Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

NEWSPAPER/PERIODICAL SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Atlanta’s newspaper is #17 in the country, with just over 500,000 readers. The top three newspapers in the United States are: 1. USA Today 2. Wall Street Journal 3. New York Times The top five subscription magazines in the United States are: 1. Better Homes and Gardens 2. Game Informer 3. Reader’s Digest 4. National Geographic 5. Good Housekeeping

Task You are an energetic journalist, and you’d like to start your own newspaper. First, read five articles in newspapers or magazines. Then, pick your three favorite articles and rewrite them for your own newspaper. Your newspaper should include: .

• Flag/logo: The name of the newspaper as it appears at the top of page one.

• Byline: The author of the story (the original author and you!); may include the writer’s title.

• Story: Your summary of the three stories you read.

• Lead: The beginning of the story, which summarizes it and/or grabs the reader’s attention.

You will share your finished newspaper with other journalists, and journalists will vote on the winning newspaper!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed newspaper to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

FAIRY TALES SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Fairy Tales are a branch of the Fantasy genre. Fantasy includes Folk Tales like the Anansi stories, Tall Tales like John Henry, and High Fantasy like The Hobbit. Fairy Tales often take on the cultures of their home countries, and details of the stories change according to the country. Look at the following picture book covers. Each is a version of the familiar Cinderella story, but each has cultural influences from the country of origin.

What fairy tale is your favorite? Read at least two different versions of the same fairy tale.

Task

You are a screenplay/script writer who has been given a special assignment. Think about the fairy tales you read. Then, write your own version of the fairy tale. Your version should be in the format of a screenplay/play. It should include elements or details from your personal culture (the culture of middle school!). For example, maybe the hero in your fairy tale writes text messages. . Your screenplay will compete with other plays for a chance to win the festival category of top play.

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original play to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project! Here is a guide to the entire screenwriting process (though you only need the finished 2-pages!) : Screenplay Guide

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

NON-FICTION SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background You can find a book written about whatever you’re interested in! From cars to soccer to viruses and cakes, there are books written to explain all your curiosities. The Dewey Decimal System puts books in categories, from “0” to “999.” No matter what library you visit, you can count on finding the following books in the following order: 000-099 – Computer science, information & general works 100-199 – Philosophy, parapsychology and occultism & psychology, 200-299 – Religion 300-399 – Social sciences 400-499 – Language 500-599 – Science 600-699 – Technology 700-799 – Arts, Sports, and Leisure Activities 800-899 – Literature 900-999 – History, geography, (& biography)

Task You are a reporter, and you’d like to create a story about a topic that interests you. First, read a non-fiction book or a few non-fiction websites about your topic. Then, turn your information into a “fact sheet” that, if published, would grab your reader’s attention and teach them the most important details about your topic. Your “fact sheet” should include:

• Title: It should be clear at a glance what your topic was.

• Author: Your name should be included somewhere on your fact sheet.

• Facts: Your fact sheet should include at least 10 facts about your topic.

• Pictures and/or Eye-Catching Phrases: Something on your fact sheet should catch the reader’s eye.

• Source: You should give credit to the authors that supplied you with information somewhere on your fact sheet.

You will share your finished fact sheet with other reporters, and reporters will vote on the winning fact sheet!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed fact sheet to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

POETRY SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background There are as many different types of poetry in the world as there are songs and people. There are poets like Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein who write silly poetry. There are poets like Poe and Whitman who write more pensive poetry. Do you know what poet might match your style? Check out a few poets. Read the poems out loud. Decide if you like them. Here are a few poets you might like: ee cummings (who didn’t capitalize his name on purpose), Nikki Giovanni, Emily Dickenson, Rudyard Kipling, Walt Whitman, and Charles R. Smith, Jr.

Task You are a poetic graphic designer, and your favorite poet has asked for your help! Read a few poems until you find your favorite. Then, create a poster that illustrates your poem and includes some/all of the words. Your poster should be .

• Detailed and/or Colorful: The subject of the poem should be clear. For example, if your poem talks about rivers, you might include a drawing or picture of a river.

• Informative: Make sure to include the author and title of your poem on your design.

