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CMS Summer Reading Programs

Descriptions of programs from prior years

2016: Concord Castaways!

These are the requirements for summer reading:

           1.  Select ONE of the books from ASSIGNMENT #1 - follow the instructions  

        2.  Read TWO books of your choice - choose a task for one of them as instructed in ASSIGNMENT #2   

                     * Completion of the summer reading assignments will be part of your English grade for Term 1  


Our Summer Reading Program has been designed to incorporate CHOICE and FUN...and it supports our efforts to build a community of reading at Concord Middle School. (Research indicates that summer reading helps mitigate the "summer slide" in students' knowledge and skills. Research also suggests that independent reading is more successful when students have a choice in selecting their books)

Here is the general premise:The books that are read and activities that are completed this summer will lay the groundwork for a school wide "survivor" game that will start when students come back to school in the fall.

Curious?  Watch the trailer...

Assignment #1: 

Select ONE of the following books. After you have read it, Click on the "Ticket for S.S. CMS" and follow the instructions.  Your submission will be your ticket to the CMS Survivor game when you return to school in the fall.

** Bonus Challenge: Read and submit tickets for all 6! Click here for more information **  

 

 
FUZZY MUD by Louis Sachar

Be careful...your next step may be your last. 5th grader Tamaya and 7th grader Marshall have been walking to and from
school together for years. Their routine is disrupted when Chad challenges Marshall to a fight. To avoid the conflict,
Marshall takes a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. Tamaya reluctantly follows. They soon get lost...and
find bigger trouble than anyone could ever have imagined. In the weeks that follow, what they uncover might affect
the future of the world... 

Ticket for S.S. CMS / Fuzzy Mud                                                                                                                                                                                                


LISTEN TO THE MOON by Michael Morpurgo
Told in alternating points of view: Alfie lives off the coast of England. Merry's story starts in New York City,
until she sets sail on the Lusitania. When Alfie and his father find a lost girl on a small island, the girl doesn't
speak, except to say what sounds like "Lucy." Alfie's mom takes the girl into their family, but others in the
village suspect the unthinkable: Lucy is actually German-an enemy-because she's found with a blanket
with a German tag. This is a beautiful tale of friends, enemies, and unexpected kindnesses.

Ticket for S.S. CMS / Listen to the Moon


THE LIGHTNING QUEEN by Laura Resau
11 year old Teo lives in the remote village of Hill of Dust in the 1950's. Nothing exciting ever happens
until one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into
town like a fresh burst of color. When the fortune teller predicts that Teo and Esma will be "friends for life,"
suddenly, Teo's life brims with possibility. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, this book
offers a glimpse into two cultures--the Rom and the Mixtec Indians--while telling the heart-warming story
of an unlikely friendship.

Ticket for S.S. CMS / Lightning Queen


ECHO by Pam Munoz Ryan
Music, magic, and miracles. This is storytelling at its best... The story begins with a boy named Otto...a
harmonica...and a quest. The book is then broken into 3 stories of children facing daunting challenges:  
Friedrich in Germany (rescuing his father); Mike in Pennsylvania (protecting his brother); and Ivy in California
(holding her family together). The harmonica and music are the threads that meld their destinies.
Ultimately their individual stories converge.  Threading their stories together, Pam Munoz Ryan crafts a s
pell-binding tale that celebrates music, family, and the power of storytelling.  (This audiobook is fantastic,
weaving the music of the harmonica and piano into the tale)

Ticket for S.S. CMS / Echo

THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer
A modern classic. Matteo Alacrán was not born; he was a clone, created from DNA that came from El Patrón,
lord of a country called Opium;a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once
called Mexico. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster; except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves
Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself. As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is t
hreatened by a sinister cast of characters. Escape is the only chance Matt has to survive - but that's not easy...
This is a forerunner of the dystopic genre craze.

