I mean, do you really want to read 30125 recaps of the same book. In a book report, a student should mention the specific reasons for choosing the particular book in case a teacher does not assign a topic. Creative alternatives to book reports lexia learning. What you actually need is alternatives to book reports. Have students create a book jacket both inside and outside that reflects the ideas that they think are most important for the book. Oct 26, 2010 make a collage representing some event or part of your book. Fun, easy, creative ways for kids to make a book report. Read a book, write a summary, decorate a bag with a scene from the book, place five items in the bag that represent something from the book, bring it to school, and present it to the rest of us. This is a perfect alternative to normal book reports.
Book in a bag project a great alternative to a book. When you have a child who hates to write, short book reports can be just as daunting as a fullfledged research paper. So, when the powersthatbe requested that our students write book reports, i just had to jump in or rather, i was volunteered. Ten great creative book report ideas minds in bloom. Aug 02, 2007 50 alternatives to a book report i just read a great article from nctes english journal it is a pricey subscription but well worth every penny when i can cough up the money for it again. Here are 22 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful. After reading the book, they use an interactive tool to create a new cover for it. You must include ten multiple choice questions, ten truefalse questions, and ten short answer essay questions. Students select a book to read based only on its cover art. Teachertested ideas to help kids respond to their reading with enthusiasm.
In this case, the article you are reading will help you with book reports alternatives. Book reports are a valuable tool for assessing students understanding of independent reading, but writing report after report can become rote for studentsand reading them can be equally tedious for educators. Hooking a reader with a book cover students select a book to read based only on its cover art. Oct 21, 2017 not everyone loves book reports as much as i do, so i created this list of book report alternatives to help homeschooling moms and classroom teachers alike come up with their own ideas for alternatives to the written book report. Describe one major external conflict and one major internal conflict found in this book. On the mayonnaise, the student described the books setting. Turn them into creative projects complete with artwork, technology applications, acting or writing with a creative twist. Promoting frequent and enthusiastic reading, offers creative alternatives to my letters and journals.
Having a student do a fun alternative to the typical book report would make the. Even book reports based primarily on writing dont have to follow the traditional format. The download includes a set of pages with colorful borders and a duplicate black and white set for u. Now that you got a little baby fix, back to book projects. These will work for almost any book and are especially good when students are reading independent book selections. Mention the words book report, and chances are, youll see eyes roll. Choose a character from the book and create sentences for each. The visual impact of the collage should tell a potential reader a lot about the book. In the mean time i signed up for nctes weekly newsletter via email. Take the information presented into consideration, and you are sure to make the right alternative to your book report. There are ways to finish your project that will show your enthusiasm and make your teacher sit up and take notice. Alternative book reports ideas, biostatistics homework, essays on movie rudy, essay topics on the book of job. Better than book reports teachers will find creative alternatives to the traditional book report that tap into student interests and creative writing in ban the book report.
It is a good idea to mention how in the world you got the book. An alternative to book reports featured, reading sunday, july 16, 2017 for many of us, just hearing the words book report gives us a flashback to tedious reports that we were tasked with completing when we were in school. Creative activities for any book plus a powerpoint on how to craft a book report. Mar 30, 2015 by janna dougherty book reports have been a staple in american english classes for decades. For example, ask students to write a letter to the author, expressing appreciation for the story or asking questions. Environmental agency, humane society for protection of animals, and so on. Sometimes a fun book project is not enough, especially for those reluctant readers. Students use them to prove their ability to think critically, read deeply, and express their ideas in an eloquent manner. Students identify a theme or topic of the book, then use that as the basis for a letter to the editor at a local newspaper. If students read a book has already been made into a movie, they can write a comparison between. The following ideas will rev up your students enthusiasm for reading while creating opportunities for them to practice reading comprehension strategies and build language arts skills. Fortunately, there are a plethora of alternative methods to accomplish the same goal. Instead of book reports alternative ideas these are the choices for your book projects.
Youll find a variety of ideas ranging from essaybased projects to artistic projects to technology. The rise of the alternative book club walking book clubs, knitting book clubs. Although i do not assign the traditional book reports i was required to produce in own reading past, i am always looking for more reading response options. The student shared the books climax on the swiss cheese. Take a look at these nine ideas ways to light your creative spark and burn through that project in no time. The rise of the alternative book club life and style. Book reports need not be boring retellings of stories. Powerpoints every powerpoint slide includes alternative book reports ideas 100150 words of speaker notes. Perhaps, it was a book your parents used to read you when you were just a small kid. See more ideas about teaching reading, 4th grade reading and reading workshop. The download includes a set of pages with colorful borders and a duplicate black and white set for use with saving on printer ink. Fun any book report activity ideas book report alternatives. End of any book activity packet is a series of eleven after the book activities to help the student summarize and share the book with others.
Book in a boxin this book responseactivity, studentsdecorate a box torepresent the book and fillit with objects thatsymbolize differentaspects of the story. Book report alternatives for kids who hate to write well. Alternative book reports ideas popular admission paper ghostwriter for hire online sample resume for entry level software tester. In my last post i described 10 ways to cultivate a love of reading in kids. Draw and color the book cover, and place the book award ribbon on the cover. Make your reading project sizzle with these hot ideas. Book report ideas 20 ways of looking at the book these activities address multiple intelligences and a range of student ability levels. A few years ago, i started using cereal box book reports as an ela project. Replace boring book reports with projects kids love teachhub.
