Reader's+Wheel+Projects

Reader’s Wheel Projects

Do a costumed presentation of your book. Dress either as the author or one of the characters. If a journey was involved, draw a map with explanatory notes of significant places that the character traveled to. Include a legend with the important locations. Make a diorama showing the setting or a main event from the book. Participate with three or four classmates in a television talk show about the book. With another student, do a pretend interview with the author or with one of the characters. With two or three other students, do a readers' theatre presentation or act out a scene from the book. Make three or more puppets of the characters in the book. Prepare a short puppet show to tell the story to the class. Dress up as one of the characters and tell the story from a first person point of view. Rewrite the story as a picture book. Use simple vocabulary so that younger students may enjoy it. Make a map showing where the story took place. Include a map legend. Make a mobile showing pictures or symbols of happenings in the book. Choose any topic from your book and write a 1-2 page research report on it. Include a one-paragraph explanation as to how it applies to your book (not in the paper itself--on your "title page.") Make a display of the time period of your book. The display can include pictures, drawings, and items that represent the time period. Write out the script and tape record it, as it would be presented. Don't forget background music! Research and write a

1-page report on the geographical setting of your story. Include an explanation as to why this setting was important to the effect of the story. Create a board game based on events and characters in the book you read. By playing your game, members of the class should learn what happened in the book. Your game must include the following: a game board, a rule sheet and clear directions, events and characters from the story. Make models of three objects, which were important in the book you read. On a card attached to each model, tell why that object was important in the book. Make a shoebox diorama of a scene from the book you read. Write a paragraph explaining the scene and its effect in the book on your title page. Pretend that you are one of the characters in the book you read. Tape a monologue of that character telling of his or her experiences. Be sure to write out a script before taping. You could perform this "live" if you so choose. Make a television box show of ten scenes in the order that they occur in the book you read. Cut a square form the bottom of a box to serve as a TV screen and make two slits in opposite sides of the box. Slide a butcher roll on which you have drawn the scenes through the two side slits. Make a tape to go with your television show. Be sure to write out a script before taping or performing live. Tape an interview with one of the characters in the book you read. Pretend that a magazine or newspaper reporter is interviewing this character. You may do this project with a partner, but be sure to write a script before taping. You may choose to do a "live" version of this. Make a paper doll likeness of one of the characters in the book you read. Design at least threes costumes that represent the character. Next, write a paragraph commenting on each outfit; tell what the clothing reflects about the character, the historical period and events in the book. Pick a national issue. Compose a speech to be given on that topic by one of the major characters in the book you read. Be sure the contents of the speech reflect the characters personality and beliefs. Create a mailbox out of a milk or juice carton. Decorate the mailbox as if it belonged to the main character. Write a letter or card to the character in the book. Put the letter in the mailbox. Make an ID card, which belongs to one of the characters. Be sure to make the card look like the cards for that particular state. Include a picture and all information found on and ID card. Make a crossword puzzle using ideas from a book. Need at least 25 entries. Retell the plot of the book you read as it might appear in a third grade reading book. Be sure that the vocabulary you use is appropriate for that age group. Tape your storytelling. Gather a large collection of current events from newspapers or magazines that reflect incidents that closely parallel those in your novel. Compile them in a folder to be looked through. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield describes a good book as one that "when you're done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like  it." Imagine that the author of the book you read is a terrific friend of yours. Write out an imaginary telephone conversation between the two of you in which you discuss the book you read and other things as well. Create a PowerPoint presentation that explains all the story elements from your book. You should have slides for: the character, setting, plot, theme, and mood. Make a time line of the major events in the book you read. Be sure the divisions on the time line reflect the time period in the plot. Use drawings or magazine cutouts to illustrate events along the time line. You could present this to the class, taking us through time—from event to event.