Ticket for S.S. CMS / House of the Scorpion

THE SEVENTH MOST IMPORTANT THING by Shelley Pearsall

One kid. One crime. One chance to make things right. When Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled
it at the trash picker, he never dreamed he would end up serving 120 hours of community service...with
the Junk Man himself.  Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things:
glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can't believe it--is he
really supposed to rummage through people's trash? Soon Arthur realizes there's more to the Junk Man
than meets the eye...This is a story of anger and art, loss and redemption.  

Ticket for S.S. CMS / Seventh Most Important Thing

Questions?  Contact Ms. Stockwood at estockwood@concordps.org

Congratulations! You have completed Assignment #1, and are now part of Concord Castaways.

Instructions for Assignment #2:

   1.  Read at least two additional books (after you read one of the "Big 6" books from Assignment #1)
         - You are free to choose whatever books you like for this assignment
            - You can, of course, read more than two!
            - Need Suggestions? Click on recommendations for ideas 

   2.  Complete at least one task from the list in the box below
            - This task should be completed for one of your free choice books

   3.  Submit your project(s) online
         - Links are provided with task descriptions in box below
           - OR bring it to school in September and turn it in at the library

    4.  Submit your two book titles HERE

   OPTIONAL: You can complete additional tasks for other books that you read this summer (including the book from assignment #1), if you would like to earn more points - but please use a different book for each task - do not complete more than one task per book.

*** Accumulate MORE POINTS...Read more books...complete additional tasks to stockpile points ***

TASKS TO EARN POINTS

Book Trailer (10 pts.) - Create a book trailer using iMovie.  
LINK TO SUBMIT        LINK TO INSTRUCTIONS (Movie Maker)       LINK TO INSTRUCTIONS(iMovie)
 

Podcast (10 pts.) - Make a podcast describing your book, impressions, reactions, etc. 
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
Comic Strip/Graphic Novel (5 pts.) - Make a comic strip or graphic novel version of your book. 
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
Rap, Song or Parody (5 pts.) - Write a rap or song that relates to your book. Record it for 10 more points!   
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
Piece of Artwork (5 pts.) - Create artwork inspired by your book: poster, sculpture, diorama, etc.    
LINK TO SUBMIT (PHOTO OF ARTWORK)
 
Timeline (3 pts.) - Make a timeline tracking the events in your book.      
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
Listen to an author interview, e.g. Louis Sachar on his website (3 pts.) - Write about your impressions.
LINK TO SUBMIT
 

Write an insightful review of your book (3 Pts.)
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
  Booktalk - Create a presentation for a booktalk about your book (3 Pts.)
LINK TO SUBMIT
 

Game - Create a game based on your book! (3 Pts.)
LINK TO SUBMIT
 
OR

Have another idea? Submit it here and we will figure out the point value in September!
LINK TO SUBMIT

Movie Poster - Create a poster promoting your book (if it were to be made into a blockbuster movie) (3 pts.)
LINK TO SUBMIT
 

 

Questions?  Contact Ms. Stockwood:  estockwood@concordps.org
   

Summer Reading is all about accumulating points for CONCORD CASTAWAYS

 The points you earn during the summer will become part of your homeroom total.
The more points your tribe has at the start of the game in September, the better...

In September, homeroom teams (tribes) will combine all summer reading
points to use in playing the game.  Each tribe will work together to:
          - figure out how to use points for items to survive
- tackle weekly challenges                           
             - And...ultimately decide how to escape the island!   

How can you earn points?
  1. Look at the Task List for Assignment #2. There are points associated with each activity/task. You are required to submit at least one task for Assignment #2 ~ the task you choose will determine the points you earn.
     
  2. You may submit a task for every book you read this summer ~ including the book you read for Assignment #1 [but only one task per book, please]. You will accumulate points for the tasks you choose to submit.
     
  3. BONUS CHALLENGE (45 points): Read and submit tickets for all six books from Assignment #1
Questions? Contact Ms. Stockwood at estockwood@concordps.org