Blessed Sacrament School Summer Reading List for Rising 7 th and 8 th Graders 2014

Transcription

1 Blessed Sacrament School Summer Reading List for Rising 7 th and 8 th Graders 2014 WHY: We encourage all middle school students to read throughout the summer to enhance reading enjoyment while increasing reading proficiency. WHAT: To support these goals, 7 th grade students will need to read two required books. 8 th graders will need to read two required books. HOW: 1) 7 th graders will complete an assignment for Middle School: Get Me Out of Here 2) 7 th graders will complete a specific set of questions for Heaven is For Real. 1) 8 th grade students will complete an assignment for The Pearl 2) 8 th graders will complete a specific set of questions for Leap of Faith. Mrs. Kearney has a set of these books. 3) The assignments will be due on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20, Teachers will follow up with additional meaningful discussions and assignments in class once school resumes, and this may include a quiz on the material. Don t forget to bring the book. 7 th Grade- 1 st Required Reading: Middle School: Get Me Out of Here- Author: James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts After sixth grade, the very worst year of his life, Rafe Khatchadorian thinks he has it made in seventh grade. He s been accepted to art school in the big city and imagines a math-and-historyfree fun zone. Wrong! It s more competitive than Rafe ever expected, and to score big in class, he needs to find a way to turn his boring life into the inspiration for a work of art. His method? Operation: Get a Life! Anything he s never done before, he s going to do it, from learning to play poker to going to a modern art museum. But when his newest mission uncovers secrets about the family Rafe s never known, he has to decide if he s ready to have his world turned upside down. There is a specific assignment for this book and the set of questions may be downloaded from the school website. 7th Grade-2 nd Required Reading: Heaven is For Real Author: Todd Burpo Heaven Is for Real is the true story of a four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who experienced heaven during emergency surgery. He talked about looking down to see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn t know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

2 There is a set of questions specifically for this novel that must be completed by the first day of school when these questions and answers will be collected. These questions may be downloaded from the school website. 8 th Grade 1 st Required Reading: The Pearl- Author: John Steinbeck Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security... 8 th Grade- 2 nd Required Reading: Leap of Faith- Author: Kimberly Bradley Abigail is starting a new middle school, a Catholic school, because she s been expelled from her old one. She s sure that this place will be just the same as the last, and no one will listen to her here either. Even her parents don t seem able to really hear the truth about what happened at the previous school. But now she finds herself in a community of people who do listen, who want to be her friends, and who help her discover a talent for theater that she never knew she had. Converting to Catholicism began merely as a way to annoy her parents, but quickly it becomes more. Could she be developing real faith? Kimberly Brubaker Bradley masterfully tells the tale of Abigail s spiritual journey and the faith that comes to those who need it. The set of questions may be downloaded from the school website.

3 7 Grade assignments for Middle School: Get Me Out of Here and Heaven Is For Real Middle School: Get Me Out of Here Answer these questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form. It needs to be typed on the computer; 12 font and Times New Roman and MLA format. Don t forget your name! 1. Write an 8-10 sentence summary of the book. 2. Rafe causes his mother considerable grief, but she remains supportive. How does she influence Rafe s choices? How do Rafe and his mother show each other mutual respect? What does Rafe learn about his father s family from his grandmother? How does Rafe go about discovering the whereabouts of his father? 3. The green paint poured in Rafe s locker is mean, but it doesn t hurt anyone, and, at that point, Rafe realizes he needs to stop the battle. But when Zeke and Kenny take bullying to the next level by posting the fake website, Rafe renews the war. How could Rafe have handled that situation without making the choice to get even? What, if any consequences, do Zeke and Kenny suffer for their bullying tactics? Matty also begins to bully Rafe after the incident at the museum. What is Rafe s reaction to Matty s bullying tactics? How can bullying be stopped? 4. Rafe is thrilled when Matty befriends him on the first day of school. What does Matty teach Rafe about friendship? How does Matty betray Rafe? What does this say about Matty as a friend? How does Rafe respond to Matty s betrayal? Rafe turns to Jeanne when he is hurting, even though he does not consider her a friend. How does Jeanne prove to Rafe that she is his friend? What are characteristics of true friendship? Choose one activity A) Create an art project from something you can recycle B) Personality Collage -Using magazines, scissors, construction paper and glue have students find pictures and words in magazines that remind them of themselves. Look particularly for pictures that visualize the emotions and personal characteristics of you. Clip pictures and phrases and glue onto the star pattern. You can purchase the star at any hobby/craft store. It should not be a small star.

