Summer Reading for 6th-9th Grades

Ninth-grade Greek and Philosophy:

GRK - English Grammar to Ace New Testament Greek https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310255341/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_0Aesxb8N5Z419

PHIL –

The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man https://www.amazon.com/dp/1600614620/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Czesxb4YPA0SP

Or

The Screwtape Letters: (Lewis’s novel about temptation in a believer’s life.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060652934/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_14xtxbFW28BKV

Ninth-grade English: The Children's Homer

(the Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy) Paperback by Padraic Colum (Author), Willy Pogany

(Illustrator)Colum wrote The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy in 1918 as a retelling of Homer's

epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. It recounts the adventures of Odysseus on his journey back from the

war in Troy, including his encounter with the horrible Cyclops, the duplicitous Sirens, the evil Circe and much

more. Students are to read this and do the attached project.

Eighth-grade English: Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

This is a fictional retelling of the mid-nineteenth century conquering of the Matterhorn. Students are to read

this novel and do the attached project.

Seventh-grade English: Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Set in Medieval England, this coming-of-age historic-fiction novel introduces us to an oppressed boy who

learns to value freedom. Students are to read this novel and do the attached project.

Sixth-grade English: My Side of thee Mountain by Jean Craighead George

This is a coming-of-age novel about a twelve-year-old boy’s survival on his grandfather’s mountain

property in upstate New York. Students are to read this novel and do the attached project.

Odysseus Study Guide Dear Rising Ninth Grade, Your summer reading assignment is to read and answer questions on The Adventures of Odysseus and The Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum which is a 1918 retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad (from ancient Greece.) Many things about ancient Greece are interesting to think about. First, humans understood their need of supernatural help. Also, the worst sin was hubris (pride or arrogance.) Pride keeps needy people from admitting they need help and it causes them to be disrespectful of God and man. Another interesting point is that individuals generously practiced hospitality. There were no hotels for travelers; individuals took strangers in and fed them and cared for their horses as well. Your job is to read the book and fill out the guide as you go. When classes begin, we will continue to study Greek and Roman Mythology. This information will be included on your next test. Bring all of this, including the book, with you on the first day of class. Enjoy!

1. The author of the two classics, The Iliad and The Odyssey Is _____________ 2. The Iliad is about __________________________. 3. The Odyssey is about ____________________________________________.

(Athena, Telemachus, Mentor, Nestor, Menelaus, Helen, Suitors, Eumaeus, Ithaca, Laertes, Penelope, Odysseus)

4. Missing for 10 years _________________________ 5. A trusted servant who keeps swine ___________________________ 6. The father of Odysseus _____________________________ 7. The wife of Odysseus __________________________________ 8. The son of Odysseus ____________________________________

Banner in the Sky Project By James Ramsey Ullman

Summer Reading Project—rising 8th grade

I. General Instructions: use 12 pt Times New Roman (or a similar easy-to-read font.) I expect you to define the vocabulary words clearly and on paper. The paragraphs should have a clear topic sentence, several supporting details, and a good closing sentence. Bring your marked book, these instructions, and your writing on the first day of class. If you work on this a bit each week, it will not be burdensome. Have a good summer. II. Prereading A. Take a video tour of the Matterhorn Mountain. The panoramic tour is great, but look at some stills also to get a different perspective. React to it. Read about the Matterhorn and list three of your favorite facts about it. The mountain in Banner in the Sky is like The Matterhorn.

B. Define the following words using a climbing lexicon. (Try to google “MountaineeringTerms”): altitude sickness, ascend, battlement, belay, bivouac, chasm, chimney, citadel, clawing, cleft, contorting, crag, crest, crevasse, crevice, face climbing, gendarme, ice axe(draw a simple picture), lee, moraine, obliquely rapped, pinnacle, precipice, rampart, reconnoiter, scree, serac, steep, summit, traverse, taut(rope).

