Sixth Grade
Mrs. Katie Anne Basler 6thgrade@4sttherese.org
6 th Grade Summer Reading
Please select TWO of the books from the following list. For each book select one of the questions to answer. All responses should be at least three full paragraphs. Responses should be strongly supported with details from the reading.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
1. It is the end of the school year and Jack would like to write a letter thanking Miss Stretchberry for being such a great teacher. Compose the letter and include specific details from the story. At the end of the letter write a poem about Miss Stretchberry.
2. Imagine Miss Stretchberry asked Jack to write an essay telling what he has discovered about poetry and how it can change a person's life. What would the essay say? Write the essay expressing Jack's point of view and support it with details from the book.
3. Through out the book the author includes poems from seven famous American poets. Which poem do you think influenced Jack the most? What personal connections did Jack make with poems? From the seven poems which one could you connect with and why?
The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
1. In what ways do Jane Sharp, Will, the cat, Edward, Jennet, and Magister Reese all help Alyce to find her place in the world?
2. What are some of the villagers' beliefs and superstitions? Why is it important for the author to include those beliefs in the story?
3. In what ways does Alyce demonstrate intelligence? Why do you think some people call her a "lackwit fool"?
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
1. What part does a belief in God and the answering of prayers play in the book? Use specific details from the book to support you answer.
2. Explain how the theme of responsibility occurs throughout the novel. How do the characters incorporate team work and responsibility in to their daily lives? What lessons can you take from their experiences and apply to your own life?
3. In two separate incidents Billy Colman was put into a situation where he was challenged to fight back. What did he do to avoid conflict? Was he always successful at avoiding confrontation? If you could give him advice what would you suggest?
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
1. Write a story from the perspective of an accompanying journalist describing one of the adventures on your voyage with Jason.
2. Read The Wonder Book and/or The Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Choose any two myths and compare them with the versions presented in this text. Include similarities and differences in your analysis.
3. Compare a creation myth from one of the following cultures with the ones in this text. What do myths tell about the cultures that created them? You may select from the following: Norse, Egyptian, Roman, and Native American.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
1. What are some of the challenges that Esperanza encounters through out the book? How does she deal with them?
2. On page 208 it says, "Something seemed very wrong about sending people away from their own "free counry" because they had spoken their minds." Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. Imagine you were taken out of your life right now and put in a work camp like Esperanza's. How would you react? What would be hard for you? What would be easy?
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
1. When people band together to accomplish a specific goal, it is helpful for them to bring different talents and abilities. What did each character bring to group? How did their differences strengthen them as a whole? Could any of them done it alone? Why or why not? In your experiences, how have you worked with others to reach a common goal?
2. Madeleine L'Engle built aspects of science, mythology, and religion into the novel. Find references in the novel that illustrate these connections. How did these connections influence the story?
3. Why do you think L'Engle allowed the Dark Think to remain looming over Earth? What will happen next? Write an additional chapter to the novel.
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
1. Josie's cousin Beatrice says, "And sometimes what you see is so deep in your head you're not even sure of what you're seeing. But when it's down there on paper, and you look at it, really look, you'll see the way things are." (p. 45) What do Hollis' pictures say about the truth?
2. Hollis saw herself as someone who didn't deserve to be in a family. Why did she believe this? How does her view of herself change through out the book?
3. Why does Steven secretly help Hollis and Josie when they're at the house in the country? Why doesn't Steven tell anyone that Hollis and Josie are there? What would you do in Steven's shoes?
Supply List 2010-2011
Supplies needed for the first day of class:Zippered pouch for holding pens and pencils
#2 pencils (required for math class)
Blue or black pens
Red pens for corrections
Colored pencils and markers to keep in locker
Sturdy tote-bag or reusable grocery shopping bag for carrying books from room to room.
Scissors
12" ruler (customary and metric markings)
Glue stick(s)
Highlighter(s)
Math notebook* (at least 70-100 pages - replace when full) Science notebook* (70-100 pages adequate)
Social Studies notebook* (at least 200 pages) Religion notebook* (at least 200 pages)
4 marble composition notebooks* (labeled "Spelling," "Language Arts," "Vocabulary," and "Reading")
Spanish notebook* (70 pages adequate)
An accordion-pleated poly folder (labeled "Language Arts," "Reading," "Social Studies," "Religion," "Spanish," and "Science," and "Home") OR 7 separate folders with labels. (first option seems to work best)
Loose leaf paper (for Mrs. Basler's class)
Binder 3-hole punch (portable punch that fits in 3-ring binder)
Optional, white-out tape (no liquid allowed)
5 twin-pocket portfolios with fasteners (for Mrs. Basler's class)
1 pack of index cards in zip-lock bag or index card holder
Sticky notes"Book Socks" or brown-bag covering for textbooks (all hard-cover textbooks must be covered)
3 boxes of facial tissue (brought to homeroom first day)
2 boxes or refill packages of wet wipes (brought to homeroom first day)
Combination lock for locker (no keys) Please memorize combination prior to the first day of school.
*Please make certain student's name is in all textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, and personal items.