SUMMER READING

ENTERING GRADE 2 AND 3

Read Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman. Read it once to yourself and a second time out loud to someone else.

1. What personality traits does Hachiko have? List three:

2. Write a four or five sentence paragraph on which of these traits describe you.

3. Draw a picture of a scene from the story. Be sure the background looks Japanese.

Extra Credit: Do research on what happened to the original statue.

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ENTERING GRADE 4 AND 5

Read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Read it once to yourself then choose two chapters to read out loud to someone else.

1. List 4 personality traits that Mary has at the beginning of the story.

2. Write a 5 to 6 sentence paragraph on how these traits affect her interaction with others.

3. Describe how 2 of these traits change by the end of the story. 

4. Is there any trait that does not change? Write a sentence on this trait.

5. On the back of this paper, draw a picture of the moor or the secret garden or Dickon’s house.

 

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ENTERING GRADE 6 AND 7

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen:

Page 1: 

1. Characters: Write a short answer to these questions:

   1. Who is the protagonist? How do you know? 

   2. Who is the antagonist? (Is there only one?) How do you know? 

2. Theme: Identify a theme/message of this story. 

3. Symbol: Find a concrete object that symbolizes an abstract concept that relates to the theme. Discuss its significance.

Page 2:

1. Setting: Draw two views of the settings: 

   1. A general view – a map of the country

   2. A specific view – a location (woods, town, farm, boat, station…)

 

 

ENTERING GRADE 8

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card:

1. Who is (are) the protagonist(s)?

2. Who is (are) the antagonist(s)?

3. Why would brilliance in someone else create resentment in others?

4. Would you have resented Ender? Why or Why not?

5. Is there a video game or movie or another story that seems similar to this story? What is the same and what is not the same?

6. Is there a parallel in today’s current events to this story? Consider the criminal group Dark Side and the security group Digital Shadow.

7. What is the over-riding Theme of this book?

8. Draw a picture of a Bugger based on the book’s description. – include the quotation that you based your drawing on.

 

 

ENTERING GRADE 9 AND 10

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon:

1. Describe the protagonist. 

   1. List his characteristics that appear at the beginning of the book and add to the list as you read on.

2. Research the Autism Spectrum

   1. Identify where Asperger Syndrome is on the spectrum.

   2. List the general characteristics of Asperger Syndrome.

3. List the Antagonists? Explain. By the end of the story does the list grow? Explain.

4. What is the mystery? Try to solve it when you reach halfway.

5. Did the solution surprise you? Is the solution logical?

6. Draw a scene from the book.

 

 

ENTERING GRADE 11 AND 12

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

 

1.    Using bullet points describe the settings: place, defining event and era.

2.    Using bullet points describe the Protagonist in detail: a. His family background; b. His profession

3.    Using bullet points describe the Antagonists.

4.    In a few sentences, describe the tragedy that redirects his professional path.

5.    In a few sentences describe the incident that places the protagonist in his final “home”. What and where is this “home”?

6.    Research PTSD and, using bullet points, list what PTSD components apply to the protagonist.

7.    You, the reader and a character make as astonishing discovery (more than one?) at the end. What are the discoveries?

8.    Opinion: What is the most remarkable aspect of this true story? 

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