Narration Jar

I print this list off and then cut into strips. I then put them into a jar that a child’s hand can easily fit into easily. I will say that the jar is a treat. It is not something that is used all of the time as I do feel that oral narration is extremely important.

1. Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture.

2. Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you.

3. Write a diary that one of the story’s main characters might have kept before, during, or after the book’s events. Remember that the character’s thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary.

4. If you are reading the same book as one or more others are reading, dramatize a scene from the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before presenting it to the class.

5. Build a miniature stage setting of a scene in the book. Include a written explanation of the scene.

6. Make several sketches of some of the scenes in the book and label them.

7. Describe the setting of a scene, and then do it in pantomime.

8. Construct puppets and present a show of one or more interesting parts of the book.

9. Dress as one of the characters and act out a characterization.

10. Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the various roles.

YOU MAY ONLY USE BOOKS WHICH HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES.

11. Construct a diorama (three-dimensional scene which includes models of people, buildings, plants, and animals) of one of the main events of the book. Include a written description of the scene.

12. Write a letter (10-sentence minimum) to the main character of your book asking questions, protesting a situation, and/or making a complaint and/or a suggestion. This must be done in the correct letter format.

13. Read the same book as one of your friends. The two of you make a video or do a live performance of MASTERPIECE BOOK REVIEW, a program which reviews books and interviews authors. (You can even have audience participation!)

14. If the story of your book takes place in another country, prepare a travel brochure using pictures you have found or drawn.

15. Write a FULL (physical, emotional, relational) description of three of the characters in the book. Draw a portrait to accompany each description.

16. After reading a book of history or historical fiction, make an illustrated timeline showing events of the story and draw a map showing the location(s) where the story took place.

17. Read two books on the same subject and compare and contrast them.

18. Read a book that has been made into a movie. (Caution: it must have been a book FIRST. Books written from screenplays are not acceptable.) Write an essay comparing the movie version with the book.

19. Create a mini-comic book relating a chapter of the book.

20. Make three posters about the book using two or more of the following media: paint, crayons, chalk, paper, ink, real materials.

21. Design costumes for dolls and dress them as characters from the book. Explain who these characters are and how they fit in the story.

22. Write and perform an original song that tells the story of the book.

23. After reading a book of poetry, do three of the following: 1) do an oral reading; 2) write an original poem; 3) act out a poem; 4) display a set of pictures which describe the poem; 5) write original music for the poem; 6) add original verses to the poem.

24. Be a TV or radio reporter, and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is happening live.

25. Design a book jacket for the book. I STRONGLY suggest that you look at an actual book jacket before you attempt this.

26. Create a newspaper for your book. Summarize the plot in one article, cover the weather in another, do a feature story on one of the more interesting characters in another. Include an editorial and a collection of ads that would be pertinent to the story.

27. Do a collage/poster showing pictures or 3-d items that related to the book, and then write a sentence or two beside each one to show its significance.

28. Do a book talk. Talk to the class about your book by saying a little about the author, explain who the characters are and explain enough about the beginning of the story so that everyone will understand what they are about to read. Finally, read an exciting, interesting, or amusing passage from your book. Stop reading at a moment that leaves the audience hanging and add if you want to know more you’ll have to read the book. If the book talk is well done almost all the students want to read the book.

29. Draw a comic strip of your favorite scene.

30. Make a mobile about the story.

31. Make a mini-book about the story.

32. Retell the story in your own words to the class.

33. Write about what you learned from the story.

34. Write a letter to a character in the book.

35. Write a letter to the author of the book.

36. Compare and contrast two characters in the story.

37. Sketch a favorite part of the book–don’t copy an already existing illustration.

38. Make a time line of all the events in the book.

39. Make a map of where the events in the book take place.

40. Make a list of character traits each person has.

41. Make a Venn diagram of the people, events or settings in your story.

42. Write a diary that one of the story’s main characters might have kept before, during, or after the book’s events. Remember that the character’s thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary.

43. Make a poster advertising your book so someone else will want to read it.

44. Make a cutout of one of the characters and write about them in the parts.

45. Choose a quote from a character. Write why it would or wouldn’t be a good motto by which to live your life

46. Tell 5 things you leaned while reading the book

47. Retell part of the story from a different point of view

48. Choose one part of the story that reached a climax. If something different had happened then, how would it have affected the outcome?

49. Make a Venn diagram on the ways you are like and unlike one of the characters in your story.

50. Write about one of the character’s life twenty years from now.

51. Send a postcard from one of the characters. Draw a picture on one side; write the message on the other.

52. If you are reading the same book as one or more others are reading, dramatize a scene from the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before presenting it to the class.

53. Choose five artifacts from the book that best illustrate the happenings and meanings of the story. Tell why you chose each one.

