Creative book reports are especially favorable to students because they are geared toward all learning styles and abilities. To get started, all you have to do is set up your teacher account. The visual impact of the collage should tell a potential reader a lot about the book. Create a threedimensional scene with people, buildings, plants, and animals of one of the book s major events. I want to expand on that theme by suggesting 10 alternatives to the book report. If its fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. Many instructors get creative and might deviate from an essay into skits, sculptures, drawings or music.
If you notice big eye rolls or hear lots of groaning when you mention the words book reports, its probably time to shake up your repertoire of book related activities. Are you tired of the same extension projects for independent novel studies or literature circles. Have you ever tried video book reports, edible book reports, paperless book reports. It is also good for parents to use during the summer to encourage students to respond to the books they are reading. Each book and method of sharing must be approved before beginning a project. Ten great creative book report ideas minds in bloom. Work to get fifty such words, phrases, or sentences so the whole sheet of paper will be covered.
Creative book reports biography posters this post contains affiliate links. Fortunately, there are a plethora of alternative methods to accomplish the same goal. Use the idea of movie posters but make a book poster to advertise and sell the book. Illustrate the cover on the other side, and include the title of the book. Education world presents 25 ideas for you to use or adapt.
As you look, think in terms of the theme, setting, plot line, as well as characters. A quick web search will reveal that there are many ideas out there for creative book reports, but they are not all good ideas. Book reports are a valuable tool for assessing students understanding of independent reading, but writing report after report can become rote for studentsand reading them can be equally tedious for educators. One way to do this is to create a board game based on the book, using the book s characters and story as a way of tying the material to a fun project. This is actually a project we did at the end of last school year. So, when the powersthatbe requested that our students write book reports, i just. How to create a board game book report our pastimes. Teaching students to appreciate literature and analyze it critically is an important part of being a high school teacher. Jane feber makes her debut as an author at long last with this great book of practical and fun activities for veteran and new teachers.
Here are 26 creative, fun, and unique book report ideas. However, book reports can be a great way to engage your students in critical and creative thinking, especially with this little twist. Create a powerpoint presentation with slides for the story elements, as well as a summary and an opinion. Creative book report ideas for all types of manuscripts.
If you notice big eye rolls or hear lots of groaning when you mention the words book reports, any of these 25 alternative book related activities are the perfect remedy. Fifty alternatives to the book report readwritethink. Have students dress up as the main character of their book. But not all kids enjoy filling out book report forms. You could also make this an ongoing project and designate shelf space in the library for blind date books. All books and project ideas must have parent and teacher approval before you start working. After reading the book, they use an interactive tool to create a new cover for it. The book report project is a classic summative assessment to measure students understanding of their assigned reading. See more ideas about book report, reading classroom, school reading. It is easy to videotape events with the smart devices, so this is one of the easiest creative book report ideas. The letter to the author method is the best when you consider the fun book report ideas. Take a look at these inventive examples for inspiration.
Having students create a book project enables them to read the text and respond to it in creative ways. This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom. A theme statement that sums up the main idea of the text. The projects in the professional books listed under project e. You know, when summeritis started to set in yes, even us homeschoolers feel it. For example, students can present their fiction cereal box reports in the form of a commercial, read aloud their picture. Are you looking for creative book report ideas for your middle school or elementary classroom. Sharing and displaying finished projects the creative nature of the projects makes them interesting to share in classroom presentations, visual displays, or both. Fresh ideas for creative book reports education world. They want new ways to think about a piece of literature and new ways to dig into it. Presents book report, however, some elements are missing. There are ways to finish your project that will show your enthusiasm and make your teacher sit up and take notice.
Fun and creative book report ideas for middle school students. Mention the words book report, and chances are, youll see eyes roll. Illustrate a scene or character from the book on a tshirt. Of course, it is possible to write an overview on anything you have read. Once your students have completed their projects, be. These ohsocool reports were always the topranked project by my fifth.
