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Novel Explorer (NE) Project ListNOTE: Each project listed below is presented to students through past student examples to demonstrate the level of quality required and the expectations of what a NE project should include. *All projects must include the student’s name, agent number, as well as the title and author of the novel they read.**All completed projects should have writing that is typed or neatly written in black marker or pen. Pencil smears and is difficult to see when the projects are on display. *** The amount of “white space” on a project should limited.Container ProjectChoose any container to represent your book of choice. Decorate the container, both inside and out, with details from the novel. Do not just paste images from the novel onto a box. Create a container that symbolizes a theme in your book or represents a setting. You are only limited by your own creativity. The inside of the container should include the following materials and activities pertaining to the book:Questions - Write ten questions that could be answered or discussed by reading the book. Your questions should require deep thinking and interpretation of the book.Vocabulary – Create a ten word glossary of unfamiliar or important words from the book. Provide a short definition for each word.Artifacts – Provide five items that depict the story in some way. These items may be actual items or student created. Paper DollChoose a main character from the novel you read. Create a paper doll likeness of this character. The character can be 2D or 3D- your choice.Create at least three costumes for this character. Write at least one 3-5 sentence paragraph for each costume. The paragraph should explain the connection between the character and the costume as well as reflect on the character, the setting, and the events from the book. Character DiarySelect a main character that appealed to you from the book you read. Write a diary entry for each main event or chapter of the novel from the character’s perspective. The diary should have at least seven entries, relate to the book, and reflect on the whole story. Each diary entry should be in first person. See through the eyes of your character and write as if you were that character. Each entry should include a summary of what happened in that chapter OR elaborate on a major event.Each entry should include a personal statement from the character’s imagined point of view.SongWrite an original song that tells the entire story of the book. Be sure to include characters, settings, and major events. The song should include at least 5 verses and a chorus. You may use the following template to help you if needed: Preform your song to the class on presentation day.Create an original cover design with details from the book. Attach this to your lyrics to turn in. Movie PosterResearch the movie posters of your favorite movies. Notice the design, color, and details. Now design an original movie poster for the book you read. Cast the major characters with real actors and actresses.Include a scene from the book this will be a background picture for the poster. The scene should not be an illustration from the book but rather a picture of a scene you imagined while reading the book. Include dialogue or quotes from the book.REMEMBER, you are trying to convince someone to see the movie based on the book. So your writing should be persuasive and your design should follow that of a real movie poster. Children’s BookRead a few of your favorite children’s books. Notice the page layout, the word choice, the placement of pictures, the background colors, and the placement of sentences on the page. Now write an original children’s book based on the novel you read by retelling the plot in a simple way. Create an original cover design, paper or hard back. Include the title and author of the book you read. Also include you as an author. (EXAMPLE: Story retold by Courtney Walker). Write a brief, 3-4 sentence, summary on the back cover of the book jacket. Colorful illustrations should cover the pages of the book, including the book jacket. These can be hand drawn or created on a computer. However, all work should be original and your own. DO NOT used lined paper! Make sure all writing is either typed or written neatly with a black marker or pen. REMEMBER, your audience is a young child, therefore your creation should be colorful and look like a real children’s book. Book JacketCreate a new book jacket for the novel your read.Design an original cover and include the title and author of the book you read.Write an original 5-8 sentence summary of the book.Include information about the author, in your own words.Include information about the illustrator, if there was one.Provide information about other books by the author.You may NOT copy and paste the book’s original artwork or text. You must create something new and original. Painted PotteryChoose one or more pieces of pottery. Examples: tiles, plates, vases. This project maybe completed at a painting studio or with materials from a craft or home improvement store. Or even with materials from home.Paint the story’s setting, main characters, and one or more major events from the novel. Write a three-paragraph piece, with 3-5 sentences in each paragraph, explaining what you choose to paint and how it connects to the story of the book you read. Postage StampResearch postage stamps. Look closely at the design and layout. Now create an original large-scale postage stamp that honors your book. In your design make sure to include:Illustrations of the novel’s setting, main characters, and one major event.The title and author of the book.On the back of the stamp, include information about the author in your own words as well as an original 5-8 sentence summary of the book. You may NOT copy and paste the book’s original artwork or text. You must create something new and original. Body PartsChoose a major character from the book you read. Now draw a large picture of the character you chose. Construction paper, poster board, or tag board work well for this project. Color the background with a setting from the story. Include the title and author as well.Make CONNECTIONS:On the side of the character write something that the character thought and draw a line from the comment to the character’s head. Write something the character heard and draw a line to the character’s ear.Write something the character said and draw a line to the mouth.Write something the character saw and draw a line to the eye.Write something the character felt and draw a line to the