The 7th grade students visit the Middle School Library once a month to select independent reading materials under in various genres or themes. The theme for November was Young Adult Realistic Fiction. Each student picked out a YA novel. After having read the novel, each student analyzed the themes and literary elements common to most young adult realistic novels in a written paragraph.
They returned to the library and shared their books in a speed-summary activity. In randomly assigned pair, one student summarized his or her novel first in 45 seconds while their partners listened. They then switched roles.
After the first round, new partners were paired up and students had to summarize the same books but within 30 seconds. The final challenge was to produce a summary that captured the most essential parts of the novel in 15 seconds. This is to prepare for their next assignment: writing a pithy summary for a free-choice book — fiction or nonfiction. (Inspiration of the next assignment came from the very short annotations for American Library Association’s Notable Books for Children Lists.)
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MS LIBRARY ANNUAL GAME SHOW
DO YOU KNOW BOOKS?!
SPECIAL HARRY POTTER EDITION
FOR STUDENTS FROM
4th to 8th GRADE
WHEN: AFTER SPRING BREAK (TBA)
WHO: TWO PEOPLE PER TEAM (SOLO IS FINE, TOO)
WHAT: READ ALL SEVEN BOOKS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
1 pt question: What is the last name of Hermione?
2 pts question: Which centaur taught Divination at Hogwarts?
3 pts question: What spell revives a person under the Stunner spell??
Answers: 1. Granger; 2. Firenze; 3. Rennervate
4th Graders!
Come to the MS Library and check out a stack of books for your summer reading pleasure!
The due date for the summer reading materials is September 22nd. Please take good care of the books!
Wordsmith.org: Today's Word
