Summer Reading
Holy Redeemer School
Cardinal 2010 Summer Reading Challenge and Requirements
Grades 1 – 8
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1.) Read the required book or books for the grade you are entering next fall.
Include the required book(s) on your Summer Reading Log.
Students entering Grades 6-8 must complete assignments for the required books. These assignments are detailed below and are posted on Edline.
2.) Read the number of pages assigned for the grade you are entering next fall. (See below.)
3.) Keep a 2010 Summer Reading Log and turn it into your teacher on the first day of school. A reading log is list of the books you read. It should include: Student’s Name and Grade, Author’s Name, Title, Genre (type of book), Number of Pages, your Parent’s Signature. A printable 2010 Summer Reading Log is available on Edline.
Entering Grade: Number of Pages: Required Reading Log Due Date: Required Book(s) Required Assignments: Due Date:
One 200 Yes 9/1/10 Any Curious George by Rey OR Any Franklin by Bourgeois
Two 400 Yes 9/1/10 Any A-Z Mystery by Roy
Three 600 Yes 9/1/10 Freckle Juice by Blume
Four 800 Yes 9/1/10 Mr. Poppers' Penguins by Atwater
Five 1,000 Yes 9/1/10 Any age-appropriate book by either Beverly Cleary* OR Jerry Spinelli
Six 1,200 Yes 9/1/10 1.) A Wrinkle in Time by L'Engle YES 9/1/10
9/1/10 2.) A Historical Fiction book OR a Realistic Fiction book (See suggested authors. Grade-appropriate.)
Seven 1,400 Yes 9/1/10 1.) The Wednesday Wars by Schmidt YES 9/1/10
2.)The Red Pony by Steinbeck YES 9/1/10
Eight 1,600 Yes 9/1/10 1.) The Pearl by Steinbeck YES 9/1/10
2.) Murder on the Orient Express by A. Christie YES 9/1/10
RISING 6TH GRADERS are required to:
1. Read the two required books described below and complete the assignments detailed below.
* A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (science fiction/fantasy book)
* A historical fiction OR realistic fiction book at or above grade level and not read before.
Please see below for some suggested historical fiction and realistic fiction authors.
Assignments are due the first day of class: September 1, 2010.
2. Read 1,200 pages of fiction and nonfiction books that are at or above grade level and have not been read before. Challenge yourself to read a wide variety of books!
3. Complete a Summer Reading Log (printable version posted to Edline) that includes: Student Name, Grade, Author, Title, Type/Genre and Number of Pages. (List both required books on Summer Reading Log and count the pages in your TOTAL.)
Papers will be graded as “essays”, weighted at 15%. Other projects will be graded as “homework”, weighted at 10%.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (203 Pages) Read the book and complete these assignments.
(1) Make a Thematic Timeline: Use poster board no larger than 16” by 20” to make a timeline that shows how one of the following themes (“big ideas”) shows up at the beginning, middle and end of the story: Love, Courage, or Honor. Illustrate your timeline with quotes from the book and with pictures that you draw, cut out of magazines, or print out. (2) Before reading, review the different characteristics of science fiction/fantasy. As you read, find five examples of the genre’s three characteristics. Write three paragraphs detailing why A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction/fantasy book. You may type or handwrite your composition. Be sure to use proper punctuation and spelling. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and at least three more sentences that give supporting details.
Science Fiction/Fantasy’s Three Characteristics: 1) Includes details on science or technology of the future or that is partially true. 2) Set in the future, space, on a different world, in a different universe or dimension. 3) Includes characters with magical powers, talking animals, mythical creatures.
Historical Fiction or Realistic Fiction Book – Read one of either genre and complete this assignment.
Before reading, review the different characteristics of the historical fiction genre and the realistic fiction genre. As you read, find five examples of the genre’s three characteristics. Complete a detailed list of five examples of the genre’s characteristics. Use a proper Holy Redeemer School heading: HRS, Your Name, Date, and Literature. You may type or handwrite your list of examples.
Historical Fiction’s Three Characteristics: 1) Includes historical events that really happened or people that really lived.
2) Set in a time and place that is historically true: housing, transportation, food, clothing, and communication, for example.
3) Includes fictional characters and/or events.
Some suggested historical fiction authors: Campbell Bartoletti, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, Patricia Reilly Giff, Karen Hesse, Ellen Klages, Cynthia Kodahata, Kathryn Lasky, Scott O’Dell, Shelly Pearsall, Matt Phelan, Rosemary Wells
Realistic Fiction’s Three Characteristics: 1) Includes events that could really happen. 2) Set in modern times. 3) True-to-life characters.
Some suggested realistic fiction authors: Jeanne Birdsall, Blue Balliet, Jack Gantos, Cynthia Lord, Gary Paulsen, Wilson Rawls, Jerry Spinelli, Stephanie Tolan, Cynthia Voight’s Tillerman series, Sharon Robinson
EACH OF THE ASSIGNMENTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TYPED OR WRITTEN ON THEM WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENT AND HIS OR HER PARENT:
THIS IS MY WORK AND MY WORK ALONE, I NEITHER RECEIVED HELP WITH THIS PROJECT NOR GAVE HELP TO ANOTHER STUDENT ON THIS PROJECT.
