Book Report Ideas for Grade Six

There are many ways sixth graders can structure a book report.

Finding ways to make writing interesting and worthwhile can be a challenge. There several ways to make book reports challenging yet accessible to sixth grade students. One of the ways is to consider an assignment according to genre. Below are ideas for grade 6 book reports based upon different types of fiction and non-fiction

Fiction

There are many authors who write for specific age groups, making assigning books appropriate for the sixth grader quite easy. There are numerous resources for finding out which books are of the most interest to sixth graders. Some lists include books considered classics,like Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. These are always good choices. The library web site for Santa Clara County in California has a quite extensive list of books for sixth grade readers. Books are listed in alphabetical order by author's last name. While this is not the only resource for an actual list, library web sites are excellent places to begin for books as well as suggestions on writing assignments.

Biography and Autobiogrpahy

Stories of people's lives are very important for fostering a love of reading. The story of Anne Frank's experience during World War II is taught as early as sixth grade. A number of age-appropriate biographies are available. The format of the book report for this type of non-fiction account is generally journalistic in nature. The book report is best given as a list of questions to answer about the individual. From where did the person's family originate? What education did the person receive? What obstacles did the person face? The advantage of biography is being able to use an actual person to tap into student interests in order to promote reading and writing. For instance, a biography about Marie Curie or George Washington Carver would be especially motivating for sixth graders interested in science.

Basic Book Report

A basic book report which requires a summary of the reading, discussion of the plot, and discussion of the main character is always a good idea at least once. Students benefit from the practice of putting information in their own words. They also benefit from the simple exercise of retelling the plot, of being made to recognize a character's role in a story. Book reports that require a plot summary as well as discussion of the characters provide practice in critical thinking skills required for analysis, comparison and contrast and recognizing conflict and resolution.

Non-Prose Reports

Despite the importance of prose writing, books reports on poster board in the form of graphic organizers is also useful. Students can map out the story by drawing simple illustrations of the plot and characters, then making short captions below them. They might use different geographic shapes to discuss the components of writing. For instance, they could use a circle to summarize the plot, then use other shapes such as a triangle, a square or a diamond to discuss the elements of storytelling. Being able to recognize foreshadowing, irony and other literary devices in writing is invaluable as they progress through school. In addition, the use of graphics is another way to organize information and provide an alternative for students who may struggle with prose writing at this point in their education.

References

• "edhelper.com"
• "Grade6 Book Report Biography/Autobiograpy"
• "Grade 6 Writing"