Click here for detailed instructions with a rubric in pdf format.
Grades 6-12:
After reading their selected summer book, students will choose one of the following creative response options:
Option 1: Book Trailer Video (1–3 minutes)
Students will create a short book trailer designed to capture the essence of the story—similar to a movie preview—without giving away the ending. The trailer should include:
A brief introduction to the main characters and setting
The central conflict or theme
Music, images, or drawings to help set the tone
Text or voiceover narration to explain key points
Students may use tools such as iMovie, Canva, Adobe Spark, PowerPoint with voiceover, or a filmed skit.
Option 2: Character Scrapbook
Students will choose a main character and create a scrapbook (digital or paper) representing the character’s journey throughout the story. The scrapbook should include:
At least 5 artifacts (drawings, photos, poems, song lyrics, journal entries, etc.) representing important moments, feelings, or themes
A 3–5 sentence explanation for each artifact connecting it to the character and story
A creative cover and table of contents
This project can be completed using Google Slides, Canva, a journal, or a shoebox scrapbook.
These options are designed to encourage student voice, creativity, and deeper comprehension while allowing flexibility in how students demonstrate their understanding.
This year’s summer reading assignment is designed to promote student choice, creativity, and meaningful engagement with texts while preparing students for the upcoming school year. The 2026 Summer Reading Program theme, Unearth a Story™, underscores the joy of discovery that reading brings and that every person and every community have stories waiting to be found and shared – through books, programs, and local knowledge.