____________________________ ____________________________
STUDENT PARENT
Any questions over the summer regarding these projects or the reading assignments may be e-mailed to Ms. Buccheri at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
MRS. ARDILLO/MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS
SUMMER 2010 READING ASSIGNMENTS/rising 7th and 8th grades
In addition to Holy Redeemer’s summer reading requirements, the required reading for rising 7th and rising 8th graders and the summer assignments are shown below. STUDENTS WILL NEED COPIES OF BOTH REQUIRED BOOKS FOR CLASSWORK IN THE FALL. The number of pages for the books that are required reading are to be included in your total number of required pages (1,400 for 7th and 1,600 for 8th). Assignments are due on the first day of school. Papers will be graded as “essays”, weighted at 15%. The display projects will be graded as “homework”, weighted at 10%.
RISING 7TH GRADERS: Copies of both books will be needed in class in the fall.
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck (approximately 112 pages, depending on edition)
(1) WRITING: Read the book, and then write dialogue and stage direction for a scene of a play based upon a section of The Red Pony. The completed scene of dialogue and stage direction must be between 5 and 10 minutes long when read out loud and must include a minimum of three characters. We will act these out in class at the beginning of the school year. Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details.
(2) DISPLAY: Make a sympathy (or condolence) card for Jody whose pony has just died. Use a normal piece of printer paper, turned sideways or “landscape” and then folded in half like a Hallmark card. You can use colored paper, construction paper or any other kind of paper for your background, but the final project can be no larger than 9 x 12 inches. These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A so please be sure it is no larger than 9 x 12 inches. Include clip art, clippings from magazines or your own drawings to personalize it. Write a note to Jody about how you feel when you read the passage in the book where the pony dies.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (272 pages)
(1) WRITING: Read the book, and then write a personal narrative essay (in first person) about The Wednesday Wars, and compare it to what would be the subject that would be your “Wednesday War” instead of the Shakespeare lessons in the book. (Maybe you would feel that it would be “war” to have an extra period of a different subject on Wednesday instead of literature as does the character in the book. For me, it would be math as I struggled with math all through school. I would write about how having an extra period of math would be my “Wednesday War”.) Your paper should have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. It must be between 300-500 words, use the “word count” tool in MS Word. Put the “word count” at the bottom of your last page on the left hand margin. For example: (365 words). Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details.
(2) DISPLAY: Make a collage on a piece of white or colored poster board no larger than 16 inches x 20 inches showing what life in 1967 was like in Long Island, New York. Include styles, fashions, food trends, cost of living comparisons, education, jobs, role of women, life of the 7th grade child, after school activities, etc. These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A so please be sure it is no larger than 16 x 20 inches. Use clip art from computer or things cut from magazines. Be creative, colorful and clever!
RISING 8TH GRADERS: Copies of both books will be needed in class in the fall.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (336 pages)
(1) WRITING: Imagine Hercule Poirot has been invited to Indian Island in the book And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. In an expository essay paper, describe Hercule Poirot based upon what you know about him from reading Murder on the Orient Express, and discuss how the plot of And Then There Were None would have changed had Hercule Poirot been included in the 10 guests on Indian Island. Your paper should have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Your paper should have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. It must be between 400-600 words, use the “word count” tool in MS Word. Put the “word count” at the bottom of your last page on the left hand margin. For example: (465 words). Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details. Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details.
(2) DISPLAY: Read the book, and then draw a map indicating the route of the train showing each city or country shown on the route. Use markers or colored pencils on white or colored poster board with the final project no larger than 16 inches x 20 inches. These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A so please be sure it is no larger than 16 x 20 inches. Include clip art, clippings from magazines or your own drawings to decorate your train route map. Be creative!
The Pearl by John Steinbeck (96 pages)
(1) WRITING: Read the book, and then write a compare/contrast essay of the two main symbols in the beginning of the book, the scorpion and the pearl. Your paper should have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. It must be between 400-600 words, use the “word count” tool in MS Word. Put the “word count” at the bottom of your last page on the left hand margin. For example: (465 words). Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details.
(2) DISPLAY: After reading The Pearl, design a “travel brochure” for the setting of the book. Use a normal piece of printer paper, turned sideways or “landscape” and then folded into three sections like a brochure. You can use colored paper, construction paper or any other kind of paper for your background, but the final project can be no larger than 8-1/2 x 11 inches. These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A so please be sure it is no larger than 8-1/2 x 11 inches. Include clip art, clippings from magazines or your own drawings to create your travel brochure. Be sure to include “pearl diving” as one of the attractions for your brochure. Be creative!
EACH ASSIGNMENT MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENT AND HIS OR HER PARENT:
THIS IS MY WORK AND MY WORK ALONE, I NEITHER RECEIVED HELP WITH THIS PROJECT NOR GAVE HELP TO ANOTHER STUDENT ON THIS PROJECT.
____________________________ ____________________________
STUDENT PARENT
Any questions over the summer regarding these projects or the reading assignments may be e-mailed to Mrs. Ardillo at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .