Project Page

 Click Here for list of projects
Click Here for Book Jacket Assignment and rubric
  Click Here for card, interview, front page or song description and rubric
Click Here for paper bag project and rubric 

Click Here to go to the Odyssey Home page
 

Please do not print this page unless you want all 5 pages.  Highlight the text you want then print.    

 

List of  Possible Projects IF you are not required to do an IRA
 

  1. 10 question IRA**
  2. Mobile*- (This may be done no more than once during the year.) With a mobile students display artifacts that have particular significance to the book and its characters.
  3. Paper bag project*- Students use a brown lunch bag and place responses and scenes on the outside. Artifacts relating to the book are on the inside.
  4. Character biography**- Student writes a biography of the main character as if they were a real person.
  5. New ending**- Student writes a new ending to the story. Events and actions must fit the original story, must be logical and serious.
  6. Epic poem**- This is a poem, rhyming or not, that reflects the writer’s comprehension of the story. It should be at least one page and reflect on plot, character and setting.
  7. Book Jacket- Student creates a new book jacket, one leaf must contain a detailed plot summary, the other a reason to read the book. An appropriate illustration is on the cover.
  8. Character growth poster*- This is a poster with text an illustrations that shows how the character has changed.
  9. Character trait poster*- This is a poster with text and illustrations that show the seven different character traits.
  10. Gift card to your character. Create a card, like a Hallmark card, that you would attach to a gift that you would give the main character. Inside write a message telling the character what it is and why you gave it to them.
  11. Create the front page of a newspaper from your character’s world. Include an article that might appear about the plot and another about the character (something they did) Include a few advertisements and a weather report or anything else you think is appropriate.
  12. Write an interview with a character. Create important questions to ask them, have their answers in a "voice."
  13. Choose a familiar melody, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and change the lyrics so they pertain to the novel. Include plot and character in your lyrics.
  14. Create a decorated plot diagram for your book. Use illustrations to help explain the rising action, climax and resolution. Don’t forget to explain the central conflict.

 

 

Odyssey Team
Book Jacket Book Response
 

Design a book jacket for the book. I STRONGLY suggest that you look at one or more actual book jackets before you attempt this. All text should be word-processed and GUM counts! All elements of the sample book jacket must be included. All text should be word-processed and GUM counts! (This should be done on plain

8.5 x 14 paper)

Below is a description of the cover. Read it carefully. READ THE RUBRIC BEFORE YOU START!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

This is the back flap. It should have a word processed, perfectly edited character description that includes at least five underlined adjectives in the paragraphs and the because sentence that follows it.

This is the back cover. It should have five pretend quick reviews from real newspapers like this…

"Astounding wizardry, vivid descriptions, Harry Potter is a spellbinding novel."

Washington Post

This is the front. It should have an illustration THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE REAL COVER OF THE BOOK. It should be related to the book, it should be in color, and the entire cover should be colored in.

This is the inside, front flap. It should contain a detailed summary of the story. It should be word processed and perfectly edited.

 

 

 

Great 4

Good Job 3

Almost 2

Not there 1

Back Flap

There are five underlined adjectives included and you include reasons from the story to support the description.. The paragraph is fluently written and fills up the flap in 12 point font. GUM is perfect.

There are five adjectives with reasons supporting them . Only two GUM mistakes

There are less than five adjectives or the explanations aren't sufficient. At least three are adequately explained. Only three GUM mistakes

This is your score if the paragraph does not have at least three adequately explained adjectives or if the writing isn’t word processed

Front Flap

The story summary is complete and sounds like a plot description and correctly uses the following terms: Plot, rising action, climax, resolution. The writing is fluent and fills up

the flap in 12 point font

GUM is perfect

The story summary is complete. The flap is filled with 12 point font and is fluently written

Only two GUM mistakes

The story description is reasonably complete and easy to follow. Only three GUM mistakes

The story summary is not complete or is hard to follow. The summary is not word-processed.

Back Cover

All five quotes are there. They say things that are specifically great about the book, not just general statements like "it’s a great book". Editing perfect.

Three of five quotes say things that are specifically great about the book, not just general statements like "it’s a great book". Editing perfect.

There are five quotes, it is done right, except the quotes aren’t specific. Only a couple of GUM errors.

There are less than five quotes or they aren’t word processed.

Front Cover

The illustration is relevant to the story, is colorful and is exceedingly neat and creative

The illustration is relevant to the story, is colorful and is neat and creative

The illustration is relevant to the story, it has color and it is obvious the student tried to be neat.

The illustration does not meet all of the criteai in 4,3,2.

16 100; 15-95; 14-90; 13-88; 12-83; 11-80; 10-78; 9-72; 8-68; 7- 63; 6-60

Student Score ______________

Mr. Wight Score _____________

 

 

 

Odyssey Book Responses
  1. 1. Gift card- Gift card to your character. Create a card, like a Hallmark card, that you would attach to a gift that you would give the main character. Inside write a message telling the character what it is and why you gave it to them.
    1. Card front has high quality illustration relevant to book.
    2. Inside front cover should be an illustration of the gift or something that symbolizes it.
    3. A note, at least 100 words, that you might include if you were really giving someone the gift. STORY REFERENCES to explain the appropriateness of the gift a must. GUM counts
 

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Gift card rubric
  1. The overall presentation is artistic and neat.
  2. Illustration and cover are relevant and reflect quality
  3. Writing clearly connects the appropriateness of the gift through references to the character and story.
  4. No GUM errors.
  1. The overall presentation is artistic and neat.
  2. Illustration and cover are relevant and reflect quality
  3. Wrting is fluent and connects the gift to the story with references.
  4. No more than three GUM errors.
  1. The overall presentation is neat.
  2. Illustration and cover are relevant and reflect effort
  3. Writing is fluent and attempts to connect the gift to the story with references.
  4. No more than t 5 GUM errors.
  1. The overall presentation is not artistic and neat.
  2. Illustration and cover do not reflect effort.
  3. Writing is not fluent or does not attempt to connect the gift to the story with references.
  4. No more than t 5 GUM errors.

