Dear Grade Six Parents,

We are about to finish our latest classroom novel, _Maniac Magee_ by Jerry Spinelli. If your child did not bring home a hard copy of this project list today from our sub, please see the electronic copy attached and print it.

Please have your child read all the choices, decide upon one and highlight the main points in the criteria. We will begin working on the projects in class tomorrow. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Ms. A. Phillips

_Maniac Magee_ Project Choices

•Due Friday, June 14, 2013
•You will work on these projects in class and at home

Please read all of the project options and choose one by tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4th. Circle the number of the project you want and highlight the important requirements on this sheet. Please note there is an opportunity for you to work individually, in pairs or in a group.

INDIVIDUALLY:
1. Write an alternate ending for Maniac Magee. (Three single-spaced typed pages in your own words). Choose one of the following:

a) Near the end of the book, Mars Bar offers to let Maniac live with him and Maniac refuses. Then, Amanda orders him home with her. Write an alternate ending to the novel in which Maniac chooses to live with Mars Bar instead of Amanda.

b) Maniac Magee has a happy ending in which Maniac finally finds a home. Using the same writing style and point of view as Jerry Spinelli uses in Maniac Magee, re-write Chapter 46 to make it a sad or tragic ending. Make it believable.

c) Maniac Magee ends with many questions still unanswered. Imagine ten years have passed from the time the novel ends. Write an “afterword” for the book in which you tell the reader about five different major life events that happen to Maniac after the book ended. Keep in mind how old Maniac would be and use the same style as the author, Jerry Spinelli. Make it entertaining and imaginative.

IN PAIRS:
2. Critics have classified Maniac Magee as realistic fiction, legend, a morality play, and part myth. Research the characteristics of each of these types of literature, and decide how you would classify the book. Write and present a three minute presentation arguing that Maniac Magee falls into the category you have chosen. Support your answer with specific references to characteristics that match the book. Present your opinion to the class in a persuasive and engaging way. (powerpoint, debate, talk show, etc.) You must hand in your script. Keep it to three minutes!
IN GROUPS:
3. Take one of the chapters from the book and turn it into a three minute play. Involve everyone in your group in preparing the writing, costumes and props. In your script, include all events and characters that will help your audience understand the main events in the chapter. Leave out what is not necessary. When you are performing, keep in mind that you must portray the characters’ personalities through body language and tone of voice as well as the words they say. Your lines must be clear and audible. You must hand in your script. Keep it to three minutes!

4. Make a poetry book based on Maniac Magee. The book uses many poetic devices such as:

Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Repetition
Rhyme
Rhythm and Alliteration

Using examples of these poetic devices in the novel, make a book of 10 poems inspired by 10 different chapters in Maniac Magee. Incorporate actual lines from the novel into your poetry and add your own poetic language including your own original metaphors, similes, and other poetic devices. Your poetry book must include:

• An illustrated cover with a unique title
• An index
• 10 original poems (with illustrations if you choose)
• A glossary of the poetic terms listed above