Cannon Middle School Summer Work 2020
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Cannon Middle School Summer Work 2020
We are recommending reading, writing, and keyboarding practice this summer. At its core, our summer work reflects our
mission: Cannon School nurtures relationships at the heart of learning and engages the learner in a journey of growth.
We are asking students to continue engaging by reading both shared texts and texts of choice this summer. Meanwhile, we
honor the importance of the relationships we build with students, and we have included a “relationship component” that is
a self-reflective writing or art piece that students will present to their advisories in the fall.
See below for grade-level details.
5th Grade: Relationship Component
Fifth grade students are asked to create a piece of work (poem, song, essay, poster, sculpture, video…the
student’s choice) that represents who they are. It should express the student’s unique attributes and interests.
Each piece will be presented (3 to 5 minutes in length) to the advisor and the student’s advisory group as a way
for the students to learn about one another.
5th Grade: Reading Component
In fifth grade, students will delve into a variety of topics, from learning about the world around them (including
the keys to “survival” in middle school); to reading, creating, and sharing mythology; to developing a better
understanding of their reading preferences and writing style. The summer reading selections will help launch
this journey. Note: as students select their books, we encourage them to consider that students are at vastly
different reading/interest/maturity levels. They should choose a book that is appropriate for their reading taste,
style, and speed. Additionally, if a parent feels that a book on the list is not a good fit for his/her child, he/she
should feel free to exercise parental veto power.
The required readings are:
1. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
2. One book of choice from the list below:
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida
Cowell
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Flush by Carl Hiassen
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn
Fendler The One and Only Ivan or The One and Only Bob
by Katharine Applegate
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker
The Lightning Thief graphic novel or novel
series by Rick Riordan6th Grade: Relationship Component
Incoming sixth grade students are asked to create a piece of work (poem, song, essay, poster, sculpture,
video…the student’s choice) that tells the story of how they grew or reached towards mastery in one of the four
adaptive expertise habits they studied (communication, teamwork, creativity/curiosity, or reflection). Click here
for more information on the co-habits. Each piece will be presented (3 to 5 minutes in length) to the advisor and
the student’s advisory group as a way for the students to learn about one another.
6th Grade: Reading Component
In sixth grade, students will be reading Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate to start off the year and
attending the Special Olympics in the spring. Linking these activities together is a common theme: the need to
identify the things that draw us together while understanding the differences that make us unique and strong.
Students will have a choice of books from the list below that address that theme. Note: as students select their
books, we encourage them to consider that students are at vastly different reading/interest/maturity levels. They
should choose a book that is appropriate for their reading taste, style, and speed. Additionally, if a parent feels
that a book on the list is not a good fit for his/her child, he/she should feel free to exercise parental veto power.
The required readings are:
1. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
2. One book of choice from the list below:
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate Outside In by Jennifer Bradbury
Crow by Barbara Wright Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai
A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Bluefish by Pat Schmatz The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker
Bradley
A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouman
The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P by Alex Gino
New Kid by Jerry Craft
90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis
Focused by Alyson Gerber7th Grade: Relationship Component
Incoming seventh graders are asked to create a piece of work (poem, song, essay, poster, sculpture, video…the
student’s choice) that captures a meaningful personal experience with a community of which they are a part (be
it their family, their school, a team, etc.). Students might consider demonstrating how they contribute to this
community and how the community supports them. Each piece will be presented (3 to 5 minutes in length) to
the advisor and the student’s advisory group as a way for the students to learn about one another.
7th Grade: Reading Component
In seventh grade, students will be stretching themselves in writing and exploring new genres of literature. The
summer reading choices are designed to help students think about the importance of community and how our
communities impact our sense of self.