heart. Find and create as many connections as you can. Be sure to use evidence from the book to support your work. Quote the book with the page number(s) or provide dialogue from the book for each connection made. DioramaCreate a diorama of a scene from the book you read. Include details from the setting and the events that took place in that scene. Also be sure to have the characters present as well. Write a three-paragraph piece, with 3-5 sentences in each paragraph, explaining the scene you choose to create and how it connects to the story of the book you read. Illustrated TimelineCreate a detailed timeline of the events in the novel you read. Your timeline has no limits; you may create a 2-dimentional or 3-dimentional project.Include at least ten events from the book. These events should be in sequential order with the book’s events and include a detailed written description to explain each incident. At least one, 3-5 sentence, paragraph for each event. Each event should be labeled with a timestamp such as a date, number or time from the story to help the reader understand the sequence of events. Each event needs a picture, drawing, or clipping to accompany it. ScrapbookChoose one of the main characters from the novel you read and, as that character, create a scrapbook based on events and special memories from the book.Create a book to look like a scrapbook. Construction paper or a real scrapbook work well. Be sure to put the title and author of your book on the cover as well as the character’s name that you chose.From the character’s point of view, draw, create, collect, or craft objects to make at least six pages. The objects should reflect the setting, individuals important to the character you chose, and major events from the novel you read. Examples of objects: Pictures of friends, family, teachers, or classmates posing like characters from the book in places that could resemble the setting. Pictures should reveal an event from the novel.Letters, postcards, images or objects mentioned in the book.Include at least one, 3-5 sentence, paragraph on each page from your character’s point of view. The explanation should describe the objects on the page and how they relate to the story’s plot. Travel BrochureResearch travel brochures. Notice the design, layout, images used as well as the text placement.Design a travel brochure for the major setting or settings in the novel that you read. Clearly tie the destination of the brochure to your book.Illustrate and advertise the setting(s) of your novel. Include how the setting relates to the major events of the story in your advertisements. Use words and pictures to convince your readers that this setting is an exciting and enjoyable place to visit. The brochure must include facts from the book about the destination, reasons for visiting, possible attractions, events, or sights to see. You must include text and graphics. Game Find one of your favorite games. Read the rules and study what components make up the games. Does the game have a board? Game pieces? Cards? Dice? A spinner?Now design a game based on the book you read that can be played. This game may resemble one of your favorite games, however, the components of the game must all be original. The game must be a two or more player game.The way you choose to represent the following requirements are your choice, however, each requirement needs to be met in some way. Some ideas may include playing cards, on the board itself, on squares that a player lands on, or on bonus cards.Questions: The game needs to include a set of at least ten comprehension or discussion questions that can be answered by reading the book. Your questions should require deep thinking and interpretation of the book.Vocabulary – Choose ten words that are unfamiliar or important to the book’s story. Provide a short definition for each word. Artifacts – Provide five items that depict the story in some way. These items may be actual items or student created. These could be the games pieces, objects created on the board or playing cards (just a few ideas). Puppet Show Create a small theatre. Decorate the theatre to resemble a real theatre or with details from the book you read. Name your theatre and put it on the box. Large cardboard boxes work well for this project.Choose at least five major events from the book and tell the story of the novel your read in a shortened version. Create scenes for these events; be sure to include detailed settings from the book. Be sure to think about how to change the scene while presenting. Design main characters from the book’s story. Socks or paper cut outs on popsicle sticks work well. Be sure to use evidence from the book to create detailed characters. Write a script for your show. The show should tell the story of the novel you read! The script may include dialogue between characters as well as parts where the narrator explains background information. Mosaic Choose a major event from the novel you read, include the story’s setting and the main characters. Using small tiles or pieces of colored glass create the scene you chose.This project maybe completed at a studio or with materials from a craft or home improvement store. Or even with materials from home.Write a three-paragraph piece, with 3-5 sentences in each paragraph, explaining what you choose to create and how it connects to the story of the book you read. Restaurant MenuDesign a restaurant menu based on the events, characters and settings of your book. Be sure to have a cover and layout similar to what you might find at a restaurant. Your menu needs to have at least 8 dishes to choose from. These dishes can be appetizers, drinks, main dishes, or desserts. Be sure to include sensory language and vivid detail in your descriptions. Choose a type of food your restaurant will serve based on the setting of your novel. Then create a name for your restaurant. The restaurant name should relate to the book you read as well as the type of cuisine you are serving. Choose three main events and create a dish name and a 2-5 sentence description that relates to each event as well as the food. These should be three different menu options.Choose 3-5 characters from the book and create a food dish for that character. Write a 2-5 sentence description of the dish and give it a name. The dish name could be the character’s name. Each character should have their own dish. Choose 2-4 settings from the book and create a dish based on that setting. Name the dish and provide a 2-5 sentence description of the menu option. ................
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