Samantha 0:00
Hey there joyful reader. Welcome back to the podcast. Today we are wrapping up our exploration of the historical fiction genre with five assessment ideas you can use in your genre based literature unit. These are creative projects that highlight all of the key knowledge students should gain from a unit like this, while helping them hone in on those important 21st century skills. Keep listening joyful reader, because today’s episode is full of fresh ideas.

Samantha 0:29
Welcome to Creating Joyful Readers, a podcast dedicated to empowering secondary educators with the tools, strategies, and inspiration to cultivate a lifelong love of reading in their students. I’m your host, Samantha. Tune in each week as we explore the transformative power of independent reading. Delve into the latest research on literacy, dissect projects that will help your students showcase what they’ve learned in a unique way, and share curated recommendations of young adult novels that will captivate and engage your learners. Join in as we embark on a journey to create joyful, lifelong readers, one book at a time.

Samantha 1:05
First, I want to share one of my favorite projects that I found really helps students connect with the setting of the text they read. I’ve used this in the past with texts like The Crucible and To Kill a Mockingbird, and it’s always a hit with students. It’s called a Literary Field Trip, and it’s a fun, creative way to wrap up a unit semester, or even the whole school year if you want to give students a selection of past texts to choose from. The idea behind it is simple. Students plan a trip to the various settings they’ve studied in their book. They create a boarding pass, plan specific stops, and really dive deep into the places they’ve encountered in their reading. What I love about this project is that it works with any text that is based on a real place, and encourages students to think critically about the setting while also having a bit of fun. If you’d like some assistance with this project, I have a done for you resource in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, Samantha in Secondary. My version comes with both printable and digital options. So whether you love to see students physically put pen to paper, or you prefer a paperless classroom, you’re covered. And if you’re looking for something to shake up, the usual end of the year review, this could be a great way to assess understanding while keeping things engaging. If you want to get my full historical fiction genre based literature circle unit, this is the project that comes with it. It’s one of those activities where you’ll see students really get into it, kind of like a mini vacation through literature, where they not only revisit the stories they’ve read, but also explore the historical, cultural and geographical aspects of each setting in a way that makes the material feel fresh and exciting. Again, it’s a great way to see their creativity shine while reinforcing key concepts. I highly suggest checking this one out.

Samantha 2:40
Let’s talk about another really creative project, idea that I absolutely love for historical fiction. It’s called the historical fiction time capsule. This is one of those activities that get students thinking about their book in a whole new way. Here’s how it works. After reading their historical fiction novel, students create a time capsule filled with artifacts, letters or objects that represent key moments, characters or themes from the story. The fun part – they get to dive deep into the history and culture of their book’s time period by choosing items that really reflect the essence of what was happening in the novel. These could be physical items. They create digital artifacts or even written descriptions of objects. For each item, they write an explanation of why they chose it and what it represents in the context of the book. It’s a great way for them to synthesize their understanding and show off what they’ve learned in a tangible, creative way. For example, if a student is reading the Book Thief by Markus Zusak, they might include a letter from one of the characters, or a small object, like a piece of torn fabric to represent the hardships of the time. Another student reading Code Name Verity might include a replica of an old wartime radio or a pilot’s logbook to reflect the story’s themes of bravery and survival. The possibilities are endless, and students have so much fun really digging into their novels in this way. What I love about the time capsule project is that it taps into students’ creative sides, while giving them a meaningful way to demonstrate their understanding of the historical setting, character development, and themes. Plus when they present their time capsules to the class, it turns into this really cool sharing experience where everyone gets a deeper appreciation for the books their peers have read. It’s engaging, interactive, and perfect for any historical fiction unit.

Samantha 4:22
Let’s dive into another one of my favorite historical fiction projects, the character diary. This one is such a powerful way to help students really connect with the characters in their books. The idea is that students write a series of diary entries from the perspective of one of the main characters. Through these entries, they’ll explore the characters, thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they navigate the historical events and conflicts in the story. Here’s where it gets really fun. This isn’t just any diary. If you want to take it to the next level, and I highly recommend you do, because it’s so much fun, have your students make the diary look as authentic as possible. One of my favorite things to do with my students was to have them write their entries on card stock, then dye the pages with coffee grounds to give it that old weathered look. And if you really want to add a dramatic touch, burn the edges of the paper just a little bit. I used to take it home, or we would take a field trip outside and do it for them. My students always loved that part. It was like adding a little bit of history and drama to their work. Plus, it really helped them feel like they were stepping into the shoes of their character. For example, if a student is reading Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, they might write from the perspective of Joana, a Lithuanian nurse fleeing the advancing Soviet Army during World War Two. The diary entries could capture her inner turmoil as she grapples with the responsibility of helping others while dealing with their own feelings of guilt and fear. Students could explore how Joanna processes the horrors of war, her longing for home, and her struggle to stay hopeful amidst chaos. They might even imagine her using the diary as a way to cope with the trauma, giving insight into her resilience and the emotional weight of survival. This kind of reflection deepens their understanding of both the character and the historical context, while making the writing process more meaningful. The beauty of this project is that it’s a deeply personal way for students to explore character development. They have to think critically about what their character is going through in relation to the historical events happening around them. And the best part, it feels real to them, because they’re creating something physical, something that feels like it could have come from that time period. I suggest guiding students by encouraging them to include specific details about the historical events happening during their character’s life. How does the character feel about those events? How do they affect their decisions? Another fun detail would be to have students research how a character might speak during that time. That adds a little bit of authenticity to the project. This brings in both the emotional and historical context, allowing students to show a deep understanding of the story and the time period. When students present their diaries to the class, it turns into a really great moment of reflection where they can share not only their work, but also their emotional insights. You’ll get to see how each student interprets their character differently, and they’ll get to share those interpretations in a way that feels truly personal. If you’ve never tried a project like this before, trust me, it’s one of those activities that students really throw themselves into they get to be creative, tap into their emotional intelligence, and connect with history on a whole new level. And if you add in that extra layer of authenticity with the card stock, coffee dyed pages and burned edges, it’s an experience they won’t forget anytime soon.