The required readings are:
1. Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
2. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
In addition, these are some optional choices that also address the theme of community:
Fantasy Historical Fiction The Maze Runner &/or Eye of
Minds by James Dashner
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Nielsen The Selection by Kiera Cass
Under the Broken Sky by Mariko
Graphic Novel Nagai Realistic Fiction
New Kid by Jerry Craft Last of the Name by Rosanne Parry Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
El Deafo by Cece Bell Echo b y Pam Muñoz Ryan Posted by John David Anderson
Illegal Eoin Colfer Science Fiction/Dystopian Obsessed by Allison Britz
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen The Giver by Lois Lowry Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Yang
The Hunger Games b y Suzanne I’m Ok by Patti Kim
Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir Collins
Swing b y Kwame Alexander
This Kid Can Fly by Aaron Philip Ink by Alice Broadway
Hush Jacqueline Woodson
Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang Uglies b y Scott Westerfield
Divergent b y Veronica Roth8th Grade: Relationship Component
Incoming eighth graders are asked to create a piece of work (poem, song, essay, poster, sculpture, video…the
student’s choice) that captures a meaningful personal experience with one of Cannon’s core values (courage,
respect, integrity, kindness, passion, and/or teamwork). Each piece will be presented (3 to 5 minutes in length)
to the advisor and the student’s advisory group as a way for the students to learn about one another.
8th Grade: Reading Component
In eighth grade, students will be given a choice to explore a variety of genres and find what grows them as a
student. They will start the year by talking, discussing, and creating based on their summer reads. Students will
have a choice of books from the list below that are either interesting to them or ask them to step outside of their
reading comfort zone. Note: as students select their books, we encourage them to consider that students are at
vastly different reading/interest/maturity levels. Students should choose a book that is appropriate for their
reading taste, style, and speed. Additionally, if a parent feels that a book on the list is not a good fit for his/her
child, he/ she should feel free to exercise parental veto power.
The required reading is two books from this list that meet the following criteria: (1) a book that sounds
interesting to you, and (2) a book in a genre that you don’t normally gravitate to.
Fantasy: Splendors and Glooms by Laura Graphic Novel:
Schlitz
Children of Blood and Bone by Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Adeyemi, Tomi The Amulet of Samarkand s eries
by Jonathan Stroud This One Summer by Mariko
La Belle Sauvage series by Philip Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
Pullman The Hobbit b y J.R.R. Tolkien
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Magnus Chase trilogy and Sword The Lord of the Rings series by
of Summer s eries by Rick Riordan J.R.R. Tolkien Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen
Yang
The Girl Who Drank the Moon b y The Thief series by Megan Turner
Kelly Barnhill New Kid by Jerry Craft
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
Harry Potter s eries by J.K.
Airman by Eoin Colfer Rowling
The Graveyard Book by Neil The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee
Gaiman Ahdieh
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Seraphina b y Rachel Hartman
The Hero and the Crown b y Robin
McKinleyHistorical Fiction: Realistic Fiction: Letting Go of Gravity b y Meg
Leder
Journey of Little Charlie and You Bring the Distance Near by
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Mitali Perkins The Hate U Give b y Angie
Paul Curtis Thomas
Hope Was Here b y Joan Bauer
The Parker Inheritance by Varian The One Memory of Flora Banks
Johnson After the First Death and The by Emily Barr
Chocolate War b y Robert Cormier
Chains b y Laurie Halse Anderson A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L.
