Book+Log+Responses

=//There are many ways that students can respond to all types of books. Below are some possible book log responses. Afterall, we all like to have choices in life. This Wiki page was created by Stephanie Krol (grade 4 teacher) to help teachers and students with creative and fun ideas to respond to books.//=



1. Book Log Summary

 * ==After you read a book create a short summary that includes the title, author, illustrator, setting, main characters, problem, 3-5 main events and a solution (this is known as a story map). Remember sometimes less is more.==

2. Setting the scence

 * ==Illustrate your favorite part of the book. Your illustration may be on any size paper and completed with any materials of your choice. You don't have to be a perfect artist for this reponse. On a seperate sheet of paper explain what is going on during this part of the book and why you liked it.==

3. Book Cover

 * ==Design a book cover for your book with [|this online tool].==

4. Journal Writing

 * ==Choose a character from the story and create a journal entry for each nights reading which portrays the events and feelings of that person. This can be done in a composition notebook or better yet online! Composition books limit the exposure that students have with the others' work, but online the students would be able to view and respond to all classmates entries. Here are some links for online journals, however if they are not secure enough for classroom use then perhaps a classroom blog would work as well.==


 * ==Create a trading card for each of the main characters including the title, character name, and details from the story. [|Flickr] has an online template for trading cards.==

This is a great idea for articles that I have students read in Biology and Marine Biology. Since we don't read books in my class, we could summarize small articles. I like the trading card idea. Students could pick one organims and do a taxomony project using them! (heidi lappi)

The Trading Cards from Flickr are great! I created a few for the main characters of Bridge to Terabithia with my Flickr Account. It was fairly simple and quite a bit of fun. I could see my students really getting into this. Each card lets you write a paragraph or two about the character, upload a picture that represents the character, a title, and a subtitle. You can also choose a color theme, and 5 symbols from a chart that represent the character on your card. This activitiy is definitely a great one!!! (Heather G)

I love the idea of making trading cards for the main characters of a story. This type of project is creative, fun, and informative. Creating trading cards to store information and data can replace the outdated use of boring flash cards. In addition, students of today can easily relate to trading cards. Trading card games such as Magic, Yugi-Oh, and even Pokemon are very popular. Students will enjoy and be engrossed in such an activity where they can create their own trading cards, print them, and perhaps even trade them with classmates. Making trading cards can also be used as an ice breaker at the beginning of the year. Students can make trading cards of themselves. Students can upload their picture and add personal information such as phone number and hobbies. Students can trade their cards with others and thus friendship circles and study groups are easily made. (Judy Mui)

I love the idea of the trading cards. I use them in my class where students need to create a trading card for historical figures. Included on the cards are a picture created by the student. This picture doesn't have to be of the person, but something that symbolizes them in some way. This allows them to express creativity and gives them some sort of "trigger" to think about when they hear that person's name. They must also include the person's vital statistics, great accomplishments and failures, as well as a quote (real or made up) from that person. (B. Kiernan)

6. Think About Emotions

 * ==Describe a highly emotional (funny, sad, scary...) moment in the story. How did it make you feel? Can you relate to thse emotions? If so, explain how.==

**7. Locate the Setting**

 * **Locate the setting of the story on a globe (or the internet). Identify what continent and country it is on. What bodies of water are near it? List 5 major landmarks that are close to it.**
 * **Try using this [|flickr map] to help you**


 * ==Identify specific words or phrases from the text that appeal to the fve senses (sight, sound, touch, smell and taste). Create a chart with 5 columns and list as many correlations as you can.==


 * ==Pick your favorite character and write a poem about him or her.==

10. Timeline

 * ==Design a timeline of the most important story events==

This is a great blog. I teach French and use many of these activities in class. However, I never considered using these as wikis, probably because I never worked with wikis until my grad course. Knowing how students react positively to using technology, having them use wikis to create in the target language maybe beneficial. Also, remembering to offer options for multiple intelligences, such as the ones offered above, is very important for students. All of these activities can be taylored for students with different levels and enable students to create with the language in a creative and significant way. (Juile)