III. Reading

A. Begin reading—Do the next section as you read. (Don’t skip the author’s note.) B. Other vocabulary—Choose at least fifteen words from the text that you don’t know and

look them up. One of them must be gendarme—not in the mountaineering dictionary. Make these entries thusly: write the word, write the sentence it appears in, give the page number where it appears, and give the relevant definition.

C. As I read, I noticed that something important was omitted. Does anyone know what I mean?

D. If you mark your book as you read, the last part of this project will be simplified. Here are a

few hints: Use colored pencils to underline or highlight or make a mark in the margin for every appearance of Teo Zurbriggen or old Teo. Always use the same color for him. Perhaps he is purple. Use a different color for the character, Herr Winter (John Winter or Captain). Use a third color for Saxo. You may use the end papers of your book to take notes, ask questions, etc. It is a good idea to read the instructions before you start so you will know what to look for as you read.

E. This is a really good story, enjoy reading it.

IV. Post Reading and rereading/analysis

A. Theme— “A universal idea that stretches through the entire story.” Let’s find several possible themes for the novel. Your job is to write one good detailed paragraph about one of the following telling or showing by example why you think the novel has this theme. Later you may write about the others. Writing about literature is done in present tense.

1. Coming of age (becoming a man) 2. Disillusionment and dreams 3. Family 4. Heroism 5. Individuality versus teamwork (competition versus cooperation) 6. Inner versus outer strength 7. Man against nature 8. Overcoming fear or weakness or obstacles 9. Pride and downfall 10. Quest for discovery 11. Vocation versus career 12. Will to survive

B. Plot—the sequence of the events in the story. Write a detailed paragraph about the most

exciting event in the story? (called the climax)

C. Character. Write a detailed paragraph about Rudi, Uncle Franz, Teo, Herr Winter, Saxo or Rudi’s mom.

D. The genre of this novel is ______________ ____________. This means that _____________________________________________________________.

E. The Point of view is _____________________________________________. (Who is telling the story?)

F. Write a detailed paragraph about why this novel was named Banner in the Sky? I want your

opinion here.

G. Don’t wait until the last minute to get started. This will be interesting if you give yourself time! Parents, please order a hard copy with one of the following ISBN numbers: 0-06-447048-2, 978-0-06-447048-3. Thanks.

Crispin By Avi

Summer Reading Project—rising 7th grade

I. General Instructions: use 12 pt Times New Roman (or a similar easy-to-read font.) I expect

you to define the vocabulary words clearly and on paper. The paragraphs should have a clear topic sentence, several supporting details, and a good closing sentence. Bring your marked book, these instructions, and your writing on the first day of class. If you work on this a bit each week, it will not be burdensome. Have a good summer.

II. Prereading:

A. Background—Write five interesting facts about the 14th century England, the setting for this book.

B. The Canonical hours are matins—daybreak, prime—6:00am, terce—9:00am, sext—noon, nones—3:00pm, evensong or vespers—early evening, compline—just before bed. (Church bells often called people to prayer at these times.)

C. Vocabulary—shroud (1), taunted (2), steward, manor (3), forfeit (4), shunned (13), cottar, bailiff, reeve (17), wattle, daub, thatch, the commons (21), plight (30), wizened, tonsured, genuflected, Goodwife (32), cur (74), glutton (75), acolyte, mummer (96), mad (100), mollify (137), mazer (144), gambol (145), malevolence (146), Franciscan Friar (160), portcullis (164), portentous, cacophany (167), guilds (208), trencher (216), caterwauling (221). The numbers in parentheses are page numbers.

Vocabulary instructions: Choose at least fifteen words from the above list that you don’t know and look them up. Then write the word, write the sentence it appears in, give the page number where it appears, give the relevant definition. This is the definition that agrees with the way the word is used in the book.

III. Reading: A. Read the inside back cover and write three sentences about the author of this novel. B. If you mark your book as you read, the last part of this project will be simplified. Here are

a few hints: Use colored pencils to underline or highlight or make a mark in the margin for every appearance of interesting characters like The Bear. Always use the same color for him. Perhaps he is purple. Use a different color for every appearance of John Aycliff. Use a third color for things that Crispin learned or began to understand When you read something that you don’t understand, put a big question mark in the margin of the page so you can easily find the place later. Underline or highlight anything you think is important. You may use the end papers of your book to take notes, ask questions, etc. It is a good idea to read the remaining instructions before you start so you will know what to look for as you read.

