FOR TEACHERS (grades 5 and up):

Reach out to readers by bringing films based on award-winning books into your classroom. Send your students on a cyberhunt to find fun projects related to film adaptations of their favorite books—this cyberlesson provides links to websites brimming with great project ideas. Then have students take part in a Based-on-Books Critic’s Corner in which they critique the movies and books and share their projects. To help students keep track of their Critic’s Corner project, use this downloadable worksheet.

Part 1: Watch a Film. Encourage students to view a video or DVD based on a book they have read. Remind them to watch critically and to keep in mind that they will be discussing the film and the book and working on a project that compares the two versions. Several websites provide step-by-step instructions for exploring movies adapted from books.

Disney Educational Productions offers Classroom Edition versions of films based on books, including these new on DVD:

The Light in the Forest (book by Conrad Richter)

Ben & Me (book by Robert Lawson)

Justin Morgan Had a Horse (Newbery Honor Book by Marguerite Henry)

Johnny Tremain (book by Esther Forbes)

The Pinballs (book by Betsy Byars)

Holes (book by Louis Sachar)

Part 2: Choose a Project. Have students select a project related to the film they viewed. They can use online resources to find projects or come up with original ideas. For example, students may decide to create a storyboard based on a scene from the book that is not included in the film, or role-play an interview with a main character. Students can work on projects with a partner or individually.

Part 3: Critic’s Corner. Invite students to meet in small groups and take part in a Based-on-Books Critic’s Corner. Afterward, arrange for outstanding projects to go on display in the school library and encourage students to write an article about the Critic’s Corner activities for the school newspaper.

Extension. Provide a Critic’s Corner Notebook for your class library, in which students list and comment on films that are based on books.

e="4">FOR STUDENTS (grades 5 and up):

Have you seen a movie based on a favorite book? Do you like seeing story characters finally brought to the screen? How do you feel when key scenes from the book are left out of the movie? How would you film the book if you could direct it? Share your excitement about movies made from books. First, watch a movie based on a book that you’ve read. Then choose a project related to the movie and book. Meet with your classmates in small groups for a Book-to-Film Critic’s Corner, where you’ll discuss both the movie and the book, plus have a chance to share your project.

Download and print your Critic’s Corner Worksheet to help you plan your project.

Part 1: Watch a Film
Choose a book you’ve read that’s been made into a movie. Make sure you’ve read the book recently, so you can compare the book and movie versions.

For a sampling of books made into films, check these sites.

• Movies based on Books, for Teens (see the movie section at the top of the page)

• Family Movies Based on Books

Check to see which videos or DVDs are available through your school or local library. Then view the film. Remember to watch it carefully, since you’ll be critiquing it later.

Part 2: Choose a Project
Choose a movie-related project to share with your classmates. For instance, you can draw a storyboard showing a scene from the book that is not included in the film, or you can role-play an interview with a main character about the film version of his or her book.

Perhaps you already have a great project idea, but if you need some suggestions, check out these sites. Remember, the purpose of your project is to compare and critique the film and the book on which it is based.

• Be a Movie Reviewer
• Design Your Own “Oscar”
• Change the Ending (scroll down to “Projects”)
• Make a Book into a Movie Project (you can adapt to this to your movie and book, with help from the teacher)
• Lights, Camera, Action! (since you already saw the movie adaptation, you might want to write a movie proposal for a sequel)
• Meet You at the Movies (you can adapt this to a scene that is in the book you read but not in the movie version)

Part 3: Lights, Camera, Action! Take part in the Based-on-Books Critic’s Corner.

Meet with a group to discuss the film and the book on which it is based.
These sites can help you get started.

• Discussion Questions and Projects That Can Be Used with Any Film
• Books to Film and Videos (scroll down to this section of the page)
• Books and Movies in the Classroom (scroll down to the questions in the yellow box)

Then share your project with your group. Allow time for questions and answers.

Brainstorm with your group about book/movie combinations. Think back on all of the book/movie combinations your group has read and seen. Discuss which were better, the books or the movies. Do members of your group agree or disagree about that?

Think of a good book you’ve read that should be made into a movie. What actors would you cast for key roles? Who do you think should direct the film? Where should it be filmed?

Do you have a general opinion about books made into movies or movies made into books? If not, what are your specific experiences?

Extension

“Publish” your reviews in a classroom Critic’s Corner movie-review notebook devoted to films based on books. You and your classmates can add comments and additional reviews throughout the school year. If a new film opens based on a book, you can read the book, screen the movie with a group of friends, write a short review, and add it to the notebook. Make sure to use a rating system, such as five stars for the best and a red X for the worst.