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Today’s global business environment presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. For a company to gain an edge in this highly competitive environment, it must have the ability to align projects with its business goals and deliver these projects on schedule and on budget. And while scheduling and communication will always be core competencies, the discipline of project management is constantly evolving. From lean startup to market-making enterprise, to successfully perform and grow in the role, project managers should have the right project management books within reach at all times.

Table of Contents

A guide to the project management body of knowledge.

• Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook

• Strategic Project Management Made Simple
• The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management

Doing Agile Right

Project management for the unofficial project manager, scrum: the art of doing twice the work in half the time, project management lite, making things happen, time to update your project management library.

• Project Management Software Can Help

10 Best Project Management Books

Project managers play a crucial role in every organization. Senior executives and team members alike depend on the organizational skills, analytical mind, and interpersonal abilities of a project manager to lead the project team and help the company navigate complex projects.

For project managers to effectively take this complex assignment, they need to have a comprehensive understanding of their role and their goal. Project management books allow the sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and experience of other project professionals. Readers are able to update their understanding of project management fundamentals as well as learn new principles and skills to be better equipped to face challenges.

Here are the top business project management books selected based on rankings, relevance, and reviews. We also chose the latest edition of the book if available.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge or PMBOK Guide is now on its seventh edition. Published by Project Management Institute, the leading professional project management association, the latest Guide also comes with The Standard for Project Management in the same book. The latest edition reflects the evolution of project management and includes 12 project management (PM) principles structured around eight project performance domains.

The PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition was published in August 2021. The Standard for Project Management includes three major chapters, while the Guide includes four chapters, complete with tables and figures, for a total of 250 pages.

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Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide 5th Edition

The Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide Fifth Edition is for any professional who wants a simple and practical introduction to modern project management. It prepares anyone to learn about and be familiar with common project management tasks, such as budgeting, scheduling, managing teams, closing projects, and learning from experience.

Published in March 2022, author Gregory M. Horine, a certified project management professional, scrum master, and Six Sigma Green Belt, included in his book’s 464 pages some updated insights regarding Agile project management approaches, security and privacy policies, leading remote and virtual teams, MS Project, and Project Management Institute standards. The book includes a bonus chapter on how to prepare for the new PMP certification.

HBR Project Management Handbook: How to Launch, Lead, and Sponsor Successful Projects is for project managers and leaders living in today’s project economy. It is a comprehensive guide that presents a new and simple project framework that breaks down any project into building blocks. It is also packed with original concepts and exclusive case studies from both the public and private sectors.

Author Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is a project management expert, practitioner, and consultant who teaches strategy and implementation to senior leaders. The HBR Handbook was published in October 2021. Divided into four parts, it has 12 chapters and 352 pages that discuss project fundamentals, a new framework, project competencies, and the role of projects for a better future. The Handbook won the 2022 PMI Project Management Literature Award.

Strategic Project Management Made Simple 2nd Edition

Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Solution Tools for Leaders and Teams is for any project manager looking for step-by-step guidance on project design and action initiatives. It discusses the need for systems thinking and presents a logical framework approach to help solve challenging problems. Project managers can learn a new approach to improve how they plan for project requirements, drive alignment, and execute projects in the organization.

Terry Schmidt is a certified PMP and the fourth person to receive the distinguished Strategic Planning Professional certification from the ASP. The updated and revised second edition was published in May 2021 and includes 256 pages. It expanded a section on how to turn ideas, problems, and opportunities into projects. It also added a new chapter for achieving project excellence and included new case studies to help businesses meet changing needs with the delivery of a successful project.

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management 6th Edition

The latest edition of Fast Forward MBA’s project management handbook continues to give project managers ideas and wisdom delivered in short segments. This book is for the beginner and the experienced project manager alike in need of practical, easy-to-use, yet thorough answers to address common management issues. It includes brief descriptions of concepts, tips, and case studies that highlight effective project management methods, tools, and techniques.

