An overview of Lit Circles:

Literature Circles - Sharing Tools Overview.pptx

 

 

Any other information you may need for Lit Circles!!

Literature Circles - Sharing Tools Ideas - 08.docx

 Lit Circle Role Schedule.docx 

 Lit Circle Project Rubrics 08.docx

 Lit Circle Project Proposal.docx

 

Literature Circle Wiki - Feel free to use and share!

 

Literature Circle Sharing Tools Schedule - When am I Drama Master?  Discussion Master? click to find out!

 

 

 

Ideas for questions - from Amy Humphrey's book Making Literature Circles Come Alive

 

·         Publishers get thousands of manuscripts a year.  Give 3 reasons why you think they chose to publish this book.

·         Go around the group and share what you’d like to ask this author about his or her work.

·         How would using a different point of view to tell the story have changed this book?

·         How did this author create believable characters?

·         Describe the point of view from which the story was told.  Why do you think the author chose to write the book in that way?

·         Share a few lines in the novel you think are especially well-written.  Explain your choice.

·         Have a race and find an example of a simile or metaphor used by the author.  Share aloud.

·         Share your thoughts about the vocabulary contained in this novel.  How did it contribute to the overall quality of the story?

·         What is the major theme or message communicated in the story?

·         Why do you think the author chose this title?  Have each player give the novel a new title.  Discuss their meanings.

·         What might you guess about the author’s personal beliefs as a result of reading this story?

·         How do you feel about the idea or theme in the story?  Do you have any personal experiences that have shaped your view on this?

·         Did the author use any symbols or objects to help communicate the theme?  Describe.

·         Take 60 seconds and brainstorm with the group about other novels you’ve read that have a strong central message or theme.

·         Tolerance and freedom are two important literary themes.  Together, brainstorm at least 5 or more BIG ideas or lessons used as common themes in literature.

·         Select 5 powerful words to describe the ideas shared through this book.  Have one other player do the same.

·         What lesson did you learn from the characters that would help you in your own life?  Pick one other player to answer this same question.

·         What do you think prompted the author to write a book such as this one?

·         Do you think a book needs a clear theme in order to be powerful or memorable?  Explain your thinking and give examples to support your opinion.

·         Describe two things the author did to maintain your interest in the book.

·         Go around the group and have each player respond to this prompt:  This book makes me believe that…

·         Will this book still be popular in 30 years?  Why or why not?

·         What criteria do the members of your group have for a good book?  Using those guidelines, how does each player rate this book?

·         If you’ve read the entire book, how would you change the ending?  If you haven’t finished, how do you think the story should end?

·         Take 30 seconds and act out the climax of the story.  Be all of the different characters yourself!

·         What plot twist surprised you?  If none did, add a twist of your own to improve the book.  Have another player do so too.

·         Each player---create in 60 seconds a cartoon strip that shows 4 key events in the correct sequence.  Share your work.

·         Describe your favorite scene in the story.  Why is it so memorable?  Have the other players do the same.

·         Brainstorm with the other players to see how the author foreshadowed upcoming events or conflicts.

·         What advice would you give the characters in the story regarding a problem they faced?

·         Describe a significant conflict in the story.  What type of conflict was it?  How did it affect the main character?

·         In what way does a character in the story remind you of someone you know?

·         Explain which two characters in the story ware the most different and why.

·         Create 3 questions you could ask the author that would help you better understand on of the main characters.

·         Take 60 seconds and sketch a character in the story.  Include 3 symbolic items in it that tell about him/her.

·         Take 60 seconds to create a group web about a minor character.  Pass the paper around to add ideas.

·         Who is your favorite character and why?  Tell about him/her in a 30 second commercial.

·         Create an invisible character bag for someone in the story.  What 5 items would you include in it and why?

·         All players---Tell what you think the main character’s favorite song would be and why.

·         Summarize the entire story in 30 seconds!

·         Imagine this book as a movie.  Which 3 scenes from the story would make excellent previews and why?

·         Name three things that are very important to each of the main characters in the story.  Explain your choices.

·         All players---describe what you would give each of the main characters as a birthday gift and why.

·         Develop three quality questions about the plot you feel any reader should be able to answer.  Ask the other players to respond to them.

·         If you were in the main character’s position at the climax of the story, what would you have done?

·         Predict what the main characters will be doing in 10 years after the story concludes.  Choose another player to answer this too.

·         Be the main character.  Answer o e question from each player.  Their questions should focus on how you think and feel about the events, problems and other characters in the book.

·         What clues does the author provide about the cultural or social background of the characters in the story?

·         How would changing the place or time in which the story takes place affects the plot?

·         Everyone take 60 seconds and create a quick sketch of map that provides key information about the setting of the story.  Share.

·         Go around the group 3 times and have each player give a precise adjective that describes the setting of the story.

·         Find a passage to share that does an excellent job of describing the setting of the novel.

·         What time of year and in what time period is your novel set?  What clues did the author give that helped you determine this?

·         If you could change one thing about the setting of the novel what would it be?  Have the other players explain how your choice would affect the story.

·         Tel the group about a novel you’ve read that had an especially interesting setting.  How much impact did the time and/or place have on the novel you’re discussing today?

·         How would you describe the overall mood of the novel?  What did the author do to create this mood?

·         Work with a partner and write lyrics relating to the story that fit the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb” or “Row Row Row Your Boat”.  Perform it for each other.

·         Using only motions, portray the key character dealing with an important conflict in the story.  Let the others guess what you’re communicating.

·         In 60 seconds, pose 4 comprehension questions and have other players answer them.

·         All players---grade this book on 4 things:  characterization, plot, interest level, and writer’s skill.

·         Create a short poem or commercial message in which you correctly use at least 3 new vocabulary words.

·         Pretend you have personally joined the cast of characters in the book.  Describe how you fit in the story and how your presence affects the action.

·         Tell 2 ways in which you’re like and 2 ways in which you’re different from one of the characters in the novel.  Now choose another player to do the same.

·         Chose two of the vocabulary words learned through this book.  Use them in a brief conversation with another player.

·         Perform a 30 second commercial in which you encourage people to either read or avoid reading this book.

·         All players---take turns and walk for 15 seconds near your table in the way you fell a key character from the book would move.  (Proudly, timidly, etc.)

·         In 30 seconds, list as many adjectives as you can to describe a character in the book.  Challenge on other player to beat your score.

·         Describe the problems or conflicts that occurred in the story as a direct result of the setting.

·         How would your family feel about living in the time and place where the story was set?

·         Go around the group and have each player comment on how a conflict in this story compares to a real life experience or challenge they’ve had.