Middle School (Grades 6-8) Reading

Summer Reading Assignments 6th – 8th Grades
The more students read, the more prepared they will be for class, for college, and for life. Our
purpose in asking your child to read over the summer is to continue to develop an appreciation
and enjoyment for reading. Thinking, discussing, and writing about a book as the year begins
gives us some common ground from which we can discuss and share.
Please locate the assignment for the grade level that your child will be entering in the fall of
2014. For each grade level, students should complete each part of the assignment, which will
be due on the first day of school, August 15th. Students may utilize the public library to check
out the required novels, but it is sometimes easier for students to have their own copy so they
can write in it or take notes in the margins. For Make Every Day Count, students will be
required to have their own personal copy so they may answer the chapter questions as they
read. This book, with the completed questions, will be collected on the first day of school.
REMINDER:
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Type your responses.
Send your work through spell and grammar check.
Times New Roman– Font –Size 12 – double spaced
Heading on top left of your paper
Label each section
Do not “share” any work with your peers.
John Doe
Teacher Name
English (grade level)
Date (August 15, 2014)
GRADE 6
Required Reading: This assignment is for all students entering 6th grade:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has
prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at
Beecher Prep, he simply wants to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his
new classmates cannot overlook Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER,
now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas
Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon
switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives
converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
Before Reading
Watch You Tube Video interview with author R. J. Palacio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUJtGHhy41Q
A. Write a paragraph (5 – 8 sentences) about what it must be like for children who
are physically deformed but are intellectually and emotionally just like other kids.
During Reading
A. The book has many thematic topics. Answer the questions that coincide with
three (3) of the themes listed below. Be careful! Each theme has several
questions; make sure you answer all of the questions for each theme. Remember,
you only have to choose 3 out of the 5 below.
1. Family Relationships
a. How does Via react to Auggie’s deformity, and how is she affected?
b. She says, “I’m always going to be the sister of a kid with a birth defect; that’s
not the issue. I just don’t always want to be defined that way.” What does she
mean by this statement?
2. Friendship – Discuss the characteristics of a good friend.
a. Which of Auggie’s friends demonstrates these qualities?
b. What characteristics of a good friend does Auggie possess?
c. How does Auggie’s ability to be “comfortable in his own skin” make it easier for
his friends and family to relate to him?
3. Overcoming Challenges – Auggie’s attendance at Beecher Prep creates issues
for students, parents, teachers, and the principal.
a. What are some of the challenges that arise?
b. How does each group of individuals overcome the challenges?
c. What role does Auggie play in either helping or hurting the situation?
d. In Mr. Tushman’s speech at the end of the year, he shares this quote, “Always
try to be a little kinder than necessary.” How does being kind help someone
overcome challenges?
4. Bullying – Kids who are different are almost always bullied in some way.
a. How does Auggie know the first time he meets Julian that he will be a bully?
b. In what subtle ways does Julian bully Auggie?
c. What purpose does Julian have in bullying Jack?
d. What power does Julian have to force the other students to join in his cruelty
toward Auggie and Jack?
e. What is Auggie’s response to the bullying?
5. Betrayal – Auggie and Jack are great friends; they laugh together, talk about
anything and everything, and feel comfortable together.
a. Why does Jack betray Auggie by talking about him behind his back?
b. How does Auggie feel when he hears what Jack has said?
After Reading
A. Select two characters from the novel. Describe one of their character traits and
then give two examples of evidence from the novel that supports this character
trait.
B. A precept is like a motto. Mr. Browne’s precepts for each month are listed in the
novel. You can create your own or find one with which you identify. Create a
precept for you. Write a paragraph (6-8 sentences) discussing why and how you
plan to implement this precept in your daily life.
C. Write a paragraph (6-8 sentences) discussing why and how you plan to uphold
this precept in your daily life.
GRADES 7 & 8
Required Reading # 1: This assignment is for all students entering 7th and 8th grades:
Code Orange by Caroline B. Clooney
Mitty Blake is a junior in high school and he could care less about doing his
schoolwork. Mitty would rather listen to his iPod and roam the streets. However,
he must do a paper on small pox. While staying the weekend at his parents’
country home, Mitty discovers old medical texts and decides to use these for his
research. This starts an adventure that transforms Mitty from a laid-back slacker
to an ingenious man of action.
Directions:
1. Read the section/chapter
2. In column 2, make a bulleted list of the chapter highlights – things like characters introduced,
plot action, any literary devices you noticed.
3. In column 3, answer each question regarding that section fully using examples from the book
when you can.
You may make a chart similar to this one or you may design your own format for
answering the questions for each chapter.
Chapter
Chapter Highlights
Reader Response
Chapter 1 – Describe Mitty Blake.
Chapter 2 – How does Mitty’s character differ from his friends, Olivia and Derek?
Chapter 3 – How do you feel about Olivia and Mitty sneaking into the library using her dad’s ID?
List some of the historical evidence about small pox epidemics and some famous people having
small pox that Mitty discovers in this chapter.
Chapters 4 & 5 – Why is it a big deal that Mitty switches to present tense in his paper about
small pox? How does this impact his thoughts through these two chapters?
Chapter 6 – Should the United States keep a stash of small pox? Why or why not?
Chapter 7 – Mitty is handling his “symptoms” alone. Should he have involved his parents; why
or why not? How would you have handled it?
Chapter 8 – Mitty contacts several people via email about his small pox scab. What do you think
of his approach to information via the Internet?
Chapter 9 & 10 – What do you predict will happen to Mitty Blake?
Chapter 11 – Mitty contemplates suicide as a way to help his loved ones. How is this against
what the word of God has to say?
Chapters 12 & 13 – Explain Olivia and Derek’s response to Mitty’s disappearance. Contrast
that with the FBI and CDC’s response.
Chapter 14 – How does Olivia and Mrs. Blake’s hope help them cope with the situation?
Chapter 15 – How do you think a small pox bioterrorism outbreak would affect the U.S.
compared to September 11th?
Chapters 16 & 17 – What do you think makes someone a hero?
Chapter 18 – How will Mitty’s experiences affect his relationship with his parents in the future?
How would something like this affect your family relationships?
 After discussing the book in class, the students will be assessed to
measure their comprehension of the assigned reading.
Required Reading # 2 - This assignment is for all students entering 7th and 8th grades:
Make Every Day Count, Teen Edition by Max Lucado
Max Lucado wants to teach teens that life is a gift and that gratitude
is critical. With a little perspective, teens will see that God can help
them overcome their ungrateful days, their stressed-out days, and
even their catastrophic days. Life is not going to be perfect – when
teens understand that and realize that God is their constant source of
support, help, and blessings, even the difficult days can be faced with
a cheerful spirit.
Directions:
As students read the chapters, they are to answer the student study guide
questions that are found at the back of the book. These questions should be
answered in the book and should include well thought out responses. Read this as
you would a daily devotional. Books will be collected on the first day of school to
be graded.

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