Accelerated Reader Project Ideas
For your AR project, you may choose from one of the following projects. Your grade will reflect your understanding of the book, your creativity, and the amount of effort you put into the project. For example, a 6-page comic book with stick figures and one-liners will not score as well as a 12 page comic with detailed drawings and descriptive dialogue. Play to your strengths. If you can’t draw, choose a non-artistic option or use technology to find/create figures, use cut-outs from magazines, or trace drawings that look like what you want.
You must demonstrate effort and a clear understanding of your book to get full credit.
1)Create a children’s book of the story using your own words and including illustrations. Rewrite the story to make it more “kid-friendly” in language and tone. Imagine yourself reading it at story time.
2)Create a comic book version of the story. You may either do the whole book or make a very detailed version of a chapter or pivotal moment in the story. Your comic should be detailed, hitting the main plot points, with both drawings and dialogue.
3)If applicable, using descriptive passages in the story, construct a map of your character’stravels and adventures. Note all important locations by labeling them with quotations from the story. Write a brief explanation of your map on a separate sheet of paper highlighting the design choices you made, symbols you used, and such.
4)Create a journal for one of the characters in the book besides the main character. Be sure to create entries for every day of the plot and/or in reaction to all major events of the story. Imagine their reactions to what is happening.
5)If two or more read the same book, prepare and present a dramatic interpretation of an important section of the story (either in class or through a prerecorded video). You may have a maximum of three players, use costumes, music, and props. (must be memorized, well performed, and approved by teacher in advance)
6)Create a PowerPoint presentation comparing your book to the film version. Briefly summarize the book, then highlight the major plot or character differences between the book and the film. Draw some conclusions for why you think the filmmaker’s made some of those decisions. Your presentation must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the book. (You may do this in another format/medium if you get my prior approval.)
7)Perform a dramatic monologue from the book. Choose an important descriptive section or an important speech from the story and perform it for the class. It must be memorized, clearly spoken and audible (easily heard), embody the tone of the story or character, and be of decent length – check the length with me prior to memorizing.
8)If your book is written in an older style of English (i.e. Shakespeare, Chaucer, Epic Poem like Gilgamesh, Beowulf, or The Odyssey), translate an important section or chapter into modern day English. If Shakespeare, write it like a play with the same speakers. If a poem, you may translate in poetry or change it to prose.
9)Create a PowerPoint presentation or a hand drawn Story Board (poster or individual sheets taped together) of the main character’s personal /internal journey during the story. What are they like when the story opens? What realizations do they make? What happens to change their outlook? What inner conflicts do they have? What are they like when the story ends? Use quotes to support your argument.
10)Create a board game as a study guide for your book. The game must have clearly outlined rules on a separate sheet of paper, and winning the game must require knowledge of the book. Include all the pieces necessary to play and win the game. You must use quotations from the story in the game.
11)Create a jeopardy game that could act as a study guide for the book. One category must be dedicated to quotes from the story, and the questions must get harder as the points go up. The questions must demonstrate a depth of knowledge of the book, not surface level questions. Include the answers.
12)If you are disappointed in the ending of your novel, rewrite the ending of the book. Think about how far you have to go back to make this change possible, and then rewrite what characters need to do and say in order to change the ending. This is more than just an outline of events. Write using dialogue and details.
13)Imagine what happens after the book ends. Write a short story about what happens next to either the main character or a supporting character after the story is over. Demonstrate your understanding of that character’s life and motivations. Include a clear plot with exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.
14)Choose a supporting character from your book and write a short story about something that happens to them while they are “off screen” during the main story. Demonstrate your understanding of that character’s life and motivations. Include a clear plot with exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.
15)Write a poem that either directly addresses the main themes of your book or is influenced by the main themes of your book. The length of the poem will have an inverse relationship with the density of the writing. Don’t say exactly what you mean, use imagery, metaphors, similes, personification, specific diction, and tone. Explain how your poem is influenced by the story on a separate sheet of paper.
16)Sew, paint, or produce (ceramics or another art medium) a piece of art that reflects your book and its main themes. Explain how the book influenced you and how it is reflected in your artwork.
17)Write and present a radio/T.V. commercial series (3 minimum) advertising the novel. You may do this in class or as an audio or video file. Remember that you are trying to sell the book, so make it exciting, hit on the main points, and think about your audience.
18)Come up with your own project idea and clear it with the teacher.