Book Fest: Read, Write, Connect!

8th, 9th Grades Project 11 weeks

Independent Book Fest: Read, Write, Connect!

Anna H

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Purpose

This project is designed to nurture students' intrinsic connection to literature by engaging them in a self-directed exploration of diverse books that reflect their identities and experiences. Through a blend of creative writing, multimedia integration, and community collaboration, students will express how their reading has influenced their personal growth and worldview. The project emphasizes critical analysis, artistic expression, and meaningful dialogue, as students present their curated anthologies and visual art pieces, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas with peers and community members.

Learning goals

Students will refine their creative writing skills by crafting pieces that explore themes of place and liberation, using a variety of formats from the "writing menu." They will deepen their critical reading and analytical abilities by engaging with diverse genres and authors, informed by essential questions. Students will integrate multimedia elements into their projects, preparing for a dynamic exhibition. They will also cultivate reflective practices through journaling and video blogging, tracking personal and academic growth throughout the project.

Products

Students will collaboratively create an anthology of short stories or poems reflecting themes of place and liberation, shared during live reading sessions at the exhibition. They will also curate a gallery of visual art pieces inspired by their reading, with accompanying written reflections exploring the impact of diverse literature on their personal growth. These products will be showcased at the 'Literary Festival,' providing a platform for students to present their work and engage with the community.

Launch

Begin the learning experience with a 'Literary Adventure Day' at the local library, where students engage in a scavenger hunt to uncover books from different genres, guided by clues tied to identity, belonging, and personal growth. This engaging activity encourages exploration of diverse literary voices and themes. Conclude with a 'Storytelling Circle' led by a local author or poet, where students share personal anecdotes about their reading journeys, fostering community and dialogue.

Exhibition

Students will host a vibrant 'Literary Festival' at a local bookstore, transforming the space into an interactive celebration of their reading journeys. Each student will set up a booth to display their written pieces, multimedia projects, and visual art inspired by their books, inviting community members to explore and engage with their work. Live readings and panel discussions will provide dynamic opportunities for students to share their insights and connect with attendees, fostering meaningful dialogue about identity, belonging, and personal growth. Additionally, a collaborative anthology of short stories or poems will be featured, with students participating in a live reading session to share their creative expressions with the community.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Creative Writing	Creative Expression through Literature - Students will demonstrate the ability to craft original short stories or poems that reflect themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth, showcasing their creative writing skills.	I can create a short story or poem that includes at least one theme of identity, belonging, or personal growth, using basic storytelling elements like setting, character, and plot I can also share my work with a peer, explaining how my chosen theme connects to the text	I can write a short story or poem that includes clear themes related to identity, belonging, and personal growth, using descriptive language and some creative techniques to express my ideas I can also provide a brief explanation of how these themes relate to my own experiences or perspectives	I can craft original short stories or poems that effectively explore themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth My writing demonstrates thoughtful reflection and creativity, with clear connections to my personal experiences and the diverse literature I've engaged with	I can create a compelling short story or poem that vividly explores themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth, using diverse literary techniques to engage my audience I confidently share my work during live reading sessions, articulating how literature has influenced my perspective and understanding of the world
Critical Thinking	Critical Analysis of Diverse Literary Works - Students will analyze and interpret themes and perspectives from a range of genres and authors, demonstrating critical reading and analytical skills.	I can identify and explain the themes and perspectives in the books I read by pointing out specific examples and discussing how these elements connect to identity, belonging, and personal growth	I can identify and describe key themes and perspectives in a variety of literary works, using examples from the text to support my understanding of how these elements relate to identity, belonging, and personal growth	I can thoughtfully examine and explain the themes and perspectives from diverse literary works, making connections to my own experiences and identity I can discuss how these themes contribute to my understanding of personal growth and belonging, using specific examples from the texts to support my insights	I can analyze diverse literary works by identifying themes and perspectives that resonate with my own experiences, and I can interpret these elements to demonstrate my understanding through thoughtful written reflections and creative projects
Multimedia Literacy	Integration of Multimedia Elements - Students will incorporate visual art and multimedia components into their projects, effectively using technology to enhance their literary works.	I can use technology tools to create visual art or multimedia components that enhance the themes and messages of my literary work, clearly demonstrating how these elements connect to my personal growth and the diverse literature I explored	I can integrate visual art and multimedia elements into my literary project, using technology to enhance and complement my written work I effectively utilize digital tools to create engaging presentations that showcase my understanding of identity, belonging, and personal growth	I can creatively integrate multimedia elements, such as visual art and technology, into my literary project to effectively enhance and enrich my storytelling and thematic expression	I can skillfully integrate multimedia elements such as visual art or technology into my literary project, using them to enhance and deepen the connection between my written work and the themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth I demonstrate my understanding by creating a cohesive presentation that effectively communicates my ideas and engages my audience at the Literary Festival
Reflective Practice	Reflective Practices and Personal Growth - Students will engage in reflective journaling and video blogging to articulate their reading experiences and personal growth, demonstrating self-awareness and introspection.	I can express my reading experiences and personal growth by regularly journaling and video blogging, sharing how diverse literature influences my understanding of identity and belonging I consistently reflect on my thoughts and feelings, showing self-awareness and introspection through my entries	I can articulate my reading experiences and personal growth by consistently maintaining a journal with thoughtful entries and creating video blogs that explore how literature has influenced my understanding of identity, belonging, and personal growth	I can thoughtfully express my reading experiences and personal growth through detailed journaling and video blogging, showing how diverse literature has influenced my understanding of identity and belonging	I can thoughtfully articulate my reading experiences and personal growth by consistently engaging in reflective journaling and video blogging, demonstrating a deep self-awareness and introspection about how diverse literature has influenced my understanding of identity and belonging
Collaboration	Collaboration and Community Engagement - Students will work collaboratively to curate an anthology and organize a Literary Festival, fostering communication and collaboration skills while engaging with the community.	I can actively collaborate with my peers to curate an anthology that reflects our shared understanding of identity and personal growth, effectively communicating my ideas and listening to others I engage with community members during the Literary Festival by sharing my insights and responding thoughtfully to their questions, demonstrating my ability to connect literature with real-world experiences	I can actively contribute ideas and listen to my peers during group discussions to help curate our anthology I can communicate effectively to coordinate tasks and ensure our Literary Festival runs smoothly, showing that I can work well with my classmates and engage positively with community members	I can effectively collaborate with my peers to curate an anthology by actively contributing ideas and providing constructive feedback I engage with the community during the Literary Festival by setting up my booth, participating in live readings, and facilitating meaningful discussions that connect my work to themes of identity, belonging, and personal growth	I can effectively collaborate with my peers to create a cohesive anthology of short stories or poems, actively contributing ideas and feedback during group discussions I can take a leadership role in organizing the Literary Festival, ensuring my booth is engaging and inviting, and confidently share my work and insights with community members, encouraging meaningful dialogue about identity and personal growth

Learning Journey

Question

Students will formulate open-ended questions about their reading interests and the essential questions of identity, belonging, and personal growth, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration and creative expression throughout the subsequent phases of the project.

Days 1 - 3