There are many, many great ways for students to respond to literature. While the book report has good intentions and certainly can be a good stepping stone for beginning students, book reports tend only to measure basic thinking skills. You may have to work closely with some groups who are not able to complete a final book project without considerable teacher support. A book report is a project to show that you understand what youve read. Check your students knowledge and unleash their imaginations with creative coding projects. Oct 26, 2010 video tape oral book reports and then have the children take turns taking the video home for all to share.
Choose a concept or an idea and use the internet to further explore it. Nov 12, 2014 lets just jump right in with a book report project my girls had a blast working on colorful and informational biography posters. Each engaging project includes a student handout explaining what to do and a grading rubri. I hope that these display banners help save you time in decorating your classroom bulletin board displays that feature your students book report projects the majority of my book report projects also contain thematic bulletin board accent pieces. Ages 68, ages 912, reading worksheets, teacher templates wendy piersall blank templates, book reports, outlines, printable templates, reading skills, report outline. If your teacher has given the class leeway to write and design a biography book report that goes beyond the typical written pages, create an entertaining glimpse into the life of your historical. I dont think they are an effective way for a student to demonstrate understanding of a book and i dont think they help students enjoy or appreciate reading. How to makeover book reports with creative project based. An activity that never fails to bring the creative side out of your students. Have students create a book jacket both inside and outside that reflects the ideas that they think are most important for the book.
I began to list all the things i could do after reading a book. Spice up those old book reports with some new, creative ideas. There is a lot of opportunity for differentiation and reaching all kinds of learning styles with these activities. If you answered no to any of these questions, then you have found the right place to find unique and engaging book report ideas to use with your students i have been teaching for 22 years, and i love teaching reading and trying to make it engaging and fun for my students the reading response projects that i have created provide students with a unique way for them to respond to the books. Write to the author of the book telling himher what you liked about the book. There are so many super creative, openended projects you can use mint tins for. Unique and cute projects include a cereal box book report, book report lap book, character reports, and more fun ideas. This is a super simple idea that is quite fun for students. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book. A planning sheet attached to the end of this packet will keep you on track for your projects.
Creative activities for any book plus a powerpoint on how to craft a book report. Already have an individual account with creative coding. Students select a book to read based only on its cover art. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas ncte. For even more levels of creativity and customization, students can take advantage of the larger paper and postersized layouts to create incredible book reports. After you have printed out the unique book report templates, the only materials that you will need to have in your classroom to complete these book report projects are scissors, glue, tape, and coloring pencils. Plays, dioramas, maps, etc enable creative students to report what theyve learned via write shop 10 ideas for creative book reports writeshop book report lapbook creative teaching literacy and teacher pay kids will jump for joy at the chance to try these ideas for creative book reports and book related activities. Take a look at these fun and effective alternatives to book reports and get your students and. See more ideas about book report projects, reading fair and fair projects. Beyond the book report a list of 35 ways to respond to reading. Book reports are a great way to encourage student reading. A teachers time is valuable, so all of my book report projects include a 5 page bulletin board display banner. These will work for almost any book and are especially good when students are reading independent book selections.
These book report ideas projects for kids are a cool alternative to the traditional written book report. The project made fun out of what can be a pretty humdrum activity. Keep in mind that a book jacket has not only cover art, but also has a summary of the book located on the inside of the jacket, or on the back, or both. Rewrite the book for a kindergarten or 1st grade audience.
Book report projects for any book distance learning. Mint tin book reports are a perfect project that you can easily incorporate into your instruction. Art provides a creative way to prepare a book report with many variations and options. Fifty alternatives to the book report diana mitchell students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. Write a short summary of the scene and explain why it. With these afterreading book jackets, students will use information about a book they have read, the author, and the illustrator to create a new jacket for their book. Book reports are a great way for kids to recall what theyve read, help with reading comprehension, and improve writing too. There are a couple of distinct types of book reports.
My girls usually enjoy reading biographies, and they love. But, for the sake of this post, im going to concentrate on the writing side. Creative alternatives to book reports lexia learning. Be sure to include a summary or pictures that show the beginning, middle and end along with the characters and settings. Your students will love this nonfiction book report project. Once the ideas start to flow, you will find a large number of creative ways for you to turn the oldfashioned book report into an outstanding and interesting presentation that others actually enjoy viewing.