Author Eric Verzuh, PMP, is the founder of a project management consultancy company and a founding board member of the Project Management Training Alliance. The sixth edition of Fast Forward was published in January 2021. It includes new chapters that discuss project quality, digital project management, prioritizing leadership, and current practices in change management. With 544 pages, it also has sample test questions and tips for the current PMP exam.

Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos is for companies and teams who are trying to make the transition to agile project management or are trying to sustain what they have started. The authors discuss how Agile, if fully and correctly understood and implemented, can empower teams, make jobs more rewarding, and accelerate innovation. The book also dispels myths and misconceptions that Agile can reshape an organization instantly or can be used for all types of work.

Thought leaders Darrell Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez explain that the key to the right implementation of Agile is balance. Published in May 2020, the book has 256 pages divided into eight chapters that cover topics such as how Agile really works; Agile planning, budgeting, and reviewing; and Agile processes and technology.

Some PM books create a lasting blueprint that keeps them relevant for many years. This is the case for Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood. In today’s project-centric workplace, this book offers employees not formally trained in managing projects some practical insights, so they can effectively navigate the project management process.

Published in 2015, it still ranks in Amazon’s top 10 category of business project management books. It introduces readers to the world of unofficial project management and what constitutes project success, as well as provides a thorough discussion of the five stages of the project life cycle. The book also contains real-life anecdotes, memorable proverbs, and end-of-chapter reviews.

Before the Agile Manifesto of 2001, some project managers were already trying out scrum to help teams and companies get things done more effectively. Scrum is the second Agile book in this list of recommended PM books. It details this ground-breaking method that has helped companies achieve high productivity.

Author Jeff Sutherland presents the origins of scrum, his journey with many companies that implemented scrum, and the goals these organizations achieved. It was published in 2014 and contains 256 pages of engaging stories and real-world examples. Readers get to know about a project management method they can use for a wide range of work problems, from software development and product design to patient interaction and wedding planning.

Project Management Lite: Just Enough to Get the Job Done, Nothing More is ideal for non-project managers working in a project or interacting with a project team. It is a plain-English guide that shows readers how to adapt to the project environment easily with its step-by-step guide to project management. Professionals who find themselves suddenly in charge of a project will now have a handy reference that includes simple worksheets and checklists.

Juana Clark Craig, PMP, has over 25 years of project management experience. Her book was published in 2012 and includes 138 pages divided in six sections. It starts with an overview of what Project Management Lite is about, where to start, and the different steps to get the work done. Anyone from a different discipline who needs to get through one project or looking to learn project management skills can begin with this easy-to-use book.

M aking Things Happen: Mastering Project Management is different from the other project management books on this list. It is a collection of essays that shares complex concepts and challenges together with practical advice. Both technical and non-technical readers get to know what it takes to get through a large software engineering project. Instead of specific methods, it focuses on philosophy and strategy to help project managers and leaders define, lead, and manage projects.

Author Scott Berkun worked with Microsoft as a program manager and now focuses on writing, teaching, and speaking. Making Things Happen was published in 2008 but has consistently remain in several of Amazon’s top 100 book categories. Its 408 pages deliver content in three parts: Plans, Skills, and Management. The essays cover different topics including project schedules, communication and relationships, and leadership and trust.

Back to top

This list is just a starting point to help the project professional build a comprehensive library of project management references. Having a copy of the latest PMBOK Guide reference is always a wise choice. For starting non-PM professionals, the Project Management Lite is a fast way to hit the ground running.

Students and young professionals may prefer the HBR Project Management Handbook, while experienced project managers may find Scott Berkun’s style of writing better. Whatever the preference or circumstance, any of these project management books may help to inform, inspire, or introduce a business professional to the benefits and advantages of project management.

The Right Project Management Software Can Help

While reading project management books about the best PM practices is essential, it’s also important to note that new and experienced project managers alike should invest in project management software. PM tools also help managers walk through the entire project process and gain an overhead view of each projects.

