Ban Those Book Reports!

Stop! Before you assign another "Bird Unit" book report, take a look at some alternatives to the same old book reports. There was a link posted on the SCASL listserv today to a page called Alternatives to the Traditional Book Report; 70 Book Report Ideas (Reprinted from Strenthening Your School Library Program: Practical, Innovative, Cost-Effective Ideas, Grades 6-12, by Patti Tjomsland, 2003). Some of my favorites include sneaky ways to integrate technology in your lesson:

• 5. "Convert the plot into a ballad or song. Perform it." - How about making a podcast - link it to your blog and email a link to the author for their comments?
• 14. "Educate a main character. What would your main character like to learn or need to learn? Describe this class and tell what you think the character would get out of it. What would he/she enjoy about it? Etc. Make it clear why you chose or created this class for this character." - Have students use a template to create a lesson plan and then create a PowerPoint they would use to teach.
• 17. "Find a critic’s review of the book. Photocopy it and then write a comparison of your thoughts with the critic’s." - find a review on a blog and comment on it or create your own classroom blog.
• 20. "Illustrate a number of important scenes in the book on overhead transparencies, PowerPoint or KidPix which you will use to tell the class the story of your book." - Use Microsoft PhotoStory to illustrate the story using pictures they find online (remember to cite sources!) or use a digital camera to create their own photos and narrate their PhotoStory. Use a storyboard to get started and require students to write a script.

Be sure to check-out additional suggestions from Martha Alewine (School Library Media Services for South Carolina) for student projects.

Please share other ideas you find!