Holy Redeemer

Holy Redeemer School
Cardinal 2011 Summer Reading Challenge and Requirements
Grades 1 – 8

2011 Cardinal Summer Reading Requirements for Rising 6^th Graders RISING 6^TH GRADERS are required to complete the following and turn all work in on Aug. 30, 2011.1.

 Read the two required books described below and complete the assignments detailed below.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 (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: August 30, 2011.2.  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.)

 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (203 Pages)   Read the book and complete two assignments.1.      Before reading, review the different characteristics of science fiction/fantasy (see box below). As you read, find 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. Will be graded as an essay and weighted at 15%. 

 2.      Make a Thematic Timeline for the Beginning, Middle and End of the Book:  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.  For each part of the book, copy a quote from the book and list the page number for that quote.  Include a brief explanation of how that quote shows the theme you have chosen.  Be creative and illustrate your timeline with pictures that you draw, cut out of magazines, or print out.  So, for the three sections of your timeline you will include:                  Beginning_________________Middle_________________________              End                                                               quote / page #                                       quote / page #                                       quote /page#                                                    explanation of theme                           explanation of theme                           explanation of them                        illustration                                           illustration                                           illustration 

Historical Fiction or Realistic Fiction Book – Read one of either genre and complete this assignment.1.      Before reading, review the different characteristics of the historical fiction genre and the realistic fiction genre (see box below). As you read, find a total of six examples of the genre’s three characteristics.  Complete a detailed list, using complete sentences, of the six 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 sentences. Will be graded as homework and weighted at 10%. 

 Any questions over the summer regarding these projects or the reading assignments may be e-mailed to Mrs. Enkiri This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   

MRS. ARDILLO/MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTSSUMMER 2011 READING ASSIGNMENTS Rising 7^th Graders Why read?  Some people read for pleasure, some people read to experience new places and new societies.  Some people read because reading increases your vocabulary and reinforces the grammar and punctuation you learn in English class.  A broader vocabulary and better grammar and punctuation will make you a better writer.  Better writing skills will help you improve your grades in all subjects.  So, the question really is “Why not read?”   There are two required books for 7^th grade.  Those books count toward the number of pages each student is required to read over the summer (1,400 pages for 7^th grade). Your required Summer Reading Log (printable copy on Edline) and 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 7^TH GRADERS: Copies of both books will be needed in class in the fall. 

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 200-400 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:  (325 words).  Typed, proper format, proper heading. See Edline for details.   (2) DISPLAY:  Make a collage on a piece of white or colored poster paper 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 7^th 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! 

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (approximately 127 pages, depending on edition) (1) WRITING:  Read the book, and then write a newspaper article detailing Santiago’s adventure with the giant marlin.  Pretend that you are a reporter for a newspaper and have been sent to Cuba to report on this major event.  Remember that newspaper articles answer the following questions:  who, what, when, where, why and how?  There is no minimum word requirement for this paper, just be sure you have answered the main journalism questions above.  Also, remember that newspaper articles are written in third person, not first.  Be sure your article has a “headline” that will grab the readers’ attention.  Typed, proper format, proper heading. See Edline for details. (2) DISPLAY:  Make a travel brochure advertising Cuba as a tourist destination. Use a piece of construction paper and fold it like a brochure, a tri-fold brochure.  This will give you six panels (front and back) to use for different aspects of visiting Cuba: food, weather, language, attractions, etc.  Include clip art, clippings from magazines or your own drawings to create your travel brochure.  Be sure to include “deep sea fishing” as one of the attractions for your brochure.  Be creative! These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A. For the written parts, you can write it neatly or type it on the computer, print it out and cut it to fit on your brochure. Be creative!   EACH ASSIGNMENT FROM 7^TH AND 8^TH GRADE STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED TO EACH ASSIGNMENT, TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN, WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENT AND HIS OR HER 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 .  I will be checking my email regularly!  Have a great summer, and remember, read-read-read!!!!  

MRS. ARDILLO/MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTSSUMMER 2011 READING ASSIGNMENTS Rising 8^th Graders 

Why read?  Some people read for pleasure, some people read to experience new places and new societies.  Some people read because reading increases your vocabulary and reinforces the grammar and punctuation you learn in English class.  A broader vocabulary and better grammar and punctuation will make you a better writer.  Better writing skills will help you improve your grades in all subjects.  So, the question really is “Why not read?”   There are two required books for 8^th grade.  Those books count toward the number of pages each student is required to read over the summer (1,600 pages for 8^th grade). Your required Summer Reading Log (printable copy on Edline) and 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 8^TH 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 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:  (425 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 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:  (425 words).  Typed, proper format, proper heading, see Edline for details.     (2)  DISPLAY:  Make a travel brochure advertising La Paz, Mexico, as a tourist destination. Use a piece of construction paper and fold it like a brochure, a tri-fold brochure.  This will give you six panels (front and back) to use for different aspects of visiting La Paz: food, weather, language, attractions, etc.  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! These will be displayed on the cork strips in the hallway outside 8A.  For the written parts, you can write it neatly or type it on the computer, print it out and cut it to fit on your brochure. Be creative!  

EACH ASSIGNMENT FROM 7^TH AND 8^TH GRADE STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED TO EACH ASSIGNMENT, TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN, WITH THE SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENT AND HIS OR HER PARENT: