Middle School Summer Reading Boot Camp (Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters)

School is out and it's time to...

Read?

That's right! Because we're not reading some boring ol' book you have no interest in! Never! (I hope.) No, we will be reading all about adventure and excitement where history and the (fictional) present collide. Join me as we continue the Percy Jackson book series and learn more about the dangers in The Sea of Monsters.

Details for parents and guardians:

Class summary:
Each day, students will come to class having read in advance a specific number of chapters (or pages). During our live meeting time, students and I will talk about what has been read and I will guide the conversation with a selection of Socratic questions created to drive the conversation. Students will have the chance to develop a deeper understanding of the text by examining issues and events that occur within the novel. This is also a great opportunity for students to discuss passages they didn't understand or get another perspective on characters and ideas throughout the books.

Class breakdown:
Week 1: The Sea of Monsters (Rick Riordan)
Monday - (Chapters 1-5) During our first lesson, students will discuss the author (Rick Riordan) and why Percy Jackson is considered a fantasy adventure novel. We will also discuss the influences of the time period and what influences the author's own life had on the book. Students will each get a chance to answer and ask questions regarding the book's characters, theme, and create their own predictions about Percy's future...what will he do now that he knows who he really is?

Tuesday - (Chapters 6-10) In class we will turn our focus towards Percy's life since he has left Camp Half-blood and found out who he really is. We will start the conversation by focusing on Percy's latest "quest" and what is motivating him to make the choices he makes. During class, we will step into each character's shoes and discuss the hidden meanings and messages through metaphors and symbolism. We will also take a look at the various characters that Percy meets along his journey and what roles they play in his transformation.

Wednesday - (Chapters 11-15) During this class, we will take a look at the timeline of events, highlighting the more important occurrences, that are leading to the story's conclusion. I will present the directions for student's book reviews towards the end of the class. *Students will be asked to write a book review for Thursday's class. This is a one-page worksheet that will be posted in the classroom and can be filled out online or printed. Please make sure that your student uploads it via Google Docs or MS Word so that we can discuss as a class.*

Thursday - (Chapters 16-20) Thursday will be the last day we discuss The Sea of Monsters. Students will discuss whether their predictions of the outcome was as expected or different than what they had in mind. We will also define the novel's overall theme and discuss what the student's thought about the story versus the author's intent. 

Why is this class called "Bootcamp"?
Just like any good Bootcamp, we are getting down and dirty exploring the details and ideas we read during this session. Okay, so it may not be push-ups and burpees (whew), but we will be digging into the character's psyche, the underlying themes within Percy Jackson. But really it's because the classes are four days each week instead of the usual once-a-week meetings.

*Summer camp papers, participation, or reviews are NOT GRADED. 

*Because this is a discussion class, there should be a minimum of 3 students per class. If this minimum is not reached, I will contact you about additional options.