Name: ______Date: ______
Accelerated Reader (AR) Requirements and Project List
Overview: Each 9 weeks, students will be responsible for completing two Accelerated Reader (AR) Projects. In addition to reading an AR book from a pre-selected list, each student is required to take and pass the computer-generated AR reading test, complete one project from the provided list, and do an oral presentation over their chosen project. AR Projects promote literacy and strengthen skills in reading comprehension, fluency, and writing. Students will be given some time to read during class, but the majority of their reading and all project completion will happen outside of the instructional day.
Directions: Select and complete one AR project from the list below to be turned in on the assigned dates. You must pick a different book and project each time from the provided lists. Please plan ahead and manage your time. No late AR projects will be accepted. If you have questions about your AR book or project please see me in a timely manner.
AR Project Due Dates
1. September 25, 2014
2. October 23, 2014
3. November 20, 2014
4. December 18, 2014
5. January 15, 2015
6. February 12, 2015
7. March 12, 2015
8. May 7, 2015
AR Tests- You must take and pass the AR test over the book that you will be presenting for your AR Project on or before the project due date. Ms. Willie will allow time during class and after school for AR testing. In addition to taking AR tests over your presentation books, you may also take AR tests over books that we read in class during our literature units and novel studies and books that you are reading for leisure.
Accelerated Reader Book Projects: Please read project instructions carefully. In order to receive full credit you must have all required components listed in the project description. You will complete 8 different projects over the course of the school year.
Remember! YOU ARE ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR OWN CREATIVITY
1. Photo Album
Seek out friends, family, teachers, and/or classmates with a camera. Ask them to pose in positions and places that reveal events in the novel you read, then shoot! Make sure your pictures are not just of people smiling and saying cheese, though. Your pictures need to reveal EVENTS that occurred in the novel. Use small props and costumes in your pictures to help identify whom each character is and what is going on, and try to choose models that resemble the characters. Once you have your pictures, arrange them in a photo album in the order the events occur. Below each, write a caption that explains who the people are, what is going on and, if possible, the approximate date. Write the captions from the point of view of one of the main characters (ex: This is my best friend and I when we...). On the inside, paste an information sheet identifying the name of the character, his/her age (guess if you don't know), birthday (if known), where he/she lives, and other important information about this person.
2. Paper Doll
Make a paper doll likeness of one of the characters in the book you read. Make at least three costumes for this character. Write at least a paragraph to go with each costume telling what the clothing reflects about the character, the historical period, and events in the book.
3. Container Project
Choose any container for your book project. You may do a folder or you may choose any other container that suits your needs. (i.e. manila envelope, paper bag, plastic bag, coffee can with a cover, box, or any other container that you can imagine. Be creative!)
Decorate the container with details appropriate to the book or container's contents. The inside of the container should include the following materials and activities pertaining to the book.
1. Questions - Write 10 questions that could be answered by reading the book. Your questions should require deep thinking and interpretation of the book.
2. Vocabulary - A ten word glossary of unfamiliar words from the book and a short definition for each word.
3. Artifacts - Five items that depict the story in some way. These items may be actual items or student created materials from your book.
4. Design a Travel Brochure:
Design a travel brochure for the destination of the book’s setting. Clearly tie the destination to your book. Illustrate and advertise the setting of your novel. Use words and pictures to convince your readers that this setting is an exciting (interesting, educational, relaxing, scenic, historical, etc.) place to visit. Your brochure must include facts about the destination, reasons for visiting, possible attractions, events or sights to see. It must include text and graphics.
5. Character Diary:
Select a character that appealed to you. Generally, you should write a diary entry for each chapter or you may write a diary with at least one week’s worth of entries that this person might have kept. Be sure it relates to the events in the book.
• A diary entry should be in first person from the selected character’s point of view.
• The entry should include a summary of what happened in the chapter OR elaborate on a major scene.
• The diary entry should include a personal statement from the character’s imagined point of view.
6. Models
Create life-sized models of two of your favorite characters and dress them as they are dressed in the book. Crouch down behind your character and describe yourself as the character. Tell what your role is in the book and how you relate to the other character you have made.
7. Song
Write and perform an original song that tells the story of the book. Be prepared to perform your song on presentation day. Please have song lyrics to turn in.
8. Movie Poster
Design a movie poster for the book you read. Cast the major characters in the book with real actors and actresses. Include a scene and dialogue from the book in the layout of the poster. Remember, you are trying to convince someone to see the movie based on the book, so your writing should be persuasive.
9. Children's Story
Turn the novel you read into a children's story by retelling the plot in a simple way with vocabulary appropriate for youngsters. Make sure your creation looks like a children's book, complete with a hard cover, an appealing book jacket with the title and author, and colorful illustrations above and below your writing. DO NOT use lined paper, and make sure all writing is either typed or written neatly with a black marker or pen.
10. Book Jacket
Create a new book jacket with an original cover design, an original summary of the book, information on the author and illustrator, and information about other books by the author. You may not copy and paste the book’s original artwork or text. You must create something new and original.
11. Painted Tile or Plate
Visit a tile-painting studio. Choose one or more tiles, a plate, a vase or other piece upon which you can paint scenes, themes, characters, or symbols relating to the story. Fire the piece and bring it to present to the class. Be ready to explain how you created the piece and how it relates to the story.
12. Postage Stamps
Design a large-scale postage stamp, which honors your book and author.
13. Cereal Boxes
Take a large cereal box and slit it down the middle in the front and then across the top and bottom from the middle so it opens like a closet or cupboard. You can decorate the front as the book cover and fill the inside with pictures or objects, which relate to the story.
14. Body Parts
Use a large piece of construction paper or tag board. On this draw a big picture of the main character. On the side of the picture write something the character thought and draw a line from the comment to the character's head. Next, write something the character heard and draw a line to the ears. After that, write something the character said and draw a line to the mouth. For something the character saw draw a line to the eyes and for something the character felt draw a line to the heart. Find as many possibilities as you can.
15. Diorama
Make a shoebox diorama of a scene from the book you read. Write a three-paragraph piece explaining the scene and attach it to the diorama.
16. Illustrated Timeline
Make a colorfully illustrated timeline of events in the book. Make sure your timeline includes at least 10 events with a written or typed description and small picture, drawing, or clipping describing each event. --No large posters please—
17. Scrapbook
Choose one of the major characters in your book and, as that person, put together a scrapbook of special memories and mementoes.
Letters, photographs, postcards and souvenirs are all good items for the scrapbook and can be easily created! Think about who your character is close to and what he/she does for fun.
Remember, this should represent your chosen character! Draw, create, collect, or find at least six souvenirs that the main character would have put into the scrapbook.
These objects should reflect events in the story or important aspects of your character. Include an explanation next to each object describing its significance. Be true to your character.