• Wordy: Include your favorite lines, favorite words, or all the text of the poem. You will share your finished poster with other graphic designers, and your group will vote on the winning poster!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed newspaper to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

GRAPHIC NOVELS SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Graphic novels are the fastest-growing segment of the publishing world! Many recent blockbuster movies have been based on graphic novels. The New York Times created a “Best-Sellers” list in 2009 for graphic novels: http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/paperback-graphic-books/list.html. Though they have pictures, not all graphic novels are appropriate for youth. Some Popular Graphic Novels for Adolescents (parents must approve) 1. Groo and Rufferto by Sergio Aragones 2. Electric Girl by Michael Brennan 3. AstroCity: Life in the Big City by Kurt Busiek 4. Akiko: The Menace of Alia Rellapor, Volume 1 by Mark Crilley 5. SpyBoy: The Deadly Gourmet Affair by Peter David

Task You are a sketch artist, and you’d like to write your own graphic novel. First, read a graphic novel or a comic book. Then, create your own character and put your character in a short, 5-frame comic strip. One of the most well-known comic strips is Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. Your comic strip should include: .

• Character/s: One or more characters should be included.

• Dialogue: Use dialogue bubbles if you’d like.

• A Situation: This could be a conflict, or it could be a celebration.

You will share your finished newspaper with other journalists, and journalists will vote on the winning newspaper!

Ticket

In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed comic to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

FILM SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background The top 10 highest earning movies ever are:

1. 2009 Avatar 760 million

2. 1997 Titanic 660 million

3. 2008 The Dark Knight 533 million

4. 1999 Star Wars, Ep. I, The Phantom Menace

474 million

5. 1977 Star Wars, Ep IV, A New Hope

460 million

6. 2004 Shrek 2 441 million

7. 1982 ET: The Extra-Terrestrial

435 million

8. 2006 Pirates of the Carribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

423 million

9. 1994 The Lion King 422 million

10. 2010 Toy Story 3 415 million

Task You are an up-and-coming movie critic who has been hired to review a summer blockbuster movie. First, go see a movie. Then, write a review. Your review should include:

• Summary of Movie: Don’t give away any surprises! Include names of key characters and actors.

• Your Opinion: Include at least one strength and one weakness of the movie.

• A Cliffhanger: Leave the reader wanting to know more about the movie, so they have to go see it for themselves.

Your review will compete with other reviews for a review segment on our HBMS weekly announcements!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original review to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

PICTURE BOOKS SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background The first books most children experience are picture books! Can you think of your favorite? Picture books have become more and more well-written and well-illustrated since the very first picture book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, was published in 1902. These days, picture books come in all genres. There’s biography, realistic fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy . . . they all come in picture books! So, pick a picture book or two that you love, and read them! Then, share them with a friend, old or young.

Task You are an artist and a writer who has been hired to create a picture book. First, write a short story you think kids could relate to or would find funny. Remember: Picture books aren’t just for kids, so don’t simplify your language and style too much. Then, add drawings, formatting your story like a picture book. Your picture book should include: .

• A Cover: The title of the book and the author/illustrator’s name appear on the cover.

• Text: There should be words in your book that tell a story. These words should be neatly handwritten or typed.

• Illustrations: Illustrations can reveal more about the character, show the reader the setting, or

You will share your finished picture book with other writers, and writers will vote on the winning picture book!

Ticket

In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed picture book to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project! Most picture books are about 30 pages, but yours should be around 10.

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

SONG LYRICS SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Music touches everyone! Most people hear music at least once during the course of a normal day. But who writes the lyrics and the music to our favorite songs? Often, the performer gets to stand in the spotlight while the songwriter is virtually unknown. According to Billboard Magazine, the top songwriters of the last decade are: 1. Timothy “Timbaland” Mosely 2. Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald 3. Pharrell L. Williams 4. Martin Karl “Max Martin” Sandberg 5. Rob Thomas Recognize any of those names?

Task You are an up-and-coming songwriter, and your favorite artist has enlisted you to write him or her a song! First, check out the lyrics of a few of your favorite songs. Notice how the verses look. Notice how certain parts of the song repeat (or don’t). Your song should include: .

• Title: The name of the song might be simple or creative.

• Lyrics The words of the song.

• Artist Statement: A short note to the artist you imagine might sing your song. You might include a sentence about what inspired you to write it!

You will share your finished song with other songwriters and songwriters will vote on the winning song!

Ticket

In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed songto school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project.

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD STORIES SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Words are all around you! You don’t always have to go to the library or read a book to find words! Have you ever wondered what words are floating around in your neighborhood? Maybe you’ve noticed them, and maybe you haven’t.

Task You are a community planner, and you’d like to create some advertisements for your community. In order to give locals a “feel” for your community atmosphere, you’d like to write a “found poem” to put on a billboard. First, with a parent or parent permission, take a walk in your neighborhood. Write down all the words and letters you see. Then, put your list of words together in an interesting way. This is called a “found” poem! Here is an example of a found poem:

You may use words more than once, but you may not use any words you did not find! Your poem should include:

• Title: You might name your poem after the neighborhood, or you might give it a creative title.

