#1605. Projects list for A Tale of Two Cities

Literature, level: Senior
Posted Tue Feb 29 21:10:17 PST 2000 by Teresa Shuck (tshuck@kadoka.k12.sd.us).
Kadoka High School, Kadoka, SD.
Materials Required: none
Activity Time: 2 weeks
Concepts Taught: Covers Multiple Intelligence levels for comprehending the concepts of the book

I am a first year teacher, and have found that if I could have found information like this, it would have made my life easier. These are project ideas that I created for A Tale of Two Cities to have my students show their understanding of the French and American Revolutions and the condition of the government at the time.

I hope that this will help someone in their first year, or a veteran who has been at this for a long time. I have my students contract for the grade that they want to receive, but if time does not permit them to complete the projects as they contracted, I am leinient.

These projects may be altered at the teacher's disgression, and have fun!!

Contract for A Tale of Two Cities project:

I, ________________________________, do here by
(student's name PRINTED here)

agree to complete the project of


___________________________________________________________. ( project choice PRINTED here)

I promise to complete this project according to the

guidelines that are outlined for me by my teacher, Mrs.

Shuck. I will contract for the grade of ________________
(letter grade)

Signed this day,

_________________________,
(date signed)

By: ________________________________________________________
(place student's SIGNATURE here)

and: ______________________________________________________
(Teacher's signature here)

Project list for "A Tale of Two Cities"
worth 200 points

EVERYONE MUST COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Create a line of greeting cards - one apology, two
love, one father/daughter, two sympathy, and one
friendship. You may import pictures, or cut them from
a coloring book or magazine, but the sayings in the
cards MUST be YOUR OWN!! The following must be
included in each card:

Apology - must include a letter from one of the
characters to the other one stating the reason for
the apology. This letter must be separate from the
card itself, and must be at least 75 words in
length hand written.

Love - in this story, there are many different love
situations to write about. You will need to have
two cards totally different in content and design.
You must include a letter for each card, separate
from the cards themselves. These letters may be
placed in the cards, but must be 75 words in length.

Father/Daughter - this one is pretty much self
explanatory. Must be an original card, at least 75
words in length in the letter.

Sympathy - in this story, there are many different
situations that could require these types of
cards. You will need to have two cards totally
different in content and design. You must include
a letter for each card, separate from the cards
themselves. Letters must be at least 75 words in
length hand written.

Friendship - must include a letter from one of the
characters to another. The letter must be separate
from the card itself and must be at least 75 words
in length and hand written.

An "A" grade will consist of all seven cards and
all seven detailed letters.
A "B" grade will consist of five cards and five
detailed letters
A "C" grade will consist of three cards and three
detailed letters

2. Create a newspaper for the book including all of
the major events that happen. You will need a title
for the newspaper and it will have a newspaper layout.
This means that when you are finished, your paper
should be as large as a real newspaper. Each article
should be at least 60 words in length. This project
is at your discretion and you may choose the events to
write about. They must be different in content, and
you must have NINE ARTICLES. This project must
look like a real newspaper completed with NOT just the
articles alone!!

An "A" grade will consist of a title for the paper,
the newspaper layout and all nine articles with
dates.
A "B" grade will consist of an "A" grade with only
7 articles.
A "C" grade will consist of an "A" grade with only
5 articles.

3. Build a model of the Bastille as described in the
book. This model must include a cross section model
and a blueprint of the prison. In the center of the
Bastille, there should be a method of execution, and
there should be prisoners in the jail cells. A
research paper will accompany the model and blueprint.
The paper will research the Bastille and must have at
least 2 references with 500 words minimum in length.

An "A" grade will consist of the model, the
blueprint and the paper with 500 words minimum.
A "B" grade will consist of the model and the paper
with 500 words.
A "C" grade will consist of the model and the
blueprint

4. Draw a detailed picture of a scene from the book that
takes place on the streets of France at the time the
book was written. This project will include a report
about the French Revolution with a minimum of 500 words
and 2 resources. The picture will be on at least an
8x10 piece of paper and must be drawn in color. If
you can only draw stick people, you should choose
another project.

An "A" grade will consist of all details in the
above paragraph plus the 500 word or more paper
with 2 resources
A "B" grade will consist of all details in the
above paragraph plus the paper with 400 words with
only 1 resource.
A "C" grade will consist of the picture with all
the details included plus the paper with 300 words
and 1 resource.

5. Music is used in many films and plays today to heighten
emotion. In this book, there are several times when
background music would suit the moods in the different
chapters. There are many different chapters in this
book. Choose 8 chapters that have different moods, and
create a tape of music that would suit each chapter.
This project must include a paper with the title of
each song accompanied by the composer. You must also
include a paragraph of no less that 65 words for EACH
song chosen stating why the music fits the mood of the
situation. The music must be presented to the class.

An "A" grade consists of all eight songs and all
eight paragraphs - word total will equal 500 words
A "B" grade will consist of 6 songs and 6 different
paragraphs - word total will equal 390 words.
A "C" grade will consist of 4 songs and 4 different
paragraphs - word total will equal 260 words.

6. Build a model of a guillotine in the center of the
town. This project should include a model of an entire
town from the times of the book, the guillotine on a
platform, and a research paper on the guillotine 500
words in length with 2 sources. You must also include
the shops and buildings that lined the streets and
a blueprint of the guillotine.

An "A" grade will consist of everything in the
above paragraph.
A "B" grade will consist of the model, the
blueprint and the paper with 1 resource and 400
words.
A "C"grade will consist of the modes, the paper
with 1 source and 300 word.

7. Choose one of the characters in the book and create a
monologue for them about some event in their lives.
This monologue must be presented in class MEMORIZED and
performed.

An "A" grade will consist of the monologue written
out, and 3 minutes long.
A "B" grade will consist of the monologue written
out, and 2 minutes 30 sec. long.
A "C" grade will consist of the monologue written
out, and 2 minutes long.

Grade definitions are as follows:

A - the student is more than meeting the demands of the teacher, the work is done on time. The work is of superior quality. It shows mastery of the subject matter. The
student has the ability to carry the job through and exerts a positive influence to the class.

B - The work is of superior nature and the required work is done well. The student meets the demands of the teacher and exerts a positive influence on the class.

C - The student does the work satisfactorily. The work is on time and is of average quality. The student is showing achievement.