Required Sixth Grade Summer Reading Assignment

Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Christie

Crash by Jerry Spinelli
All students entering sixth grade are required to read Crash by Jerry Spinelli.
This book will be used during the first few weeks of school. Students will be
required to complete activities during class based upon this reading.
Crash Assignment: Story Elements Notes
While you are reading Crash please TYPE the following information on another
sheet of paper. (Please use the Elements of Literature Reference Sheet to assist you.)
These notes need to be brought to school the first day and given to your language arts
teacher. All responses must be answered in complete sentences. These notes will be
graded and used to assist you with your first assignment.
On your TYPED notes please include the following heading:
Name
Date
Crash Summer Reading
L.A. Class Period
PART ONE: STORY MAP
Title:
Author:
Genre:
Setting
Time:
Place:
Evidence: (How do you know that it is from the time period? What items are
described or people/events that would let you know?)
Main characters
Protagonist(s):
Antagonist(s):

In complete sentences, give two traits to describe each character. Give

evidence from the text to support your thinking.
Rising Action: What are some main events at the beginning of the story? (Discuss
three)
Conflict: What is the main problem in the story?
Climax: What was the highest point of interest in the story?
Falling Action: What events follow the climax and lead towards the resolution? (Discuss
two)
Resolution: How was the main conflict solved?
Theme: What is the authors central message?

(TURN OVER)

PART TWO: SHORT RESPONSE QUESTIONS

TYPE your responses to the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Be sure to RESTATE each question and give details from the book to support your
thinking. Each response should be approximately 5-7 sentences.
1.

Identify the qualities that make Penn a good friend. Support your answer
by using examples from the text.

2.

Identify the qualities that make Crash a bully. Support your answer by
using examples from the text.

Elements of Literature Reference Sheet

Setting: The time, place and mood (feeling) of the story.
Characters:
Protagonist(s): main character in a story who is faced with a problem. He/she
usually changes/transforms during the story and gains the readers sympathy or
understanding.
Antagonist(s): A character or force in a conflict with the main character
(protagonist); he/she tries to keep the protagonist from achieving his/her goal.
Rising Action: Main part of the story; moves the plot along, where complications begin.
Conflict: The complication or problem the story, it may be an internal problem (with
himself/herself) or external problem (other people or forces); an incident introduces
the central conflict of the story.
Climax: The most exciting or intense part in the story; the major turning point; high
point of interest and suspense.
Falling Action: Events that follow the climax and lead towards the resolution.
Resolution: The point in the story where the conflict is worked out.
Theme: The central message the author wants you to take away from a story. It
expresses a universal truth about life or mankind. Most themes are not directly stated
but implied. As a reader you can find evidence to support the theme throughout the
story.