54. Stories are made up; on conflicts and solutions. Choose three conflicts that take place in the story and give the solutions. Is there one that you wish had been handled differently?

55. Pretend that you are going to join the characters in the story. What things will you need to pack? Think carefully, for you will be there for a week, and there is no going back home to get something!

56. Each child rewrites the story, and divides into 8 parts. Make this into a little book of 3 folded pages, stapled in the middle (Outside paper is for title of book.) Older children can put it on the computer filling the unused part with a square for later illustrations.

57. Outline the story, and then use the outline to expand into paragraphs.

58. Make game boards (Shoots and Ladders is a good pattern) by groups, using problems from the book as ways to get ahead or to be put back. Groups exchange boards, and then play.

59. Describe the setting of a scene, and then do it in pantomime.

60. Dress as one of the characters and act out a characterization.

61. Design costumes for dolls and dress them as characters from the book. Explain who these characters are and how they fit in the story.

62. Write a one sentence summary of each chapter and illustrate the sentence.

63. Mark a bookmark for the book, drawing a character on the front, giving a brief summary of the book on back after listing the title and author.

64. Make a life-sized stand-up character of one of the people in the book. On the back list the characteristics of the person.

65. Write an obituary for one of the characters. Be sure to include life-time accomplishments.

66. Invite one of the characters to dinner, and plan an imaginary conversation with the person who will fix the meal. What will you serve, and why?

67. Pretend that you can spend a day with one of the characters. Which character would you choose? Why? What would you do?

68. Write a scene that has been lost from the book.

69. Write the plot for a sequel to this book.

70. Add another character to the book. Why would he be put there? What part would he serve?

71. Rewrite the story for younger children in picture book form.

72. Write the plot of the story as if it were a story on the evening news

73. Make a gravestone for one of the characters.

74. Write another ending for the story.

75. Write a movie script of the story.

76. Gather a collection of objects described in the book.

77. Create a puppet show.

78. Use a map or time-line to show routes or times.

79. Make a seed mosaic picture.

80. Make a scroll picture.

81. Make a poem about the story.

82. Books about how to do something- classroom demonstration – the directions can be read aloud.

83. A pantomime acted out for a guessing game.

84. Make models of things read about in the book.

85. Make a colorful mural depicting the book.

86. Pretend you are the main character and retell the story.

87. Write a biographical sketch of one character. Fill in what you don’t find in the text using your own imagination.

88. Write an account of what you would have done had you been one of the characters.

89. Children enjoy preparing a monologue from a story.

90. Write a letter from one character to another character.

91. Write the first paragraph (or two) for a sequel. Outline what would happen in the rest of book.

92. Write a new conclusion.

93. Write a new beginning.

94. Find a song or a poem that relates to the theme of your book. Explain the similarities.

95. Write a paragraph telling about the title. Is it appropriate? Why? Why not?

96. Decide on an alternate title for the book. Why is it appropriate? Is it better than the one the book has now? Why or Why not?

97. Write a letter to the main character of the book.

98. Write a letter to the main character of the book. Write the letter he or she sends back.

99. Write a diary as the main character would write it to explain the events of the story. Must have at least 5 entries.

100. Choose any topic from your book and write a 1-2 page research report on it. Include a one paragraph explanation as to how it applies to your book (not in the paper itself–on your title page.)

101. Create a radio ad for your book. Write out the script and tape record it as it would be presented. Don’t forget background music!

102. Complete a series of five drawings that show five of the major events in the plot of the book you read. Write captions for each drawing so that the illustrations can be understood by someone who did not read the book.

103. List five of the main characters from the book you read. Give three examples of what each character learned or did not learn in the book.

104. Make a television box show of ten scenes in the order that they occur in the book you read. Cut a square form the bottom of a box to serve as a TV screen and make two slits in opposite sides of the box. Slide a butcher roll on which you have drawn the scenes through the two side slits. Make a tape to go with your television show. Be sure to write out a script before taping or performing live.

105. Pick a national issue. Compose a speech to be given on that topic by one of the major characters in the book you read. Be sure the contents of the speech reflect the characters personality and beliefs.

106. After reading a book, design a game, based on that book as its theme. Will you decide on a board game, card game, and concentration? The choices are only limited to YOUR CREATIVITY! Be sure to include clear directions and provide everything needed to play.

107. Create cutout sketches of each character in your novel. Mount the sketches on a bulletin board. Include a brief character sketch telling us about the characters.

108. Model something from the story using play-dough.

109. Narrate into the tape recorder.

110. Oral narration to Mom.

111. Write five sentences about what you read.

112. Plan a short skit from what you read.

113. If you were giving a test on this reading, what are three questions you would ask?

114. Draw a picture from your reading.

115. Write an email to Grandma or Grandpa about what you learned today.