America’s Past: Historical Fiction Book Project



America’s Past: Historical Fiction Book Project

Eighth-Grade Social Studies

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ne of the best ways I know to get interested in history is to read historical fiction. To me, historical events can seems a lot more interesting when a character that you care about is affected by them! Plus you learn things you might never have learned otherwise! To this day, I know how to pan for gold (how the ’49ers In the California Gold Rush were able to separate gold flakes from sand in the bottom of stream beds) from reading one of my favorite books, Bullwhip Griffin!

This year, you will be required to be reading historical fiction books throughout the year. We will use these books for three things:

• You should have your book in class for a sponge activity: what you do if you finish your work early.

• Every week you will have to fill out a Historical Fiction Weekly Reading Report. It will be graded ((+,(,(- or “re-do”) and form a small part of your overall assessment grade.

• Twice this year—for the end of the second and third marking periods—you will hand in a project on one of the books you have finished that quarter. Though it can be handed in any time, it is due a week before the marking period ends.

Picking a Book

The book should be set in the United States any time from 1830 onward. A list of suggested books is available on our class webpage, at , though other choices are possible. If you are not sure that a certain book is appropriate, please ask me before you get deep into reading.

Books are available in the school library, and some are available in Room 205 to sign out.

As for reading level, pick a book that is within your reading ability, so that it will be fun to read and not a chore. If you would like to challenge yourself, fine, but this is not a requirement for this project.

Weekly Report

A Historical Fiction Weekly Reading Report is attached, though copies will be available in class. You can also fill out a form online and hand it in that way. A link is available on our class webpage.

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Quarterly Project (2nd and 3rd Marking Periods Only)

When you decide which project you will complete, see me or go to the class website to get a scoring rubric. You will need to complete the self-check portion of the rubric before you turn in your project, and turn in the rubric with the project.

Project Options

1. Write a newspaper article about a major event in the book. Include historical information as well as information about the main characters. Don’t forget to address the major reporting questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how.

2. Rewrite a scene in the book from the point of view of a different narrator.

3. Summarize the ending of the book in a well-developed paragraph(s). Then, write a new and different ending by creating a dialogue or well-developed paragraph(s).

4. Pretend that you are the main character of the book and write a letter to another character. Maintain the character’s style as evident in the book and use the historical events in the book as subject matter.

5. Create a book jacket. Include a picture of an important scene on the front. Inside write an original detailed summary of the plot.

6. Write about a key scene as if it were being reported on the 6:00 news on television. You may include a reporter interviewing characters involved in the incident. Option: This could be videotaped.

7. Pretend that you are the host of a TV talk show (Oprah, Jerry Springer, etc.). Write 5 questions you would ask the author about the content of the book. After each question, write the author’s detailed answer. Option: This could be videotaped.

8. Write a “Dear Abby” letter explaining a character’s conflict or problem. Write Abby’s response to the character.

9. Write a letter to the author of your book. Tell her/him what you thought of the book, ask how she/he got the ideas to write it and tell what were some of your favorite parts. Option: Find out if the author is still alive. Try to find his/her address and mail a copy of the letter to him/her. If you get a response, include it in your project.

10. Cut out magazine pictures, draw pictures, or collect “souvenirs” to paste into a scrapbook or collect in a memory box that could have been created by one of the characters in the book. Explain in a few sentences how each entry represents the story.

11. Create a diary/journal for one of the main characters. Write down their emotional reactions to events in the book. Be sure to carry the historical theme into the journal.

12. Make a timeline of the events that occur in the story. Be sure to include historical events as well as fictional events that occur to the main characters.

13. If you read a book about an event that has happened in recent history, find someone who was alive during that event and experienced something similar to what you read about in the book. Interview them (record your interview on audio or video tape). Write an essay comparing that person’s experiences with those of the main character’s.

14. Re-write the book as a movie script. Get together some of your friends and act out the book, recording your movie on videotape. Be sure to turn in both the script and the tape.

15. Use nonfiction books on the same topic as your book to research the time period/event/historical characters/etc. Create either an essay or a graphic organizer that compares and contrasts the way the author describes the event in the book with the way it really happened.

I.S. 98 Name ____________________________________

Class _______________ Date _____________________________________

Directions: Please answer all questions except the first two in full sentences!

1) The name of the book is __________________________________________________________________.

2) I am currently on page __________________.

3) What do you think of this book?

4) What is the historical setting?

5) What are two things you have learned about the time period from your reading this week?

6) What is one question you have about the time period or historical setting from your reading this week?

7) What is one prediction you would make for what will happen to the characters?

8) Have any of your previous predictions come true or been proven false? How?

9) Write one more question about the book for yourself and answer it:

Question:

Answer:

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Historical Fiction Weekly Reading Report

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