Choose any topic from your book and write a 12 page research report on it. Since my book reports are large and colorful, and i provide a free display banner for you to use on your bulletin board, it is easy to make a brilliant bulletin board display of your students work. Even better, the bulletin board served as a menu for students who were. Take a look at this post containing a great idea for a reading project for language arts. In my last post i described 10 ways to cultivate a love of reading in kids. Oct 09, 2011 creative book reports is full of kinesthetic activities to use in differentiating instruction in middle school, elementary, and even some high school classrooms. Creative book reports biography posters lets explore. Create dioramas to illustrate key scenes from a story or a story.
Just because youre writing a book project for your middle school class doesnt mean you have to stick to the standard report. Plus, i have a free book report lapbook template for teachers and homeschooling families to download for use with their kiddos. The projects are fun and educational, and students have many project options, from writing a. This archive offers 36 book report ideas that are sure to keep students interested and engaged. The creative nature of the projects makes them interesting to share in classroom presentations, visual displays, or both. Include a one paragraph explanation as to how it applies to your book not in the paper itselfon your title page. Audience has some understanding of what the book is about.
In this case, you may include a live conversation or interaction between them, which may be videotaped. Make your reading project sizzle with these hot ideas. Great for book reports or new creative writing projects. So long as your instructor permits it, a book report can be an opportunity to be creative and interpret the material you studied in an engaging way. Be book report pen pals and share book reports with children in another school. These fun, handson projects will hold your students accountable for their reading and are sure to motivate even the most reluctant reader. Turn them into creative projects complete with artwork, technology applications, acting or writing with a creative twist. See whats streaming, limit strong violence or language, and find picks your kids will love with common sense media plus. Book report ideas 20 ways of looking at the book these activities address multiple intelligences and a range of student ability levels.
Replace boring book reports with projects kids love teachhub. The term book report has developed a lackluster connotation, at best. This nonfiction book report project and rubric is a creative and fun way for students to showcase a nonfiction book they loved. Try these 15 creative book projects to spice up your reading program. Many of the suggestions integrate technology into student presentations. On occasion, you may be able to write a report on a nonfiction book, such as a biography, history book, or a factual book on a subject that interests you. Work with your teacher to find new and creative ways to express your understanding of the story. Annual reports are something of a staple for graphic designers, and theyve gained a bit of a reputation as the kind of project that pays the bills and paves the way for more exciting work. Creative activities for any bookplus a powerpoint on how to craft a book report. Teachertested ideas to help kids respond to their reading with enthusiasm. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book reports and using them. Take a look at these nine ideas ways to light your creative spark and burn through that project in no time. If you like handson projects, interactive notebooks, or creative ways to engage your students in learning, then you may want to give lapbooks a try.
Whether your students are reading independent books or your class has just finished a unit on space or pioneers, a culminating project can really cement that learning. Students explore book covers of a variety of books then create a new cover for a book they have read. There are so many super creative, openended projects you can use mint tins. When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thoughtprovoking, theyre hooked. There is more than one way to complete a book report. Students and teachers alike will love this book buffet you need to click through and see the desserts. Go beyond the book report with these creative ideas to get gifted learners interacting with books.
Do your students grumble every time you mention the words book reports. It is hoped that this diverse group of suggestions will whet the interest of students in exploring new directions and in responding with greater. An award winning and highly successful teacher, jane shares her strategies for success. Book reports need not be boring retellings of stories. Here are 22 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful. Make a collage representing some event or part of your book. Youll find those ideas and many more in this ed world archive. Fun and creative book report ideas for middle school. Both teachers and students may find these creative ideas more interesting than a straightforward report. Jazz up traditional book reports with these 15 different digital book report ideas your students will love. Summarize the book without giving away the plot or the. There have been first and twelfth birthdays celebrated, big stacks of shareworthy books read, and many interesting projects completed.