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Welcome to Summer Reading! Middle School, Rising Grade 8
Summer Reading is a great way to relax and have fun as well as keep up your skills over the summer! Try to read at least twenty minutes each day. Research has shown that 20 minutes of reading per day can significantly increase student achievement.
This year each student will be required to read two books over the summer. One book is assigned and aligned with the curriculum. The second book will be selected from the lists provided in which you will complete a project. Both books and the one project are to be completed Wednesday, August 20, 2025. We will begin the first day of school with book discussions and activities using our assigned book, and enjoy presentations of our Student Choice Books. Books may be obtained from the public library, borrowed from friends or family, or purchased. They may be paper or eBooks. All students in rising grades 3-8 are expected to read the books independently. Help your child to choose a Student Choice Book he or she can read by themselves. Please do not use audiobooks or read-alouds for these assignments unless your child has an SAP stating this accommodation; our purpose is to practice independent reading. We do, however, encourage parents to also read the books and have fun discussing them with their child!
Book 1: Assigned Book:
Rising 8th Grade: A Biography of your choice that is at least 100 pages.
******Biography Suggested Reading List -click here*********
However -- You are welcome to choose a biography NOT on this list (100+pages) for this!
This book must be read by Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Activities will take place in class. Be ready to discuss the characters, setting, and plot (beginning, middle and end) on the first day of school.. No written assignment or project is required for this book.
Book 2: Student Selected Book
Each student will select a book from one of the book lists provided below and complete a project chosen from project list provided concerning their selection. Completed projects should be brought to school on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. You must choose your book only from one of the three lists below: Eighth Grade Book Choice List or the Battle of the Books 2025-2026 list or the Biography Reading List. (Yes, you can choose to read a second biography--this time, from the list only--if you want). Be neat and have fun! Be prepared to show off your project and encourage someone else to read your book!
A list of book choices for Rising Eighth Graders is included here.
The 2025-2026 Battle of the Books list is included here.
******Biography Suggested Reading List -click here*********
All projects must include the following elements:
· Title
· Author
· Main Characters with a short description of each
· Setting (place and time frame)
· A plot summary (all three parts)
o What happened at the beginning or what is the problem?
o What happened in the middle or what was the rising action(s)?
o What happened at the end or how was the problem solved?
· Pick one:
o Tell why your friend should read this book, give specific reasons
o Name one of the characters and why that character could be your best friend
o Compare something about this story to another story you have read
o Tell how something in this story relates to something you have done, felt, or experienced
If the above information does not fit the format of the project you choose,
just submit the extra information on a sheet of paper.
Project Ideas:
Details on some of these projects are below, just click the link. The links are to websites outside of St Luke Library. Pick an idea that fits you and your book. Don't be afraid to tweak the project a little to fit your book.
Design a new book jacket (Just use the information from the elements list above)
Perform a finger puppet show illustrating a scene from the story
Draw a three-paned (at least) comic strip
Diary of one of the characters
Write a different ending to the story
Video a scene from the story with friends and family members
Use Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Keynote (export to video or Powerpoint) to create a presentation
Use iMovie or MovieMaker to create a movie or slideshow. Use family, friends, stop motion your Legos or stuffed animals, or find and use copyright free images on the Internet
Write a poem that features a character and/or event from the story
Compose and record a song based on the story
Write a letter to one of the characters giving them advice
Draw a six-paned comic of the story plot
Write a script of you interviewing a character from your story Try to aim for about 20 questions.
Please keep projects small in size!
Please keep projects small. No full size posters or projects bigger than a standard shoebox. If you want to do a poster, it must be no bigger than:
Mini Trifold (14'x22")
9"x12" bifold
12"x18" poster board
We would like to keep all the projects for several weeks, but we do not have lots of display space.
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