Newbery Book Report
1. Introduction
• Title, author, and any relevant information about the author
• Why you chose the book
• What kind of story/genre is it?
2. Body – them, plot, setting, and characters
a. The theme is the main idea of the story (friendship, broken
families, Native Americans, overcoming challenges, disabilities, death, etc.)
b. The setting is the time and place of the story. Is it set a long
time ago or now? How much time passes in the story – a day? A year? A
lifetime?
c. The plot is what happens. You want to tell what the story is mostly
about. What is the main event or conflict? What things lead up to it? What
happens as a result? How does the story end? Be careful not to re-tell the
whole story in detail- you want room in your report to write about other
things; instead, just say enough about it so the rest of your report will
make sense.
d. The characters are who the story is about. The main character is
called the protagonist. Who are the other important characters? Do they
help or hinder the protagonist?
3. Conclusion
Here is where you give your overall opinion of the book and the most
important thing you want other people to know about it. Here you can tell
what you think about the book. You can write whatever opinions you have.
Some questions you might want to answer are:
• Did you like the story? Why or why not?
• What was the best part of the book? Why?
• Would you recommend it to your friends?
• Would you read other books by this author?
• What new things did you learn from this book?
• How did this story make you feel?
• What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book?
4. Presentation
Your book report should be typed and very carefully proofread for grammar,
spelling, and punctuation. Your report should also have a title page or
cover identifying yourself, the book, and the author. The cover should be
artistically and thoughtfully illustrated.
Assessment Rubric:
• Introduction (10 points)
• Body (40 points)
• Conclusion (20 points)
• Mechanics (20 points)
• Presentation and Illustration (10 points_
Total: /100
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Fifth Grade Viking Project
Due Date – November 6th
You will be assigned a specific topic to research concerning the Vikings.
After gathering information from books, encyclopedias, and internet sources
about that topic, you will make an informative display to share with you
classmates. Together we will be able to form a “Viking Museum” and
celebrate “Viking Day”. Books are available in classrooms and school and
town libraries. A list of internet sources has been prepared and most of
these links are posted on classroom websites or available from your
teacher. For each topic, ideas for your display are suggested and might
include posters, models, illustrations, maps, and written information. You
will be assigned a topic from the following list:
• Viking daily life/government
• Voyages and exploration
• Housing
• Food and feasting
• Jewelry
• Clothing
• Games and sports
• Animals
• Skald(poets)/Poetic Edda (group of poems)
• Sagas
• Runic alphabet
• Gods and Myths
• Trade
• Navigation
• Shipbuilding/longships
• Raiding/warfare
• Burials/Rune stones
• Names
This project will be conducted at home. Your work should be completed by
November 6th when we will set up the Viking Museum together with all three
fifth grade classrooms to share and celebrate our learning!
