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Future Classics Projects and Presentations
The Future Classics Projects and Presentations take its names from the literature in Futures Studies. The belief is that the children of today are reading the classic literature of tomorrow. Not all books will go down as quality books, but many of the books that our children are reading certainly have that potential.
Reading abilities of twice-exceptional learners range widely from struggling readers to high ability readers. But they, like other learners, need to share information about books they have read. The Future Classics Projects and Presentations replace the traditional book report, yet allows the student to respond to what was learned about the book, to the personal feelings about the book, and any recommendations concerning the book. The sharing of information is accomplished through a variety of recommended hands-on projects that students must complete on a monthly basis. These projects allow the child to focus on one aspect of the book or to focus on the entire book and share what they have learned about the book and/or about themselves.
The Future Classics Projects are presented on a monthly basis within the classroom setting. These presentations generally occur on a Friday. The date will be posted on this WebPage on a monthly basis. However, the projects themselves are due the Wednesday before. In this way, there is much excitement and anticipation built up for the presentations themselves. And, as always, the Friday of the Future Classics Projects and Presentations is also the day we enjoy our famous Baked Potato Friday. Baked Potato Friday offers baked potatoes for all children in the program along with a variety of toppings. For safety and cleanliness, potatoes are baked in our school cafeteria.

Who is doing what project and based on what book for the month of January, 2004?
Future Classics for January 30, 2004

AS
Title: Sideways Stories From Wayside School
Author: Lewis Strider
Project Description:

AH
Title: Dragon Slayer Academy
Author:
Project Description:

HE
Title: Rowin of Rinn
Author: Emily Rodda
Project Description: Lego model of a scene from the book.

TL
Title: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Author: Tony Di Terlizza
Project Description: Scale Model complete with scale drawing.

CM
Title: Return of the King
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Project Description:

MY
Title: Magic Fishbone
Author:
Project Description: Mobile

Don’t forget, all projects are due by January 28, 2004

Below, please find the list projects from which your child selects:

FUTURE CLASSIC ACTIVITIES
for Twice Exceptional Students

DIRECTIONS: The following are guidelines to help you design high quality Future Classic books. You may select an activity only one time, so pick carefully. You will be presenting your final product to the class during our Future Classic Sharing days. You will have one review every month. You will be sharing the most delightful book you have read during that time. The quality of each final product is expected to be high, but the final products do not need to be long. Please put the date you use each activity beside the number of the activity! Then, record the name of the book and its author on your record sheet. Make the Future Classic time fun and interesting to the class! Do remember to start each Future Classic Presentation with the name of the book and the author...that way we’ll all know what you have read!

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!
You must have the book you are sharing with you during your Future Classic time. Your book, like your Seminar notes, is your ticket into the Future Classic Presentations.

Future Classic Products:

1. Create a complete book jacket to “sell” the story to others. Look at good examples of book jackets before you begin.

2. Make a diorama showing your favorite part of the story.

3. Make a bound alphabet book using unusual words and/or characters’ names in the story.

4. Make a mobile showing the characters or some part of the story. Be sure to have the hanging figures large and with backs!

5. Illustrate in ink and colored pencils, and label four or five events from the story; then, put them in the right order to tell the story.

6. Make a fancy scroll, giving a great synopsis of the story.

7. Create a map showing the important events of the book, where they took place; locate all places mentioned in the story ink and enhance the map.

8. Make a word book about the story. Have sections for: compound words found in the book; for vivid words that make you hear special sounds; for descriptive words that make you see something very clearly in your mind; and for insightful words that make you feel something.

9. Write and present a taped audio script from the story.

10. Make a project suggested in the book, giving clear directions to the class about how to do it.

11. If your story is historical, find other events that happened at the same time. Report about these events and how they might relate to the book.

12. Make a pictorial time-line about the story...remember careful lettering and the use of guide lines.
13. Compile a neat scrapbook about the author of your book.

14. Write a diary about the story, written as though you had been there.

15. Make a written report about one idea in the book that goes along with science or social studies, etc....

16. Represent a character in your book by dressing the part and describing a special part you play in the book.

17. Create a large mural showing scenes from the story.

18. Write a play retelling the story.

19. Create a song, or a long poem, telling the story in words and/or music.

20. If your book was a biography, make a report on additional information about the person found in other references.

21. If you book was about an animal, find all you can about that animal; make a report sharing your findings.

22. If you book was a tall tale, make a chart about the exaggerations; explain them to the class.

23. Construct a scale model, complete with scale drawings, about a structure mentioned in the story.

24. Make a tape recording about the book, reading short sections from the book, just to “wet the appetite” of the listener. Be sure to introduce your book and author on the tape, and use appropriate sound effects. Make sure the quality of the taping is high!

25. Propose a project that you would love to do, but isn’t included on this list. Have your proposal approved by your facilitator before you being working on the project.

FUTURE CLASSIC PRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND FUN!
THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ GOOD BOOKS!
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO DO A GREAT JOB WITH EACH FUTURE CLASSIC YOU DO!