Teacher Library Connection
A COLLECTION OF ONLINE RESOURCES
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Thompson Brook Summer Reading Project
A WebQuest for incoming 5th Grade
Nutmeg Nominees 2007
Designed by Karen Bolch April 2006
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page
Student Page
Top Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page Credits
Introduction
This summer we want you to enjoy the latest nutmeg selections for 2007. These books are voted on by the students of Connecticut next January. You will select a book and do a summer project to be evaluated by your new teacher. Enjoy !
The Task
Read one of the 4th-6th grade nutmegs (your choice), then create a folder/poster which should include a summary, review, artwork, author information, etc. All the details and resources required will be provided below. Some computer work as well as some creative thinking will be required. Your homeroom teacher will collect your project on the second day of school. This project has been designed to keep your mind working over the summer. Remember, this work must be done completely on your own. Have Fun !
The Process
- The first step is to select one of the ten nutmegs to read (feel free to read more, they are all good choices!) Under resources we have provided the covers and a book description to help you make a decision. Multiple copies are available at the Avon Public Library as well as any bookstore.
- Read your book (and enjoy it )
- Write a one half page typed summary and make sure to include:
the setting – time and place
main characters
summary of events
- Write a book review telling what you liked and/or did not like about the book and why.
- Go to www.amazon.com and locate your book. Read the reviews. Do you agree with the professional review. Why or why not. Write up a short answer to this question.
- Go to the resource section of below and visit your author’s website. Take notes and then write some interesting information about your author. Things to include might be:
a brief biography or summary of their lives
how old are they (or no longer living)
where they live
what inspires them to write
how did they become an author
what types of books do they write, is there a consistent theme or genre
is there a picture of your author
have they written any other books ?
have they won any other major awards
any other interesting facts, hobbies, interests
**cutting and pasting the website information is unacceptable, take your own notes and write in your own words. Only a photo may be directly taken.
*Some websites offer more than others. If you would like to explore your author further, go to Google and type your author’s full name in quotation marks, then type the word author (“Jerry Spinelli”, author ) in the search field to get an official site or perhaps an interview they may have in addition to the links provided.
- If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
- Finally, you create a letter size file folder (plain or colored) using your information, complete with your own artwork and decoration. You should fill at least three sides of the folder. Two pages will contain book information, and at least one, author information.
Your final project might look like this:
Resources
Below are the individual nutmeg books for your review. The Author’s names are links to their websites.
 half and half |
Fiona Cheng knows who she is, but her mixed heritage (Chinese and Scottish) can never be explained with just one word. Supported by her family, she demonstrates that her two halves add up to a perfect whole. |
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Mix a little bit of wisdom, a ton of love, and a pinch of friendship. That’s how Granny Torrelli and twelve-year-old Rosie cook a delicious soup that proves life tastes good. |
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Can an average boy, an ornery old baseball star, and one last game save Tom’s small, California town from destruction by a developer? |
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Darryl, video game whiz, is drawn into a high-tech program where kids compete to be the best video gamers. However, Darryl discovers the ultimate prize may be winning his survival and that of his friends. |
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Quila receives an unexpected surprise when the sea washes a baby up on the shore outside her family’s Maine lighthouse. |
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One of the best lacrosse players on his Iroquois reservation team, Jake is conflicted when his mother relocates him to a boarding school. Jake is praised for his athletic abilities, but feels like an outcast until he resolves a school crisis with a special game of lacrosse. |
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Naomi and her brother are being raised by their great-grandmother in a trailer park. When her mother reappears after a seven year absence, Naomi struggles to keep her family together and discover her Mexican heritage. |
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While sailing in the Pacific Ocean, eleven–year-old Michael falls overboard and ends up stranded on a nearly deserted island. He is befriended by an old Japanese man, the island’s other inhabitant, in this exciting tale of friendship and survival. |
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Harsh weather brings an orphan boy, Tom, and a stranded dog, Thunder, together on the island of Newfoundland. They struggle to find a family despite a blizzard, a tidal wave, and worst of all, Thunder’s former owner. |
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Living in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression, Mike investigates the cause of the sickness that is affecting so many in his community, including his own grandfather. To learn the truth he must enlist the help of the neighborhood bully who nicknames Mike “Macaroni Boy.” |
Evaluation
The rubric table shows you how your teachers will weigh each component of your project to determine a final grade. Points are given in each category from developing understanding to exemplary. Then the total points are added up and your grade determined. The teachers are aware of the availability of information on each author and will take that into consideration.
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Developing |
Accomplished |
Exemplary |
Score |
Summary |
The summary states the main topic, but does not adequately preview the structure of the book, nor is it particularly inviting to the reader |
The summary clearly states the main topic and previews the structure of the book, but is not particularly inviting to the reader. |
The summary is inviting, states the main topic very well and previews the structure of the book. |
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Information |
Some aspects of the author are addressed and some questions answered. |
Most aspects of the author are addressed and most questions answered thoroughly. |
All aspects of the author are addressed and all questions answered thoroughly. |
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Organization |
Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well constructed. Sometimes relationships between topics and subtopics are unclear |
Information is organized with well constructed paragraphs. Clear logical relationships between most topics and subtopics |
Information is very well organized with well constructed paragraphs. Clear, logical relationships between all topics and subtopics. |
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Mechanics |
Many grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors |
Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors |
No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. |
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Required |
Several required elements were missing from the project. |
All required elements are included in the projects |
The project includes all required elements as well as additional information |
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Creativity |
Barely meets the requirements with little sign of interest or original artwork. |
Meets the requirements of the assignment nicely and includes original artwork. |
Clearly goes beyond the basic requirements of the assignment. Nice individual touches. |
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Teacher's Page click here to go to teacher information regarding assignment
Range:
- 12-23 needs improvement
- 24-35 good job
- 36-48 superior work
Conclusion
This project will keep your ability to summarize and take notes up to snuff. The Nutmeg books will be discussed in class and favorites voted on in January 2007. Connecticut students determine the winner, so try to read as many as you can and make an educated vote. Your vote counts ! There are ten to choose from, you can read them all and participate in the book talks at the library.
If you are interested in finding out about other authors, please use the resources below.
Literature/Author Resources:
·Author Yellow pages where authors post links to sites about themselves http://authoryellowpages.com/
·AuthorChats.com features Live Chats with Authors of Children http://www.authorchats.com/
·African Children’s Literature http://www.web.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/africana/children.htm
·Book Talks Quick and Simple http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/
·Children’s Literature Website www.acs.ucalgary.ca/dkbrown
·Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site www.carolhurst.com
·Nutmeg awards www.nutmegaward.org
Internet Library Author Index http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/biochildhome
Children's Book Council Author's Resource www.cbcbooks.org/contacts
Author’s Corner www.carr.org/authorco/index.htm
Educational Paperback Assoc. www.edupaperback.org
Scholastic Author Zone www.scholastic.com.uk/zone/authors_home.htm
Credits
This project was created for a Southern Connecticut State University Project for EDU 566 Spring 2006 course by Karen Bolch. Many thanks to the Thompson Brook 5th grade teachers and librarian for their input.
Credit and thanks is given to the Webquest page by Bernie Dodge. Permission is granted for other educators to copy this webquest, update or otherwise modify it and post elsewhere provided the original author’s name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this webquest.