Dear Parents and Guardians, Butler County Reading Fair Thank you for requesting more information on the Butler County Reading Fair. It is going to be very exciting! We are asking that each child choose a fiction or non-fiction book. Let your child choose a book that he/she is excited about reading. This is to be a fun learning experience. If you choose to participate, W. O. Parmer s Reading Fair will be on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. Projects must be brought to the W. O. Parmer on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Parents and students will have a chance to view the reading fair projects on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. All projects must be picked up by Friday, November 21, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. Below are the guidelines for the Reading Fair, which must be followed or the project may be disqualified. There are some guidelines for your child to follow when doing the project: This year's competition allows students in grades K - 4 the opportunity to share their favorite fiction or non-fiction book. Students, deciding to do so, are to compete within their specified grade group. Storyboards should be constructed on a tri-fold project board. The board should be full-sized, 30 H x 40 W and are not to exceed 36 H x 48 W. The total height of the project cannot exceed 36. A tri-fold board that is already 36 in height should not have anything added to the top. The total project should not exceed the width or depth of the standing display board. Storyboards should be colorful and interesting. Models, shadowboxes, and illustrations that fit in the middle of the display are allowed. No items should hang over the edge of the table or be placed on the floor. Electrical cords may not be used due to the danger they create in the aisles. Identifying information (name of the student(s), category division, student s grade level in school, homeroom teacher s name, and school) should be labeled on the back of the storyboard. If this identifying information is on the front, the project will be disqualified. This year s students will be judged in the following divisions Fiction Non-Fiction Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Division A Division B Division C Division D Division E Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Division N Division O Division P Division Q Division R Items on the boards may be handwritten or computer printed. Kindergarten students and other young students may require assistance in writing, typing, spelling, cutting, etc. This is permissible and part of the learning process. Kindergarten and first grade students may select a book for their project that they have read or listened to. Questions may be simplified for young students. For example: What is the title of the book? Who are the main characters? Who wrote the book? Where and when did the story happen? What is the book about? What happens in the book? Was there a problem in the story? How was the problem solved? Why do you think the author wrote the book? How did the book make you feel? Projects will be judged closely on whether the project shows work appropriate for the age level of the student. The first place winner of each category division at the local level will advance to the district level at the Butler County Board of Education where a district winner will be named. The following are the district groupings, 1. Kindergarten 2. First Grade 3. Second Grade 4. Third Grade 5. Fourth Grade Optional: Students may dress up as a character of in their text. Copyright Infringement: Due to copyright laws, one should not photocopy any part of a book (text or illustrations) nor print a copyrighted illustration from the Internet. Clip art that is not copyrighted may be used on a storyboard. *You will find additional information and story board layout samples in this packet. I hope you and your child have a wonderful time completing this project.
Butler County Reading Fair Requirements Required Story Elements for a Fiction Book (K - 4): 1. Title 2. Author 3. Publisher and Publication Date 4. Setting (place and time of story) 5. Main Characters (What characters are important to the story line?) (Why are those characters important to the story?) 6. Plot Summary (What is a brief summary of what the story is about and what takes place?) 7. Conflict (What is the problem in the story?) 8. Solution or Resolution (How is the problem resolved?) 9. Author s Purpose (Why did the author write the story? to entertain, inform, persuade, or a combination) 10. Tone or Mood (The tone affects the feelings of the reader or how the author wants the reader to feel when reading the story. What is the tone and the mood of the story?). 11. Why did you choose to do a project on the book or text? Sample Fiction Storyboard This is just a sample of how to put together a storyboard to help you get started and to help you make sure you have all the elements for a Reading Project. Setting (Time & Place) Title Author s Name Solution or Resolution Main Characters and Plot Publisher and Publication Date Author s Purpose Conflict Why you chose your book or text Tone or Mood
Reading Fair Project Checklist for Fiction (K 4) Project has the following: Title Author Publisher and Publication Date Setting (place and time of story) Main Characters (What characters are important to the story line?) (Why are those characters important to the story?) Plot Summary (What is a brief summary of what the story is about and what takes place?) Conflict (What is the problem in the story?) Solution or Resolution (How is the problem resolved?) Author s Purpose (Why did the author write the story to entertain, inform, persuade, or a combination) Tone or Mood (The tone affects the feelings of the reader or how the author wants the reader to feel when reading the story. What is the tone and the mood of the story?) Why did you chose to do a project on the book or text? Writing: o Writing is neat and inviting. o Writing is easily understood. Creativity: o Project is original. o Project demonstrates imagination. o Unique materials are used to express ideas. Quality of Project: o Project follows the guidelines. o Project is durable and will last through several rounds of competition without physical support. Thoroughness of Written Information: o Project captures the most important information. o Project captures the concept/point the author made in the book. Interest Evoked: o Project demonstrates student s ability. o Project encourages others to read the book. o Project attracts others and makes them interested in the work.
