“The Mouse and the Motorcycle” by Beverly Cleary
Both grades will need to have access to a copy of “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” in order to complete the following work. This was to be our final Novel Study this year. Copies can be found at many local libraries, some of which are allowing students from Fort McMurray access to resources free of charge. Students who are unable to use a physical copy of the book may choose to download one to an IPad or tablet. Finally, the following Youtube Playlist created by Norfolk Public Schools has district staff and employees reading “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” aloud as part of their “Nine Schools, One Book” program. Students who cannot read the book can listen to it:
Below are some suggested lessons and activities that students can complete that coincide with the book:
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Chapters 1-3
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Chapters 4-6
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Chapters 7-9
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Chapters 10-13
Non-Fiction Texts/Current Events
Had we completed our Novel Study on “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” (see above), students would have been exposed to and written examples of non-fiction texts from newspapers and magazines (reviews, advertisements, lost-and-found articles from the classifieds). To continue this study of non-fiction texts, our final Book Talk of the year would have been a Current Event Talk. Similar to our previous Book Talks, students choose a text to analyze and recommend to their classmates. Below are the planning pages that would have been modelled in class and the assignment page that would have been sent home:
Current Event Talk – Planning Page
How to Give a Current Event Talk
Students can access articles on current events through magazines or newspaper articles. Students should be encouraged to read a variety of articles from a variety of sources before choosing the article that they would like to recommend to their classmates. One of my favourite resources that students can use to access current events is:
This website is intended to be used by students. The articles are written at a reading level and using vocabulary that can be understood by middle school students. The articles are written on a variety of topics that might be interesting to middle school students, are organized by categories (eg. science, sports, etc.) or grade. New vocabulary or geography terms are defined for students. Articles include embedded videos for more detailed information, comprehension questions, and suggested extension activities that students can complete on each article. DOGO also publishes both book and movie reviews written by middle school students.
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Did you know that when kids read over the summer they are likely to leap ahead when they head back to school? It’s called the “Summer Leap,” and our school has made it a priority to keep our students’ skills sharp by encouraging them to read all summer long. Our class has signed up to participate in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free online reading program that invites children to log their reading minutes all summer.
The theme of this year’s program is “Be a Reading Superhero”; as kids log their reading minutes throughout the summer, they will unlock stories from some of their favorite authors. Plus, throughout the summer, kids will earn digital rewards and learn about great new books to read. You’ll also find daily tips, book lists, and a new “Ask the Experts” book recommendation feature for parents on the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website.
The fun begins on May 9, 2016, and ends on September 9, 2016!
You can visit the link below to learn more about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge or to begin using your account:
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2016
If your student forgets his or her summer reading username, please contact me directly or contact Scholastic at 1-800-SCHOLASTIC or summerchallengehelp@scholastic.com.
Ready to get started? Use the resources below to help you:
Summer Reading Challenge – Pledge Form