Book+Reports+that+Serve+the+Community

Literacy Projects that Serve your Local Community FOR INFORMATION ON HOW SERVICE LEARNING BENEFITS EDUCATION IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS, VIEW THE VIDEO AT THIS LINK: []

1. __Write a letter __ to the author of the book you just read. Invite him/her to come visit your class, local library, or local bookstore.  In the letter, include what you liked about the book, as well as the effect the book had on you as a reader.

Persuade the author of the potential benefits of his/her visit.

Prepare a list of questions and comments for the author’s visit; include references to both the book, as well as to the author as a writer and as an individual.

2. __Make a scene grow bigger than life__  After reading, select a dynamic scene, colorful setting, or appealing character to illustrate. Design a mural-size depiction of your choice. Then paint the scene onto your school library’s windows to entice others to read the book.

3. __Paper Bag Book Report__  After reading your book, write or type a descriptive summary on a single page. Be sure to include the book’s title, author, and publisher. Then draw or print a picture on another single page.

Make ten copies of each.

Get ten paper bags from the local grocery store, and glue the summary to one side and the picture to the other.

Return the bags to the store so that they can be used to bag groceries, thereby promoting reading in your community.

4. __Big Kid – Little Kid__  Teachers will pair a middle school student with an elementary student (sixth grade – first grade is a good pairing).

Over a series of visits, the older student will read a grade-level book to the younger student, and then help him prepare a book report. The older student will have to write what the younger student dictates. The book report should include a summary of the story, the younger student’s reaction to events and characters, and a recommendation for reading or not reading the book with an explanation why. The report can also include pictures.

The big-and-little partners will then present the report together in the elementary school classroom.

5. __Living in the Setting __ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Choose a book, either fiction or nonfiction, that is set in your hometown, city, or state. After reading, create a collection or collage of drawings, photos, maps, postcards, and objects. Write a brief explanation of each image or item to include in the collection.

Several students should do this with several different books about the same setting.

Once completed, contacted your local newspaper, community college, or museum and ask about creating an exhibit for the public.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">6. __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">End of Year Wrap-Up __ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> This activity can be done at the end of a calendar year or at the end of a school year.

Research important events that happened in the past year. Brainstorm these events on a Thinking Map/ Circle Map/ graphic organizer. Create a PowerPoint presentation of the most important events that made the year memorable. Publish the PowerPoint online.

Consider researching events specific to your local community. Post the PowerPoint on a local community blog or local newspaper website.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">7. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">__Connect the past to the present__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Read a book, either fiction or nonfiction, that is set sometime in the past 50 or 60 years.

Create a list of questions you’d like to ask a person who lived during that era.

Visit a local nursing home and speak to a resident who was alive then. Ask the resident about major events during that time, as well as personal questions about his or her life and fondest memories.

Prepare a 5- 10 minute theatrical monologue in which you dress and speak like the resident you interviewed. Act out important scenes from that person’s life.

As a class, perform a show comprised of all the different monologues. Either travel to the nursing home to perform the show there, or else invite the residents to your school to see the show.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">8. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">__Be a Hero__ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Choose a character that you consider to be a hero. Write multiple descriptions of the character’s qualities, words, and deeds that make him or her heroic.

With teacher and parent approval, go into the community and reenact one of your character’s heroic deeds (within reason).

Finally, write a brief description of your actions, the results, and how you felt afterwards.