, etc.) newspaper. Include things like obituaries, advice columns, pictures, articles, comics, horoscopes, opinions, puzzles, advertisements, play reviews, recipes, etc. The sky is the limit, but be sure to capture the tone of the (novel, play, etc.). Have some fun!

Here are a couple of student examples. I love how creative the students get with this assignment, and they really have to think about all aspects of the literary work. I've even had students submit their newspapers in plastic newspaper bags!

#7. To be or not to be: that is just one of the questions.  Pretend you are a magazine or newspaper reporter. Choose a character from (novel, play, etc. of your choice) to interview. Write out your questions and the character’s responses. The topics for the questions are up to you but should be somehow related to the literary work.

This assignment forces students to think about characterization as well as the details of the plot. Some students enjoy recording the interviews.

#8. If music be the food of love, write a song! That’s right. Pretend you’re producing (Title of Literary Work), the Musical. Write one of the songs that will be in the musical. Be sure to tell who sings it. It could be a solo, a duet, or even a song for the whole cast. It might be fun to borrow a melody from another song—or even write your own accompaniment—and actually sing your song, but that’s optional. It should have some musical qualities either way, though.

Here is an example of a CD cover a student made to go along with this project. He wrote lyrics for only one of the songs listed, but just coming up with titles required critical thinking. Some of my more musically gifted students have put their lyrics to music and performed their songs for the class!

#9. Get a job! Choose any character from the (novel, play, etc.). Decide what type of career would suit that character, and write a resume for him or her. You’ll have to get really creative for this one! Make up information if you need to, but stay true to the character.

This assignment obviously focuses on characterization, and it requires students to really dig into the text for relevant details. It also has a practical application for older and/or career-minded students.

#10. Ready for a little comic relief? Choose a scene from (literary work of your choice) and write it up like a comic strip. While it isn’t necessary to include all of the lines (or dialogue) from the original text, your comic should capture the gist of the scene. Can’t draw? Stick figures and clip art are fine! Or try www.makebeliefscomix.com.

This is a more basic assignment, but students still have to synthesize the plot, characters, and tone of the work. The student who created the second sample below used makebeliefcomix.com. 

Be sure to check back next week for still more creative literary assignments! Meanwhile, please leave a comment below and/or share our blog with other teachers who enjoy new ideas. :)

Keeping it Real: Authentic Learning through Classroom Publishing

Authentic audiences. Real-world application of literacy skills. Cross-curricular experiences. These meaningful learning opportunities are just a few of the benefits of classroom publishing.

Classroom publishing projects allow students to write for authentic audiences and experience real-world application of skills. In addition to writing for the readers of the books, students can write business letters to booksellers, television and radio personalities, members of the media, and government officials. (Mine have received many replies including a letter from Queen Elizabeth II, a phone call from First Lady Laura Bush, and an inquiry from Good Morning America!)

Students grow as writers through inclusion of all major types of writing and through extensive editing and revision. They also participate in research that they then apply to the projects (both in the content and in the production and marketing).

Publishing gives students the chance to use technology and visual literacy as they design the covers, typeset the books, create logos, produce advertisements, and design and develop promotional websites.

These cross-curricular projects allow students the opportunity for authentic learning about copyright, plagiarism, publishing (both the process and the physical printing), and marketing.  

Here are two group publishing projects my students have completed. 

This is an individual student publishing project.

My students have taken an interest in their community, voting to contribute book proceeds to various charities. Students get genuinely excited about these projects, but more importantly (or perhaps as a result) they learn more about writing than they ever could learn by writing essays on topics they don't care about for a one-teacher audience. 

Best of all, instead of dealing with isolated curriculum objectives, students pull together everything they are learning about writing into one meaningful product.  When the students hold the first copies of their finished books and see their own names and efforts there on the pages, they beam with pride. Some students have even hugged the first copies that they bound! Many commented that they look at writing in a whole new light, and some have been inspired to pursue their writing interests further, both in and out of school. 

Teach your students something they’ll never forget. Motivate and inspire them this year with a classroom publishing project!

     Classroom Publishing 101: A Step-by-Step Guide provides relevant research as well as helpful, user-friendly checklists, worksheets, samples, and tips on every step of the process including selecting a topic, financing, planning, editing and revising, formatting, binding, copyrighting, marketing, and celebrating. Use it in your classroom this year or for your own publishing project. (Regular price: $16.95. This week’s blog special: $5 per copy when you order online by August 8, 2013, at https://ssl.perfora.net/dgppublishing.com/store/store.php?c=24).