Samantha 7:36
The next project I have for you is a creative way to conclude your historical fiction unit, the historical fiction book trailer project. In this activity, students create a short trailer that highlights their book’s plot, setting, and characters, aiming to sell it to their classmates, while emphasizing historical accuracy. Similar to a movie trailer, this project captures the essence of the book in just a few minutes. Students need to focus on essential element, what’s the hook? Who are the main characters? What’s the historical backdrop? This project is highly adaptable. Students can use video editing software like iMovie or Google slides to craft their trailers, incorporating images, music and voiceovers. The aim is to vividly bring the book to life while ensuring historical detail are precise. It’s a fantastic way to blend creativity with critical thinking. For example, if a student is reading the Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, they might create a trailer that showcases the challenges faced by the 1930s rowing team. They could use historical photos and stirring music to highlight the struggles and triumphs of the characters, immersing viewers in the era of the Great Depression and the lead up to the Berlin Olympics. When students present their trailers, it becomes an engaging visual experience for the class, sparking lively discussions and encouraging further reading. Plus, students love the creative aspect, making it feel like they’re creating a mini movie. It’s an enjoyable and interactive way to assess their understanding of both the book and its historical context as a bonus. If you do book trailer Tuesday, and you definitely should, you could showcase a different student’s trailer every week.

Samantha 9:09
Let’s explore a fantastic project idea to enrich your historical fiction unit, the historical figure connection project. This activity invites students to dive deeper into their novels by researching a real historical figure who could have been part of their book’s world. It’s a creative way to blend historical research with literary analysis. Here’s how it works. Students select a historical figure relevant to the time period of their novel and create a written or visual piece that imagines how this figure might have interacted with the characters and events of the story. They’ll need to think critically about both the historical context and the fictional world, which encourages them to connect real history with the narrative of their book. For instance, if a student is reading the War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, they might research a figure like Winston Churchill. They could explore how Churchill’s leadership during World War Two could have influenced the story’s characters in sense, perhaps imagining how he might have interacted with the children evacuated from London. This project not only helps students better understand the historical context of their novels, but also sparks engaging discussions about how real historical figures could have shaped or been shaped by fictional stories. It’s a great way to deepen students’ connections to both history and literature in a fun, interactive way.

Samantha 10:20
We’ve wrapped up our deep dive into creative assessments for historical fiction. We explored engaging projects like the literary field trip, the historical fiction time capsule, the character diary, and the historical fiction book trailer. These projects don’t just make learning fun and interactive, they also offer students meaningful ways to show their mastery of the historical fiction genre. Each activity encourages them to connect historical events, cultural context, and character development, giving them a well rounded understanding of the genre. With this episode, we’re closing out our exploration of the historical fiction genre. I hope you found these ideas inspiring and you’re working out where to include this genre study in your own lesson plans. Next month, we’ll do something a little different and break away from the genre talk for just a little bit so I can bring you a few other topics I’m super excited to share with you.

Samantha 11:08
If you enjoyed today’s episode and found these historical fiction project ideas inspiring, I’d love your help spreading the word. Share this podcast with fellow secondary literacy educators who might benefit from these creative approaches. Let’s build a community of passionate educators who are all about making literature engaging and impactful. Your support means the world, and together, we can inspire more joyful readers. Until next time, happy reading.

Samantha 11:33
Thanks for tuning in to creating joyful readers. I hope you found inspiration and practical strategies to ignite a passion for reading in your students. Remember every book we introduce and every reading experience we foster can transform lives and help students become lifelong readers. Follow me on social media at Samantha in Secondary for more tips, book recommendations, and to connect with a community of educators dedicated to making reading a joyful journey . Until next time, happy reading.