Paper Bag Book Reports

Submitted by: Cecilia Hoff
School or Affiliation: Manassas Park High School, Manassas Park, VA

Date: April 1998

Subject: Alternative Book Report

Students Grades: 1-12 can complete this project.

Goals and Objectives:

After selecting and reading a book independently, students will create a paper bag book report using an ordinary paper bag. Students should choose five-seven items to place in the bag to represent significant events or characters from the book. For example,"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" might call for a soupspoon, a thermometer, a piece of dollhouse furniture, an ad for running shoes, etc. Students, after filling and decorating their bags, present them to the class. Each student should explain how the items he or she has chosen relate to the book. This makes for a fun oral presentation which exceeds the traditional book report for both the presenter and the audience.

Lesson Concepts and Materials:

Independent book selection, independent reading, analysis of plot, character and/ or theme, oral presentation

Paperbags (large to lunch-size).

Procedures:

1. Each student chooses and reads a book.
   
2. Students analyze their books' characters, plots, themes, etc.
   
3. Teacher explains the bag book reports.  (A teacher-made sample works great!)
   
4. Students devise written plans for their bag book reports, detailing five to seven items for the inside as well as layouts for each part of the outside. (Teacher may want to require title, author, and publisher on the front; an internal conflict on the left side; an external conflict on the right side; or a favorite scene on the back, for example.)
   
5. Provide time in class for students to complete their book report projects so they can see others working and have guided practice at fulfilling the promise of their written plans.
   
6. Students present their projects, in detail, to the class - first explaining the outside of their bags and then explaining each of the itmes inside. (Questions from the class come naturally.)
   
7. Students can assess each other using a teacher-devised scoring rubric for both the bag and the presentation.

Assessment:

Peer assessment of oral presentation; guided self-assessment of
bag (inside and out) using a teacher-devised checklist/ scoring rubric

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