Literature Circles – Reading Project Criteria
Objective: students will select a novel of their choice to read in a group
of 3-4 people. Students will discuss the novel, complete daily activities,
and do a final project that reflects understanding of the story.
Novel Selection: students will select their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices from
the approved reading list.
Students will be grouped accordingly depending on selections and dynamics
in each group.
Students will be responsible for reading selections at home. Class time
will be used for discussion with other group members and completing daily
activities.
1. daily reading log - completed individually
2. group discussion questions page - one for the group
each day
3. predictions
Students will select (1) project from each of the three project areas to
complete about the book that they read. (total = three activities)
Students will complete these as a group and present them to the class.
Assessment: daily work, group project, oral presentation
Evaluation Rubric:
Area 1 – Art
Shows creativity and effort
20
Reflects understanding of the story
20
Neat and well done project
20
Includes specific and detailed info.
20
Grammar and spelling
20 total = 100 points
Area 2 – Dramatization
Shows creativity and effort
20
Reflects understanding of the story
20
Pronunciation and Tone
20
Includes specific and detailed info.
10
Organized and clear presentation 20
All members participated
10 total = 100 points
Area 3 – Writing
Shows creativity and effort
20
Reflects understanding of the story
20
Neat and well done project
20
Includes specific and detailed info
20
Grammar and Spelling
20 total = 100 points
Reading Log Information (copy and
past into MSWord if in need more pages)
Reading Log – Novel Title: _____________________________________________
Write a 2- 4 sentence summary of the section you just read: (pages ____
to _____)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Write 8-10 sentences or questions that can include your comments about
the section, the content, the ideas, characters, or parts you don’t understand.
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
6.______________________________________________________________________
7.______________________________________________________________________
8.______________________________________________________________________
9.______________________________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________________________
Write five words that were unfamiliar to you and look up the definitions
and use correctly in a sentence
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
Group Discussion Log – Novel Title: ______________________________________
Group Members:
Three interesting things members of the group had to say about the section
read:
1.______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Predictions we have about what will happen next:
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
What we like that has happened so far:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What we would change:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Project Activities
Area One – Art (choose one activity from
this section)
1. Art Log – choose six quotations from your book (usually
a sentence or two) that interests your group in some way. Divide a large
sheet of paper into six sections. Copy one quote in each section at the bottom.
Then illustrate each quote, either symbolicallyor literally based on the
incident in the story.
2. Board Game – Create a board game based on the characters
and events in the book your group read. Include clearly written instructions.
Include a board and playing pieces related to the story. Your classmates
should learn what happened in the book by playing your game.
3. Book Jacket – design a new, totally different than
the original, cover for your book. Write book flap copy for the inside front
and back covers, as well as back cover. Do not copy the original information!
Summarize the book’s plot in your own words. Explain why the book was worth
reading. You might use a quote or review from one of the group members.
4. Bookmarks – design bookmarks, one for each character
and main event that happens in the story. Each bookmark should reflect characteristics
of the characters or the event it depicts. (minimum: 10)
5. Comic strip – Draw an 8-10 panel comic strip based
on the events in your novel. The tone should reflect the story. It should
clearly convey what happened in the story, the characters and sequence of
events.
6. Picture book – Turn your novel into a children’s picture
book by choosing 6 – 8 of the most important scenes and retelling the story
in simple language. Use appropriate illustrations. Could be a popup book
or flap book. Use your imagination.
Area Two – Performance/Oral Presentation
(select one project from this area)
All group members must be involved equally in the presentation
1. Book talk – show your book, stating the author’s name
and the title. Then give a short talk, telling something about the plot
(without ruining the story for anyone else that wants to read it), sharing
your reactions, and explaining why you recommend it. You may want to read
aloud an excerpt that you think will capture your listeners’ attention and
make them want to read the book.
2. Commercial – plan and present or tape a radio or TV
commercial for your book. It needs to be 1 – 3 minutes long.
3. Dramatization – plan and perform a skit based on a
scene from your book. Give any background information necessary for your audience
to understand what is happening. Use appropriate props.
4. Newscast – Write and deliver, or tape, a newscast
as if you were reporting about scenes in your book. You can include interviews
with different characters and report the scenes in an interesting way. You
can have a weather and sports person if appropriate for your story. Present
the most exciting parts of your story as if they were news stories.
5. Song – write a song with lyrics based on the characters
or events in the book. You can set it to a familiar tune that everyone knows
or make up your own music. It should allow people to understand your story
and what it was about.
6. Trial –Put the author of the book on trial for a crime
or other wrongdoing that you should include the other characters as
witnesses. You’ll need a jury, attorneys, judge. The trial evidence should
reflect what happened in the story.
Area Three – Writing (choose one project
in this area)
1. Newspaper – design a newspaper or magazine that reflects
the main events of the story as well as the characters.
2. Write the next scene – write a minimum 2 page what
would happen next in the story if you could write it.
3. Letter to the author – write a formal letter to the
author expressing your group’s opinion about the book, what you liked, didn’t
like, would change, etc. Be sure to ask at least three questions of the
author about the book.
4. Rewrite – choose a scene from the story and rewrite
it from a different character’s point of view, in a different time, setting,
place, or in a different style genre, such as scifi, romance, fantasy.
5. Chain story – write a chain story between the members
of your group using the last line or first line of the story as your starting
line. Should be at least two pages.
6. Powerpoint Presentation – using Powerpoint, create
a story map that shows the sequence of events and characters in your story.
Reading Log Starters
When I started reading this book, I thought…
I changed my mine about…because…
My favorite part of the book was…
My favorite character was…because…
I was confused by…
I was surprised when…
I predict that…
I didn’t like the way that…
I liked the way the writer…
If I wrote this book, I would change…
This book reminded me of..
I would (wouldn’t) read another book by this author because…
I would (wouldn’t) recommend this book to a friend because…
This book made me feel…
This book made me think…
This book made me realize…
While I was reading, I pictured…
The most important thing about this book is…
I’d like to tell the writer…
I’d like to ask the writer…
If I were (name of character, I would (wouldn’t) have …
What happened in this book was very realistic (unrealistic) because…
My least favorite character was…because…
If I could be any character in the book I would be …because…
A better title for the book would be…because…
I would change the ending…
(Name of character) reminds me of myself because….
(Name of character) reminds me of….because…
When I finished this book, I still wondered…
This book was similar (different) than other books I’ve read because…
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