Many of us have kids who dont like to write or cant write. Book report alternatives for middle school education. For more ideas talk to your teacher, or search on alternative ideas for book reports in your internet search engine. Education world presents 25 ideas for you to use or adapt. And most importantly, they really dont measure the comprehension of a text or confirm that they have even read the text. There are so many super creative, openended projects you can use mint tins for. Nip that collective groan in the bud by offering your students fun alternativeschoices that allow them to connect to a book in ways that are me. Write a diary or journal from the main characters point of view. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book reports and using them. Fresh ideas for creative book reports education world. She has a very mild manner but still has her nights and days mixed up. Book report alternatives for kids who hate to write. Help your students make the books they read come alive with these 22 creative book report ideas and. Students could design a tattoo for a character and then write an essay explaining or justifying their choices.
Spice up those old book reports with some new, creative ideas. Choose any topic from your book and write a 12 page research report on it. However, you do not have any idea of what book to choose to consider in your report. The ones that came with our reading program were terrible so i set out over the summer to create some exciting and fun alternative book projects. Choose a character from the book and create sentences for each letter of the alphabet. Ten alternative book report ideas classroom tested resources. Do your students grumble every time you mention the words book reports. Students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. Ive put together a list of 10 book report projects that kids love. Students make bookmarks on computers and share their ideas with other. Cereal box book reports are fun and unique for students in grades and middle school creative book report ideas for teachers needing book report templa. Of course this list is not complete, its only a small sampling of what you can do instead of a book report. Before that, i want to share my newest little love, tessa. Students could choose to use audio only or take it a step further through the use of video, props, and costumes.
Students write a scouting report for fiction or nonfiction. Creative activities for any bookplus a powerpoint on how to craft a book report. Describe a minor characterperson in the book who had major importance. That reading project can be a real drag on your timebut dont despair. Take a look at these fun and effective alternatives to book reports and get your students and. Fifty alternatives to the book report readwritethink. Looking for some more fun and creative book report ideas. Not everyone loves book reports as much as i do, so i created this list of book report alternatives to help homeschooling moms and classroom teachers alike come up with their own ideas for alternatives to the written book report. Make the process of writing a book report easy as abc.
I have never been a fan of the book report, the traditional listing of characters, settings, and plots. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas ncte. Take a look at these fun and effective alternatives to book reports and get your students and yourself out of the report rut. On the back of the book cover, explain why you are giving the award to the book. Free blogging sites like blogger and wordpress also support podcasting. Keep in mind that a book jacket has not only cover art, but also has a summary of the book located on the inside of the jacket, or on the back, or both. A quick web search will reveal that there are many ideas out there for creative book reports, but they are not all good ideas. There are many, many great ways for students to respond to literature. However, many educators argue that theyre no longer relevant in the modern classroom. Book in a bag project a great alternative to a book report. Characters who setting where, when plot how, what happened, why, problem, resolution and conclusion. Blogger elena aguilar shares some creative ideas to make book reports more fun and meaningful for all types of learners and teachers. I dont think they are an effective way for a student to demonstrate understanding of a book and i dont think they help students enjoy or appreciate reading. Theres even a free template for cards that fit inside.
Book report alternatives home school ideas to create the. Traditional book reports should be a thing of the past. Make a collage representing some event or part of your book. Each project includes visual cues for you to present your powerpoint with ease.
Write a series of questions and answers from the protagonist or antagonist. Its nicole from learning lab here to talk about some alternative book projects your students can complete after reading novels and other books. This can be done in a physical format or through blog. Three years ago education world celebrated childrens book week by publishing better book reports 25 ideas since that time, those book report ideas have logged tens of thousands of hits. On the bottom piece of bread, the student drew a favorite scene from the story. I want to expand on that theme by suggesting 10 alternatives to the book report. My students loved making them, i noticed a big difference in their engagement in the book report process and they were so excited to share their final project. More ideas than youll ever use for book reports literature responses and alternative book reports 25 book report alternatives. If you have other ideas please share them with me in the comments. Use these twentyfive ideas to shake up your bookrelated activities. Include a one paragraph explanation as to how it applies to your book not in the paper itselfon your title page.
Surely theres a better way to have students relate to the books they read. Work to get fifty such words, phrases, or sentences so the whole sheet of paper will be covered. See more ideas about teaching reading, teaching and reading projects. Well, guess what, your students dont want to write them either. Making movies based on popular books is a hollywood staple. Alternative book report ideas esl worksheet by friedfam.
The last twenty ideas are written from the readers perspective or assume a role that is not a character from the book. Create a diary as if you were one of the characters from the story. As vokoun describes, the alternative to a traditional book report allows students to create something unique and show their understanding of what they read. As you look, think in terms of the theme, setting, plot line, as well as characters. Alternative book reports for the 21st century whooos. Write a poem that explains the book and what you loved about it. So, in recognition of childrens book week 2002, we are pleased to introduce the sequel to that popular article. Nov 16, 2015 now that you got a little baby fix, back to book projects. Create a picture book version of the story that would appeal to younger students.