Understanding Non-fictional Text The first component of non-fiction is genre. Genres of non-fiction can be identified by one single factor: the intent, or purpose, of the writing. On the other hand, genre of fiction blends together. For instance, a fantasy story can have characteristics of an adventure story, but not all adventure stories are fantasies. The difference between genre such as adventure and fantasy can be difficult for students to identify, since many components are used to create them. Therefore, genres of non-fiction are more clearly defined than fiction. They explain the intent of the author or the purpose of the material. The six main genres of non-fiction are: 1. Instructional: used to describe how something is done or made. 2. Explanatory: tells what happened or how something works, with defined reasons. 3. Report: tells how things are or are discovered. 4. Discussion: looks at both sides of an idea and makes a decision. 5. Opinion: decides on a point-of-view and has reasons to support the view. 6. Relate: retells the information or events for an audience. Students should be aware of the variety and format of the structures of non-fictional text. Some structures or formats of non-fiction can be seen within a variety of text. For example, a speech can be instructional, explanatory, a report, opinion, or discussion. On the contrary, a recipe is considered instructional. This is one thing that makes non-fictional text so unique. The structure can take on different tones and formats depending on the author's intent. See below for a list of genre and formats of non-fictional text. Only the formats labeled with an asterisk (*) can be used for Reading Fair projects. Structures/Formats of Non-Fictional Text Almanacs Editorials Magazine Articles Presentations Autobiographies* Historical/Academic Manuals Proposals Essays* Biographies* Evaluations Newspaper Articles Recipes Nonfiction Books* Guides Notices Reports Brochures Interviews Obituaries Request Forms Consumer Reports Academic Peer Reviewed Journals* Observations Rules Debates Letters Polls/Surveys Historical Speeches* Demonstrations Logs Postcards Travelogues
Required Non-fiction Elements (K - 4): 1. Title 2. Author 3. Publisher and Publication Date 4. Student prediction based on events and facts presented (What do you think this book will be about before reading it? Feel free to use a KWL graphic organizer.) 5. Structure of text / Genre (What is the genre of the text? How do you know?) 6. Main Idea [Use of graphic organizers (including, but not limited to: compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem solving) to capture the main idea and /or main points that are important to the text] 7. Summary-brief summary (50 words or less, not word-for-word retelling) about the book. 8. Student-made connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, and/or text-to-world) 9. Author's Purpose - Why did the author write the story? (entertain, inform, persuade, or a combination) 10. Follow-up questions to the author after reading the non-fiction text. 11. Why did you chose to do a project on the book or text? Sample Non-fiction Storyboard This is just a sample of how to put together a storyboard to help you get started and to help you make sure you have all the elements for a Reading Project. Structure of Text/Genre Student Prediction Title Author s Name Publisher and Publication Date Student-Made Connections Author's Purpose Main Idea (graphic organizer required) Why you chose your book or text Summary Follow-Up Questions
Reading Fair Project Checklist for Non-Fiction (K 4) Project has the following: Title Author Publisher and Publication Date Student prediction based on events and facts presented (What do you think this book will be about before reading it? Feel free to use a KWL graphic organizer.) Structure of text / Genre (What is the genre of the text? How do you know?) Main Idea [Use of graphic organizers (including, but not limited to: compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem solving) to capture the main idea and /or main points that are important to the text] Summary-brief summary (50 words or less, not word-for-word retelling) about the book. Student-made connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, and/or text-to-world) Author's Purpose - Why did the author write the story? (entertain, inform, persuade, or a combination) Follow-up questions to the author after reading the non-fiction text. Why did you chose to do a project on the book or text? Writing: o Writing is neat and inviting. o Writing is easily understood. Creativity: o Project is original. o Project demonstrates imagination. o Unique materials are used to express ideas. Quality of Project: o Project follows directions from the guidelines. o Project is durable and will last through several rounds of competition without physical support. Thoroughness of Written Information: o Project captures the most important information. o Project captures the concept/point the author made in the book. Interest Evoked: o Project demonstrates student s ability. o Project encourages others to read the book. o Project attracts others and makes them interested in the work.