• Words: Your poem should include at least 16 found words. You will share your finished poem and the story of your walk with other community planners, and your group will vote on the winning found poem!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed poem to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

INTERNATIONAL STORIES SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Every part of the world has stories that are unique to the region. Sometimes, these stories are ancient, having been passed down through the years from grandfather to grandson, and so on. Have you ever read these stories?

Consider the regions of the world:

Task You are an energetic journalist, and you’d like to help teens be more informed world dwellers. First, read about a country using two different types of sources. For example, you might read a current news article and a fable from Egypt. You might look at the art of Australia and read a short picture book about Australia. Then, create a brochure or a PhotoStory about your location. Your brochure or PhotoStory (a free Microsoft program) should include:

• Title: It should be clear at a glance what your topic was.

• Author: Your name should be included somewhere on your brochure.

• Facts: Your fact sheet should include at least 10 facts about your topic.

• Pictures and/or Eye-Catching Phrases: Something on your fact sheet should catch the reader’s eye.

• Source: You should give credit to the authors that supplied you with information somewhere on your fact sheet.

You will share your finished product with other reporters, and reporters will vote on the winning brochure and PhotoStory!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed project to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

MEMOIRS SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Memoirs are personal stories of an author’s life. The following memoirs are not officially endorsed by Fulton County Schools, but they are generally recommended. .

Going into 8th?

1. Cursed by a Happy Childhood: Tales of Growing Up, Then and Now by Carl Lennertz

2. My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir by Samantha Abeel 3. Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by

Mitch Albom

Going into 7th?

1. The Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam 2. Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the Savanna by Joseph Leukton

Going into 6th?

1. Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl 2. The Longitude Prize by Joan Dash, Illustrated by Duan Petricic

Task You are an energetic journalist, and you’d like to write your own memoir. First, think of an important, funny, or serious event in your life. Then, tell your story in about two pages! Your memoir should include:

• Details: Show your reader your life! What are the sounds, sights, smells, etc?

• Action: Any good story has a conflict/problem and some kind of solution. What’s the conflict in your story?

• Inspiration from the memoir you read: Did the author do something in his or her writing that you can do in your own memoir? For example, maybe the author spoke to the reader like a friend.

You will share your finished memoir with other writers, and writers will vote on the winning memoir!

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed memoir to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

BUDGETS SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Managing money is an important part of life! Most people must decide carefully how to spend the money they have. The plan people use to keep track of how they spend money is called a budget. There are different types of budgets: 1. Personal Budget: Keeps track of personal expenses like rent, food, and clothing. 2. United States Federal Budget: Our country’s spending plan. 3. Special Event Budget: This type of budget can be for vacation, a party, or another kind of special event.

Task You are a travel planner for an award-winning travel agency, and you have a special challenge. A client has given you $2,000 to plan a fun, week-long vacation for her and a friend. This will not be easy! First, read a book, magazine, or internet articles about different places your client might go. Then, create a plan to present to your client. Your budget/itinerary should include the following categories: .

• Transportation: How will your client travel, and how much will travel cost?

• Lodging: Where will your client stay, and how much will it cost?

• Food: What is your client’s budget for food per day, and what are some suggestions for restaurants?

• Activities: What activities do you suggest for each day, and how much do they cost?

• Spending Money: How much money will be leftover for spending money?

You will share your finished plan with other agents, and agents will vote on the winning plan!

Ticket

In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed newspaper to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.

FICTION SUMMER LITERACY FACT SHEET

Background Fiction is a made-up story that is sometimes based on real events, but can also be a work of great imagination! There are many different types of fiction, something for everyone!

• Adventure

• Comic or novel

• Drama

• Espionage or spy thriller

• Fanfiction

• Fantasy

• Gothic

• Historical fiction

• Horror

• Comedy

• Mystery

• Political

• Romance

• Science fiction

• Short story

• Realistic fiction

• Stream of consciousness

• Tragedy

• War fiction

• Western fiction

Task

You are part of a special committee that has been formed to produce a series of digital book reviews for the students of Holcomb Bridge Middle School. After reading one of the fiction books from the Fulton County Summer Reading List, create a book trailer of the book for the HBMS Media Center. You may use any format that can be linked to and opened on the HBMS website or Edmodo. You should include the following in your book trailer:

• Title screen with title and author

• Clips from the book.

• Theme music and incorporate into your trailer.

• Reviews from other sources/readers

• Exciting, interesting events without giving away anything!!!!

• Your own creative ideas

Ticket In order to earn your ticket, bring your original completed book trailer to school the first week of school. In order to earn a ticket to the festival, bring a high-quality project!

Find electronic versions of this information and chat with other students in your genre at http://www.hbmsliteracyfestival.wordpress.com.