 

  1. Front Page -Create the front page of a newspaper from your character’s world. Include an article that might appear about the plot and another about the character (something they did) Include a few advertisements and a weather report or anything else you think is appropriate.
    1. The page can be a typical 8x11 page. Have a banner with the paper’s name (made up). Work in columns on the word processor.
    2. Write a 100-word plot summary. Make it sound like news, use a "news" voice.
    3. Write 100 words about the character as if he/she were an important person in the community. "Report" on them and what they do, achieve, accomplish, etc.
    4. Don’t forget an advertisement, photo, etc. Look at the front page of a newspaper to see what it looks like.
 

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Newspaper
  1. Paper is word processed
  2. Both articles are fluently written and make multiple references to the story.
  3. Presentation includes elements such as photos, weather, and ads to make it look like a newspaper.
  4. No GUM errors.
  1. Paper is word processed
  2. Both articles are fluently written and make clear references to the story.
  3. Presentation includes elements such as photos, weather, and ads to make it look like a newspaper.
  4. No more than 3 GUM errors.
  1. Paper is word processed
  2. Both articles are well written and attempt to make references to the story.
  3. Presentation includes at least one element such as photo, weather, and ads to make it look like a newspaper.
  4. No more than 5 GUM errors.

The effort does not successfully meet the criteria of score point 2

 

  1. Write an interview with a character. Create important questions to ask them, have their answers in a "voice."
    1. The interview is written in question and answer form. If you could ask the character some questions, what would you ask them.
    2. Ask the character at least 5 important questions about themselves. Don’t forget that you can make inferences as to what the answers may be. The answers will be several sentences so don’t ask simple questions that might have a one-word answer.
    3. The interview should be word-processed

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Interview
  1. The work is word-processed and it is at least one full page, double-spaced.
  2. There are at least five questions and ALL of them are thoughtful questions that require answers of at least three sentences. THERE ARE NO SIMPLE YES OR NO STYLE QUESTIONS.
  3. No GUM errors.
  1. The work is word-processed and it is at least one full page, double-spaced.
  2. There are at least five questions and at least 4 of them are thoughtful questions that require answers of at least three sentences. THERE ARE NO SIMPLE YES OR NO STYLE QUESTIONS.
  3. No more than 3 GUM errors.
  1. The work is word-processed and it is at least one full page, double-spaced.
  2. There are at least five questions and at least 2 of them are thoughtful questions that require answers of at least three sentences. THERE ARE NO SIMPLE YES OR NO STYLE QUESTIONS.
  3. No more than 5 GUM errors.

The effort does not successfully meet the criteria of score point 2
  1. Song Choose a familiar melody, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and change the lyrics so they pertain to the novel. Include plot and character in your lyrics. There should be several verses. You can move up a score point with a quality live performance of the song.
 

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  1. The song is typed, no GUM errors.
  2. The song has numerous clear and specific references to the plot or the character’s personality.
  3. The lyrics can be successfully sung to the tune.
  4. The student clearly took the assignment seriously and performed the song for the class
  1. The song is typed, no more than 3 GUM errors.
  1. The song has clear and specific connections to the plot or the character’s personality.
  2. The lyrics can be successfully sung to the tune.
  3. There are at least 4 verses and a refrain if the song has one.
  1. The song is typed, no more than 5 GUM errors.
  2. The song attmpts to have clear and specific connections to the plot or the character’s personality.
  3. The lyrics can be successfully sung to the tune.
  4. There are at least three verses and a refrain if the song has one.
 

Odyssey Language Arts

Paper Bag Book Project

READ CAREFULLY, read the whole assignment before you begin.

On a brown paper lunch bag (lunch bag size) provide the following information in marker or dark gel pen, so that it is legible.

  1. The title
  2. The author
  3. A description of the "setting", or where and when the story took place.
  4. A description of the main character(s)
  5. A short comment about why you did or did not like the book (i.e. humor, suspense, writer’s style, adventure, etc.)
  6. On one of the two long flat sides of the bag complete an illustration which represents a scene, concept or character in the book.
  7. Inside the bag place 6 "artifacts". These are objects which represent things, people, places or concepts that are important in the book. ( for example, if the book took place at the shore, put a seashell in the bag) You must make AT LEAST three of the artifacts.

You will get an opportunity to present this project to the class in a book talk. HAVE FUN

 Odyssey

Student name _______________

Paper Bag Book Project Score Sheet

______ (2) The title

______(2) The author

______ (5) A description of the "setting", or where and when the story took place.

______(5) A description of the main character, GUM counts(s)

______( 5 ) A short comment about why you did or did not like the book, GUM counts (i.e. humor, suspense, writer’s style, adventure, etc.)

______(5) On one of the two long flat sides of the bag complete an illustration which represents a scene, concept or character in the book.

______(5) Inside the bag place 6 "artifacts".

______(5) All text is word processed

______ (15) Oral presentation (volume, eye contact, vocal variety and completeness of artifact description)

Your

Score ______________

Mr. Wight’s score___________