Reader’s Responses

Write a letter from one character to another character. Write the first paragraph (or two) for a sequel. Outline what would happen in the rest of book. Write a new conclusion to the book. Write a new beginning to the book. Write a letter to the author of your novel and explain how you feel about the book. Make a new jacket with an original blurb. Use e-mail to tell a reading pen pal about the book. Cut out magazine pictures to make a collage or a poster illustrating the idea or some events from the book. Write a book review. Write a summary of the book but do not give away the ending. Tell the reader if you liked or disliked the book and why or why not. Find a song or a poem that relates to the theme of your book. Explain the similarities. Exaggerate either characteristics or events and write a tabloid-style news story related to your book. Draw a comic-book page complete with bubble-style conversations showing an incident in your book. Use a journalistic style and write a news story about something that happened to one of the characters. Write a paragraph telling about the title. Is it appropriate? Why or Why not? Decide on an alternate title for the book. Why is it appropriate? Is it better than the one the book has now? Why or Why not? Make a travel brochure inviting tourists to visit the setting of the book. What types of activities would there be for them to attend? Write a letter to the main character of the book. Write a letter to the main character of the book. Write the letter he or she sends back. Prepare a list of 15 to 20 questions for use in determining if other people have read the book carefully. Must include some "thought" questions. "How?" "Why" Write a diary as the main character would write it to explain the events of the story. Must have at least 5 entries. Write a song for your story. Pretend you are a teacher, preparing to teach your novel to the entire class. Create 5 journal prompts. Make a banner of cloth or paper about your book. Make a "wanted" poster for one of the characters or objects in your book. Include the following: (a) a drawing or cut out picture of the character or object, (b) a physical description of the character or object, (c) the character's  or object's misdeeds (or deeds?), (d) other information about the character or  object which is important, (e) the reward offered for the capture of the character or object. Design an advertising campaign to promote the sale of the book you read. Include each of the following: a poster, a radio or TV commercial, a magazine or newspaper ad, a bumper sticker, and a button. Find the top 10 web sites a character in your book would most frequently visit. Include 2-3 sentences for each on why your character likes each of the sites. Write a scene that could have happened in the book you read but didn't. After you have written the scene, explain how it would have changed the outcome of the book. Design a movie poster for the book you read. Cast the major character in the book with real actors and actresses. Include a scene or dialogue from the book in the layout of the poster. Remember, it should be PERSUASIVE; you want people to come see the movie. Complete a series of five drawings that show five of the major events in the plot of the book you read. Write captions for each drawing so that someone who did not read the book can understand the illustrations. Make a test for the book you read. Include 10 true-false, 10 multiple choice, and 10 short essay questions. After writing the test, provide the answers for your questions. Select one character from the book you read who has the qualities of a heroine or hero. List these qualities and tell why you think they are heroic. Imagine that you are about to make a feature-length film of the novel you read. You have been instructed to select your cast from members of your English class. Cast all the major characters in your novel from your English classmates and tell why you selected each person for a given part. Plan a party for the characters in the book you read. In order to do this, complete each of the following tasks: (a) Design an invitation to the party, which would appeal to all of the characters. (b) Imagine that you are five of the characters in the book and tell what each would wear to the party. (c) Tell what food you would serve and why. (d) Tell what games or entertainment you will provide and why your choices are appropriate. (e) Tell how three of the characters will act at the party. (f) What kind of a party is this? (Birthday, housewarming, un-birthday, anniversary, etc.) List five of the main characters from the book you read. Give three examples of what each character learned or did not learn in the book. Obtain a job application from an employer in our area, and fill out the application as one of the characters in the book you read might do. Before you obtain the application, be sure that the job is one for which a character in your book is qualified. If a resume is required, write it. You are a prosecuting attorney putting one of the characters from the book you read on trial for a crime or misdeed. Prepare your case on paper, giving all your arguments. Write a letter to a friend about the book you read. Explain why you liked or did not like the book. Imagine that you have been given the task of conducting a tour of the town in which the book you read is set. Make a tape describing the homes of your characters and the places where important events in the book took place. You may want to use a musical background for your tape. Make a list of at least ten proverbs or familiar sayings. Now decide which characters in the book you read should have followed the suggestions in the familiar sayings and why. Write the copy for a newspaper front page that is devoted entirely to the book you read. The front page should look as much like a real newspaper page as possible. The articles on the front page should be based on events and characters in the book. Make a collage that represents major characters and events in the book you read. Use pictures and words cut from magazines in your collage. Change the setting of the book you read. Tell what the setting originally was and how this new, change of setting would alter events and affect characters. Complete each of these eight ideas with material growing out of the book you read: This book made me wish that. . ., realize that. . ., decide that. . ., wonder about. . ., see that. . ., believe that. . ., feel that. . ., and hope that. . . . Look through magazines for words and pictures that describe your book. Use these to create a collage on a bookmark. Make the bookmark available for others to use as they read the same book. Write the title of your book. Decide on some simple word--picture--letter combinations that will spell out the title "rebus style." Present it to the class to solve (I will make a transparency or copies for you.) After they have solved the rebus., invite them to ask questions about the book. Choose an interesting character from your book. Consider the character's personality, likes and dislikes. Decide on a gift for him or her. . . something he or she would really like and use. Design a greeting card to go along with your gift. In the greeting, explain to your friend from the book why you selected the gift. Read the classifieds. Find something a character in your book was looking for or would like. Cut out the classified. Write a short paragraph telling why he or she needs/wants the item. Would the one advertised be a good buy for him or her? Why or Why not? Create 5 blog questions that could be posted on the class webpage for your classmates to respond to once they finish reading the book. Give these questions to the teacher to post.