4 Study Questions for 7 th Grade Required Summer Reading: Heaven Is For Real Answer these questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form. It needs to be typed on the computer; 12 font and Times New Roman and MLA format. Bring your book, your answers and discussion questions on the first day of school or them to Mrs. Kearney (ckearney@bssknights.org) by the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20. Don t forget your name! 1.Does the way in which Colton reveals his journey little by little, piece at a time, rather than all at once make his story more, or less, credible for you? 2. In what way would you say that Colton's young age (he was four) influences his vision of heaven? Would it have been different had he been, say 34...or 64? 3. Do Colton's descriptions of heaven fit your own conception of heaven? If so, how? If not, why not? 4. What do you make of Colton's description of Jesus blues eyes as and that he was seated on a horse? 5. How do you explain the great popularity of this book? 6. Why are people drawn to books about those who experience heaven? 7. Why is the attraction so powerful? 8. What are people seeking? 9. What surprises you most about Colton's journey? 10. What pleases you most...or disturbs you about Colton s journey? 11. Colton asked God to send him a rainbow and he did. Have you ever prayed for something and received a clear answer from God? If so, how did that affect your faith? 12. Colton gives a simple, clear explanation of the gospel: Jesus told me he died on the cross so we could go see His Dad. How does this childlike explanation sum up the truth of the gospel? 13. Colton affirms a rendering of Jesus painted by Akiane, a child who also visited heaven at age four. How does this striking depiction of Christ affect your faith? (Before you answer this question, Google this image of Jesus)

5 14. Discuss Colton s descriptions of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In what ways are these details similar to how you ve pictured the Trinity? In what ways are they different? 15. While he was in heaven, Colton met his grandfather and his unborn sister, who recognized him though they had not met on earth. How would this experience bring comfort to those whose loved ones and unborn children have died? Name someone you are eager to see again or for the first time when you get to heaven. 16. If you could ask Colton Burpo one question about his experience in heaven, what would you ask him and why? 17. Overall, what is your reaction to Heaven Is For Real?

6 8 th Grade assignments for The Pearl and Leap of Faith The Pearl Project: The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, shows how greed and ambition can destroy our innocence. We see Kino transform from a content family man to a violent criminal before our very eyes. Fate and free will both take their parts in this story, and once again we are left with a tragedy because of it. Assignment: Create a playlist or burn a CD that would capture the mood of Kino s 1. Song of the Family 2. Song of the Undersea 3. Song of the Pearl 3. Song of Evil 4. Song of the Enemy. Each selection must be appropriate. For each song write a small paragraph (3-4 sentences) on why you choose this song.

7 Study Questions for Leap of Faith 8 th Grade Religion Required Summer Reading Answer these questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form. It needs to be typed on the computer; 12 font and Times New Roman and MLA format. Bring your answers and discussion questions on the first day of school or them to Mrs. Kearney (ckearney@bssknights.org) by the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20. Leap of Faith Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 1. What is the name of Abby s new school? 2. Why is she going to a Catholic School? 3. What was Abby s response when the priest told her she would have daily Religion class? 4. Where did Abby and her parents go for Thanksgiving? How was it? 5. Briefly describe each of the characters below A. Abby B. Jenna C. Chris D. Brett McAvery E. Mrs. Moffett F. Mrs. Sumner G. Father Micah H. Mr. Spanish I. Mrs. Brashares

8 6. Describe Abby s relationship with her parents. 7. What does being called mean to you? 8. If God called you on the phone, what three things would you ask Him or tell Him?

9 9. If you forgive someone, it changes you not them, if you DON T forgive someone, it changes you not them! What does that mean to you? 10. Have you ever taken a leap of faith? Tell about the leap. If not, briefly tell about Abby s leap of faith.