Daily Projects

After reading your Literature Circle novel each time, you will do the following:

• respond to what you have read
  
• discuss your reading responses with your Literature Circle group
  
• add to your individual vocabulary lists, as instructed
  
• construct and add to your sociogram, as instructed.

Group Presentation Projects: Character Get-togethers

This project will help you to see overall patterns, themes, and connections between the Literature Circle novels and, especially, between the characters in these novels. Each student will role play a character (preferably a main character) from the novel he or she has read and participate in a scenario in which that character is dramatized.

Planning Session One: Literature Circle Groups

• Discuss the character(s), major and minor, who are clearly and strongly portrayed in the novel.
  
• Decide who will role play which character. Everyone may decide to role play the main character(s).
  
• Become very familiar with the character you will portray by rereading parts of the novel and discussing the character with group members. Record group ideas and suggestions for later reference. It is important to help each other fully understand and develop the chosen character.

Planning Session Two: Literature Circle Groups

• Work together to complete the development of each group member's character. (It is essential to know your character well because you will assume his or her personality in the upcoming scenario.) You may choose to use props or costumes to enhance the role of your character.

Planning Sessions Three and Four: Scenario Groups

• In this new group each of you will represent a different character from a different novel.
  
• Ask your teacher for a scenario. Everyone must participate in writing the script for the given scenarios.
  
• Work together to plan and develop your scenario using any props and costumes that you need to make the characters come alive. The more that you can "get into" the minds of your characters, the better the presentation.
  
• Remember to develop your character fully and to portray him or her realistically in this new situation. Throughout the scenario you must remain in character and illustrate the connections between the various novels and their characters, as identified by your group.
  
• Use your logic and your imagination!

Presentations

Each scenario should be about 10 minutes long. You will be evaluated for:

• validity of content--characters should say only what would seem logical, given our knowledge of them through reading and discussion. Discussion throughout the scenario should clearly reflect the characters' personalities and particular points of view.
  
• connections made between characters and their situations--characters should interact and share their experiences realistically and as appropriate for the scenario, illustrating the similarities in their situations.
  
• creativity and originality--props, costumes, or visual aids may be used.
  
• preparedness--scripts or notes may be used discretely.

Let's get started and have fun!