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Going The Running Dream by Wendelin
Miniver b y E.L. Konigsburg Van Draaneen
We Were Liars b y E. Lockhart
The Chosen by Chaim Potak The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason
Touching Spirit Bear b y Ben Reynolds
The Hired Girl by Laura Schlitz Mikaelsen
Milkweed b y Jerry Spinelli Fallen Angels and Monster by
Walter Dean Myers Science Fiction:
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
A Step from Heaven by An Na The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler Galaxy by Douglas Adams
by Phillip Hoose Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine
Paterson Scythe, Thunderhead, o r The Toll
Allies by Alan Gratz by Neal Shusterman
All American Boys b y Jason
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Foundation by Isaac Asimov
John Boyne
Ghost series by Jason Reynolds Ender’s Game a nd Ender’s
Verse Novel: Shadow by Orson Scott Card
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca
Long Way Down by Jason Stead The Hunger Games series by
Reynolds Suzanne Collins
Insignificant Events in the Life of a
Swing by Kwame Alexander Cactus by Dusti Bowling Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
The Crossover by Kwame Gym Candy by Carl Deuker The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer
Alexander of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston
House Arrest by K.A. Holt
Booked by Kwame Alexander Legend series and The Young
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Elites s eries by Marie Lu
Knock Out by K.A. Holt Perez
Life As We Knew It by Susan
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Pfeffer
Rhodes
Steelheart series by Brandon
I’ll Be There Holly Goldberg Sloan Sanderson
The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Fracture b y Megan Miranda
SullivanSuspense: This Land was Made for You and Classic:
Me: The Life and Songs of Woody
The False Prince by Jennifer Guthrie by Elizabeth Partridge Little Women by Louisa May
Nielsen Alcott
Persepolis b y Marjane Satrapi
Jackaby by William Ritter (graphic novel) And There Were None and Murder
on the Orient Express by Agatha
Serafina and the Black Cloak Bomb, Most Dangerous, and The Christie
series by Robert Beatty Port Chicago 50: Disaster,
Mutiny, and The Fight for Civil A Christmas Carol b y Charles
Greenglass House by Kate Milford Dickens
Rights by Steve Sheinkin
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness The Count of Monte Cristo and
Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
(graphic novel) The Three Musketeers by
Alexandre Dumas
Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi
Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir:
Death Camp by Andrea Warren Rebecca by Daphne Dumaurier
Hitler Youth and The Called
The Martian Chronicles by Ray 1984 by George Orwell
Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth
Bradbury
of an American Terrorist Group by A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by
Susan Campbell Bartoletti Betty Smith
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Treasure Island by Robert Louis
Bomb by Steve Sheinkin
Wings by Margarita Engle Stevenson
The Boys in the Boat Youth
The Family Romanov: Murder, The Prince and the Pauper and
Edition by Daniel James Brown
Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial The Adventures of Huckleberry
Russia by Candace Fleming Finn by Mark Twain
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by
Jules Verne
Vincent and Theo by Deborah
Heiligan The War of the Worlds by H.G.
Wells
March: Book Three b y John Lewis
with Andrew Aydin & Nate The Adventures of Sherlock
Powell Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle
No Pretty Pictures b y Anita Lobel
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen
Lee
Mah
The Giver by Lois Lowry
We are the Ship b y Kadir NelsonAll Grades: Writing Practice (Recommended)
Writing is a crucial component of the middle school curriculum. Throughout the school year, students will be
asked to do various tasks that involve reflection, writing about their reading, creative writing, nonfiction
writing, research writing, and poetry. Here are some suggested ways of writing over the summer:
● Writing letters to a friend or family member
● Journal about daily life and experiences throughout the summer
● Writing short or long stories, memoirs, poems, or informational pieces on a topic they researched
● Write in response to what they read--What surprised you? What did the author think you already knew?
What challenged, changed, or confirmed your thinking?
● Write a newspaper article about a topic that interests you or an opinion you have about a topic
● Create a comic strip
All Grades: Keyboarding Practice (Recommended)
In the coming school year, we will enhance our support of students with a program that provides structured
keyboarding practice time on Fridays during study hall for our 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students as well as for 8th
grade students whose scores lie below the benchmark speed. The goal is to get every student to grade level
proficiency. If you are interested in giving your child a jump-start this summer, the following are some great
programs available for online practice: www.typingclub.com (all rising 6th and 7th graders are already enrolled
at cannonmiddle.typingclub.com); www.typing.com; www.speedtypingonline.com;. Please contact Catherine
Jones, our Dean of Studies, with questions: catherinejones@cannonschool.org.You can also read
