Check Out The New Spring Arrivals Joining Our Library Collection

Realistic Fiction:
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K. Jones
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Undercover by Beth Kephart
Zen and the Art of Faking it by Jordan Sonnenblick
Leap Day by Wendy Mass
I Conquer Britain by Dyan Sheldon
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
Right Behind You by Gail Giles

Historical Fiction:
Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Singing Hands by Delia Ray
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
Runner by Robert Newton

Multicultural:
Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac
Quicksand Pony by Alison Lester
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Zia by Scott O’Dell
Camel Rider by Prue Mason

Science Fiction:
Dark Ground #3: The Nightmare Game by Gillian Cross
The Secret Under My Skin by Janet Mcnaughton
Epic by Conor Kostick

Fantasy:
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel

Horror:
Eighth Grade Bites (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 1) by Heather Brewer

Humanities Project- Children's Book

Over the next few weeks, 8th grade Social Studies students will work with a partner to create a children's book that incorporates a topic from American History. This will be a combined English/History project and it is expected that students will include thematic aspects from each discipline in the creation of their story.

Requirements:

1. The book must have an original story that is written from an audience between the ages of nine and sixteen (4th-10th grade). The students need to select an age group and write for it. A book for a fifth grader will have language and visuals that are different from a book for a tenth grader.

2. The book should include illustrations to enhance the story. These may be drawn or cut out (magzines, clip art, etc.)

3. The book should have a cover that includes the story title, author's name(s) and an illustration.

4. The story should be creative and based on an original idea. It also needs to incoporate a theme or topic from American History. Possible suggestions include:

• American culture and holidays


• Immigration


• Civil Rights Movement


• Heroes from American History


• Key Eras (Progressive Era, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression, etc.)
  

5. The book must reflect Literary Elements as dicussed in English Class (i.e. plot structure, descriptive language, characterization/setting, proper dialogue format).

6. Students will receive a grade for their English class as well as your history class for this assignment.

Note: 1. The story should be 10-12 pages long. 2. Once a topic is selected, it will need to be approved. 3. Time will be set aside in both English and History classes to work on the assignment.

Also, it is a good idea to create a rough draft before you move on to a finished product.

Library Information Resources for this Project:

• VRC (Virtual Reference Collection) is available. (The Teaching Books link has examples of children's book creation by various authors.

In addition students can utilize various encyclopedias and magazines/newspapers for historical information.)

• Work Citation format sheets are available at the circulation desk if needed.


• Noodle Tool accounts can be utilized. See Ms. Hatcher for assistance.


• Various information on American History can be found in 900's section of the library book shelves.