Now that trimester 3 has offcially started, students are working on a new book project with the science fiction or fantasy book they have chosen. Today in class I checked in with them to see how they're doing with their reading and notes for the project. Students are expected to take their book to class everyday. The handout they received includes a planning sheet to jot down information about the story elements and to plan ahead the objects they will put in ther book bags. I encourage them to be creative with the objects and think of the symbolism behind the ones they have chosen.
Due Date: Mon., 3/19
*A copy the handout is available online in ParentConnect gradebook.
Below check out the example that I created using the classroom novel Maniac Magee.
1) Setting - Do Not Cross sign
This story takes place in the town of Two Mills, Pennsylvania during the present time. The characters live in the East and West end. Hector Street is the line the divided these two areas, and the blacks and whites stay separate and do not cross it.
2) Main Character - stop watch & library card
Jeffrey “Maniac” Magee is an eleven year old orphan. Having and education is important to him. Even though he does not go to school, he borrows books from Amanda to read, goes to the library to learn, and teaches Grayson to read. Throughout the story he also flaunts his athletic ability to run.
3) Plot - Beginning-encyclopedia A book, Middle-baseball, End-birthday candle
After his parents’ death and dealing with the misery of living with his aunt and uncle, Jeffrey runs away. He uses his resourcefulness to survive on his own. Along the way, he forms unlikely friendships with Amanda Beale, a girl from the East End, Grayson, a lonely, geezer, and the McNab brothers, a bunch of mischievous kids.
4) Conflicts
Internal - picture of a broken heart with a home in the center
Jeffrey’s struggle is not having a true place to call his home. Having an address and a loving home is very important to him. He would not go to school unless he had one.
External- Snickers candy bar
A person that Jeffrey clashes with is Mars Bar. When they first meet, Mars Bar is suspicious of the white kid in the East End. As a test, Mars Bar asks Jeffrey to take a bite from his candy bar. This begins the heated rivalry towards Jeffrey.
5) Resolution - an envelope with Jeffrey's new address on it
In the end, Amanda Beale, a friend he makes from the East End, asks Jeffrey to live with her family. When Jeffrey lived with them in the beginning of the story, they welcomed him and treated him like he was a member of their family. This is what Jeffrey had been looking for all along.
