Title – Scrapbook Project for Novels

By – Michele Landrum

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 9 – 12

Introduction:

Here is a scrapbook project that I had my tenth grade students do after reading a novel. It can be adapted and used for any book but should be used with books that have many characters. My students really loved doing it, even the boys! I assigned it as an independent project to do at home after they read the book. I gave them three weeks to complete it and guided them with their pacing plans. Here are the instructions and grading rubric.

Format:

• Your scrapbook can be in a traditional scrapbook style or in a folder or binder filled with 8 ½ x 11 paper. You may use colored paper if you wish. In general, scrapbooks are decorative and contain many illustrations. Pictures may be images from the computer, newspapers, magazines, or they may be hand drawn illustrations. If they are hand drawn, please do them yourself. Your name and period should be on the outside of the scrapbook.

• Your scrapbook will be divided into five sections:

  1. Characters – This section will contain pictures and character descriptions of each of the Garcia girls and their parents. If you would like to include other characters, please feel free to do so.

  2. Setting – Identify the major settings of the story and have a visual depiction of each setting. Describe each
     setting and list a minimum of three important events that occurred in that setting.

  3. Letter –A letter from one character to another – Your letter must be at least one page long and can be either hand written or typed. It must be in letter format and include a date relevant to the novel, salutation, body, and closing. Also, include an envelope with addresses indicating where the letter is coming from and where it is going. The letter must be based on the novel and be written from and addressed to characters from the novel. The topic of the letter might be an issue of importance from the story or it might describe and explain an incident from the story. Be sure to explain the character’s feelings about the issue or incident and make it clear how the issue or incident impacted the character’s life.

  4. Journal Entry – Choose a character from the story that you really identify with or would want to have as a friend. Write at least one page explaining why you chose your character. Give specific character traits and actions found in the book that led you to your decision. If you were friends in real life, what kinds of things would you do together? List three activities.

  5. Newspaper clipping – Identify one of the major events of the story that would make a good newspaper article. Write a newspaper story relating what happened during this event. Remember that most journalists ask themselves “information questions” with words like WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW. Include at least one illustration of the event. The article should be complete and thorough and written in paragraphs.
     

• Things to keep in mind:

  • The captions in the scrapbook should be clear and descriptive.
    
  • All items in the scrapbook should be relevant to the story.
    
  • The scrapbook should indicate a full understanding of the novel.
    
  • The scrapbook should demonstrate creativity, be well presented and inviting.
    
  • The scrapbook should be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Punctuation should be applied correctly.
    
  • The scrapbook should be free of offensive language and inappropriate pictures or ideas.
    

Grading rubric:

Settings:

• Identifies the two main settings and has a visual depiction of each setting.
• Lists at least 3 important events that occurred in each setting.