C. This is a really good story, so enjoy reading it. IV. Post Reading and rereading/analysis

H. Theme— “A universal idea that stretches through the entire story.” Let’s find several possible themes for the novel. Your job is to write one good detailed paragraph about one of the following telling or showing by example why you think the novel has this theme. Later you may write about the others. Writing about literature is done in present tense.

1. Coming of age (becoming a man) 2. The relationship between fear and ignorance 3. Finding family 4. Heroism 5. Finding freedom from oppression and ignorance

6. Inner versus outer strength 7. Overcoming fear or weakness or obstacles 8. Will to survive 9. Finding oneself (identity) 10. The relationship between trust and obedience

I. Plot—the sequence of the events in the story. In one sentence, tell what you believe to be the

inciting incident. Also, in one or two sentences, give the most exciting event in the story? (called the climax)

J. Character. Write a detailed formal paragraph about Crispin, John Aycliff, Bear, the Widow Daventry, or Crispin’s mom.

K. The genre of this novel is ______________ ____________. This means that ______________________________________________________________.

L. The Point of view is _____________________________________________. (Who is telling the story?)

M. Write a detailed paragraph about why this novel was subtitled The Cross of Lead? I want your opinion here.

N. Don’t wait until the last minute to get started. This will be interesting if you give yourself time!

My Side of the Mountain By Jean Craighead George

Summer Reading Project—rising 6th grade

IV. General Instructions: use 12 pt Times New Roman (or a similar easy-to-read font.) I expect

you to define the vocabulary words clearly and on paper. The paragraphs should have a clear topic sentence, several supporting details, and a good closing sentence. Bring your marked book, these instructions, and your writing on the first day of class. If you work on this a bit each week, it will not be burdensome. Have a good summer.

V. Prereading:

A. Background—Write five interesting facts about the Catskill Mountains—the setting for this book.

B. Look at some pictures and write in a clear sentence what you would like about visiting the Catskills.

VI. Vocabulary. Make these entries thusly: write the word, write the sentence it appears in, give the page number where it appears, give the relevant definition. The words are naturalist, down feathers, aviary, falconry, tether, jesses, mussels, tubers, quiver, sentinel, Baron

VII. Reading: A. Read the Preface and write a clear paragraph about the author of this novel. B. If you mark your book as you read, the last part of this project will be simplified. Here are

a few hints: Use colored pencils to underline or highlight or make a mark in the margin for every appearance of interesting animals like Frightful. Always use the same color for these animals. Perhaps they are purple. Use a different color for every appearance of interesting foods Sam ate. Use a third color for things that frightened Sam. You may use the end papers of your book to take notes, ask questions, etc. It is a good idea to read the remaining instructions before you start so you will know what to look for as you read.

IV. Post reading/rereading

A. In a complete paragraph, write what allowed Sam to survive besides his ability to get food. B. Theme— “A universal idea that stretches through the entire story.” Let’s

find several possible themes for the novel. Your job is to write one good detailed paragraph about one of the following telling or showing by example why you think the novel has this theme. Writing about literature

is done in present tense. a. Coming of age (becoming a man) b. Reaching for your dreams c. Family d. Inner versus outer strength e. Man against nature f. Overcoming fear or weakness or obstacles g. Quest for discovery h. Will to survive

C. Character 1. Who are the human characters in the book? 2. Are they round (well developed) or flat (just mentioned a bit)? 3. Is anthropomorphism used in the book? 4. Are the other characters important? (Does Sam need them?)

D. Plot 1. Conflict—Do you think the primary conflict is man versus nature

or man versus himself and why? 2. Plot diagram

E. Point of view—Who is telling this story? Students, C, D, and E may be done in class. They are not part of your summer work. Parents, please order a hard copy of this book ISB 0-14-131242-4. Thanks.