Literature+Circles+Games


 * __Introduction to Literature Circles:__**

Literature Circles is a reading program which we use. We get to choose a book that 3 or 4 people read at once. We have 1 or 2 or 3 weeks to read the book depending on how hard the book is. Each week we have to complete a task in relation to the book that helps us to think deeper about the book. Each Wednesday we bring our work to school and share what we have done. We are very proud of the work that we do with Literature Circles.


 * __Literature Circles and Game Maker__

We are part of the 1-1 netbook trial. We get to develop the tasks that we do for Literature Circles. Some of the old ones we keep because we like them but we are always trying to think of new ideas for us to do.

Callum took his netbook home and for his Literature Circles task he designed a word game using game maker. We have used Game Maker to make other games but this was one that Callum designed. In this game you have to hit the words that go with the story or what you have read.

This is a Lit Circles word finding game.

Callum has now made a new task for our Literature Circles program.** Other people have now started to use game maker in their Literature circles. We can design games that tell the story that we are reading. There can be different rooms in the game to show the different parts of the story.

We can work in teams to make a game about the story the group has read. Each member can be responsible for a part of the story and they need to create a room or rooms for that part. When other members play the game they can assess how well it fits with the story. Rooms might even be created like a 'pick your adventure' game.


 * TASK

Jigsaw Story

Teacher Preparation: You need a short novel that has between 100 and 200 pages. You need to be able to break it up in to a few sections. Students can work individually or in small groups to be the 'players'. This is a 'tribes' activity.

You have 90 minutes to complete this task. You will be given a short text of which you will only read a part.

Player 1 reads the first 40 pages (nominate the required reading amount) Player 2 reads the next 40 pages. Player 3 reads the next 40 pages.

You are not to read the other sections of the book. When you have finished the reading you are to use Game Maker to design a game that tells the part of the story that you have read. Your group will come together and you will put all of the games or pieces of the story together to tell the story.**