OUTSIDE READING GUIDELINES

The DSL Team Outside Reading Program will consist of two components: 1.) Quarterly Genre Choice 2.) Free Choice Reading
1.) Quarterly Genre Choice
Each quarter you will choose one genre book per quarter (see table below). You are required to write a short summary for this book with a recommendation included.
2.) Free Choice
You can choose any book(s) for this part of the assignment. You will report on ONE Free Choice book by choosing ONE activity from the attached list. You can only use each activity ONCE. Quarter Due Dates Genre
First October 21 autobiography/biography
Second January 13 fantasy/science fiction
Third March 31 historical fiction
Fourth June 2 mythology/folklore
On the above due dates, you will turn in the following:
? Reading Log with all quarterly Outside Reading listed
? Genre book summary
? Free Choice activity
GRADES
Outside reading will be collected and graded at the end of each quarter. You should be aiming at an approximate total of pages: 150, 300 OR 600 per quarter. The number of pages read should not become an unwanted burden, but should pose a challenge!
* Outside Reading is meant to encourage a healthy habit of reading.

Reading Log
# of
Dates Title Author pages Rating

My page # goal __________ Total # of pages read __________
Free Choice Reading
Activity List
Directions: Choose one of the following activities for ONE of your Free Choice books. You may only use each activity once! Please use the title below for your chosen activity.
1. Character Time Capsule: What 5 important things would the main character in your book place in a time capsule? Discuss each of the 5 items and why this character would see them as important.
2. Character Collage: Draw a large profile of the main character in your book. Fill the profile with words and pictures from magazines to create a collage about this character.
3. Write a Letter: Write a letter to a friend or parent about the book you’ve just read and the ideas in it. Try to write a reflective, thoughtful letter, not just a summary. Ask the friend or parent to write you back and include the response with your letter when you turn it in.
4. Problems, Problems: Select one problem from the book. Explain the problem and give all the facts relating to it. Discuss how the problem was solved in the book. Also explain how YOU might have solved this problem.
5. Events Timeline: Make a pull-out timeline that shows important events in the story. Be sure to include some sort of “dates”.
6. News Report: Select an appropriate scene from the book that might appear in a newspaper of the time. Write a story. If possible, include an interview with the characters involved.
7. Word Bank: Is this a book that is rich in new vocabulary words? If so, keep a list of sentences (or parts of sentences) with new words. Leave space to write a simple dictionary meaning.
8. Dear Diary: Pretend that you are one of the main characters in the book. Write several diary entries at a critical time in the story, showing over a certain period of time something happening.
9. Pet Point of View: Choose an animal from your book. Imagine that you are this animal. Describe how it feels to be this animal. Include advantages and disadvantages. Do not choose this activity if the book is already written from an animal’s point of view!
10. T-Shirt Design: Sketch 2 large outlines of a T-shirt – now you have both the front and the back of a T-shirt. Design a shirt that reflects the book you’ve read – make sure you color it! Include a description of the design.