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Project Management from Simple to Complex

(7 reviews)

Copyright Year: 2016

ISBN 13: 9781946135216

Publisher: University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Brian Gurney, Adjunct Assistant Professor, TRAILS on 11/27/19

The 12 chapters cover most of the main topic areas, however I would consider "Managing Project Risk" as an earlier topic. Risk(s) can be exposed as early as the crafting of the WBS which is part of the planning phase. read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The 12 chapters cover most of the main topic areas, however I would consider "Managing Project Risk" as an earlier topic. Risk(s) can be exposed as early as the crafting of the WBS which is part of the planning phase.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The reviewer was unable discover any errors that would detract from the accuracy of the content.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The topic area is totally relevant for today's work environment. An introductory text such as this is enough to awake any curiosity that may exist for further research education. As the field begins to mature, there are methods and processes that are being applied with varying degrees of success. Two of these would be Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) and Agile PM).

Clarity rating: 4

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

6. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

7. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

8. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. See the sandwich and pizza options above and check out this blog for more delicious ideas.

9. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

10. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger.

11. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

12. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over the report.

13. T-Shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint. Get step-by-step directions .

14. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

15. Watercolor Rainbow Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

16. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

17. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

18. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

19. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

20. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

21. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

22. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

23. Book Report Triorama

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but Elisha Ann provides a lesson to show students how to glue four triangles together to make a 4D model.

24. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8 x 11 sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

25. Clothes Hanger Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

26. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then give them a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

27. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels , and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

28. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

29. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

30. Letter to the Author

Write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

31. Book Report Charm Bracelet

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

33. Cereal Box TV Book Report

This book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut-out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

34. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

35. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

36. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach , this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

37. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment. For more, here are step-by-step directions .

38. Comic strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strips. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

39. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

40. Cereal Box

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report Wheaties-style. Decorate all sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a “wanted” poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

What creative book report ideas did we miss? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most popular kids’ books in every grade..

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Fundamentals of Project Management, Third Edition by James P. Lewis

Get full access to Fundamentals of Project Management, Third Edition and 60K+ other titles, with a free 10-day trial of O'Reilly.

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References and Reading List

Argyris, Chris. Overcoming Organizational Defenses: Facilitating Organizational Learning . Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1990.

Carlzon, Jan. Moments of Truth . New York: Perennial, 1987.

Deming, W. Edwards. Out of the Crisis . Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986.

Graham, Robert J., and Randall L. Englund. Creating an Environment for Successful Projects . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1997.

Lewis, James. Team-Based Project Management . Beard Books, 2003.

Lewis, James. Mastering Project Management . New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.

Lewis, James. The Project Manager’s Desk Reference , Third edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Lewis, James. Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control , Fourth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, ...

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12 Best Project Management Books to Read in 2024

You found our list of the best project management books .

Project management books are guides that explain how to successfully steer initiatives. These books explore topics like work breakdown structures, Six Sigma, Scrum, stakeholder communication, scheduling, team management and other technical aspects.

These books are similar to management books , leadership books and time management books , and help develop manager skills .

This post includes:

• books on project management
• project management books for beginners
• project management textbooks

Here comes the list!

List of project management books

Here is a list of books that explain project management competencies in simple terms with concrete examples.

1. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland and J.J. Sutherland

This book explores the Scrum methodology of project management. This method is a framework for efficiently executing complex projects in a short span of time. The guiding philosophy behind Scrum is that customers often change their minds, causing product teams to pivot and adapt gracefully to deliver solutions in short periods of time. Though pioneered in the software industry, the principles of Scrum have popped up across various disciplines such as education, marketing, sales, engineering, finance, and legal. Jeff Sutherland is one of the co-creators of Scrum and JJ Sutherland is the CEO of Scrum, Inc, meaning readers learn directly from two of the topmost subject experts.

Notable Quote: “No Heroics. If you need a hero to get things done, you have a problem. Heroic effort should be viewed as a failure of planning.”

Buy Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time .

2. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge by Project Management Institute

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge is the holy grail of project management textbooks. The 700+ page book covers all aspects of technical project management and systems, from integration and scope management, to cost control, risk negation, human resource management, and more. This resource outlines the key factors of successful project implementation, providing chapter-by-chapter breakdowns of relevant concepts. While not necessarily a light read or a pleasure read, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge is a comprehensive textbook that covers the full spectrum of project fundamentals.

Notable Quote: “Project managers operate in a global environment and work on projects characterized by cultural diversity. Team members often have diverse industry experience, know multiple languages, and sometimes operate in the “team language” that may be a different language or norm than their native one. The project management team should capitalize on cultural differences, focus on developing and sustaining the project team throughout the project life cycle, and promote working together interdependently in a climate of mutual trust.”

Buy A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge .

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3. Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, & James Wood

While most project management guides cater to official leads, this book explores project management for non-project managers. Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager instructs informal leaders on how best to coordinate and organize initiatives. The book explores the five main stages of the process: initiating, planning, executing,

monitoring, and closing. The authors illustrate each step with examples, lists, and diagrams, creating a clear, actionable guide for leaders without titles.

Notable Quote: “Here’s what I’ve observed: Successful projects are transparent. Everyone knows what’s working well and what isn’t. Information is broadly shared and there’s no guessing, enabling people to make small adjustments that keep the project in alignment. In unsuccessful projects, information is doled out on an ‘as-needed’ basis. People are expected to work in silos, keep their heads down, stay focused on their own part of the project, and are discouraged from asking questions.”

Buy Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager .

4. Fundamentals of Project Management by Joseph Heagney

Fundamentals of Project Management is a great resource for newcomers looking to increase knowledge and build skills. The book covers basics such as understanding the role of project managers, collaborating with stakeholders, developing a work breakdown structure, monitoring project progress, and leading teams. The book has short sections, numbered lists, and exercises meant to reinforce knowledge. Fundamentals of Project Management serves as a learning tool for beginner and less technically-inclined project managers.

Notable Quote: “If you consider the major function of managing it is to ensure that the desired organization objectives are met. This is accomplished by exercising control over scarce resources. However, the word “control” has two connotations, and we must be careful which one we intend.”

Buy Fundamentals of Project Management .

5. Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide by Gregory M. Horine

One of the best project management books for beginners is Gregory M. Horine’s Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide. The book explores the essential qualities of successful project leaders, identifies common missteps of first time project managers, and provides comprehensive guidance on how to handle various tasks. The writing style is straightforward and simple, and each chapter contains easy to understand charts and diagrams that illustrate key concepts.

Notable Quote: “The process of leading a project is more than managing the project. The process of leading a project entails the approach utilized to guide the people involved (team, stakeholders, organization,) toward the accomplishment of the project’s objectives. This process involves your mindset and leverages key skills such as dedication, interpersonal, adaptability, and customer orientation.”

Buy Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide .

6. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management by Eric Verzuh

As the title suggests, this book is one of the best project management books for MBA students. The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the project management process. For example: adopting agile approaches or lean startup methodologies, identifying and collaborating with key stakeholders, and managing risk. A clear index means readers can quickly navigate to specific concepts, making this work a valuable resource and study guide. The book also contains a section on PMP Exam preparation, as well as dozens of downloadable forms.

Notable Quote: “There is no question that the best project managers are also outstanding leaders. They have vision, they motivate, they bring people together, and, most of all, they accomplish great things.”

Buy The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management .

7. Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management by Scott Berkun

Scott Berkun has almost a decade of experience as a project manager at Microsoft. In this textbook, Berkun shares strategies for successfully coordinating initiatives and leading teams. Promoting an action-centered approach, the book focuses on achieving results through winning philosophy and careful planning. Contrary to the instructional tone typical of the genre, Making Things Happen consists of personal essays that illuminate the essence of project management through the lens of Berkun’s tenure.

Notable Quote: “ While the superficial details of failure might differ dramatically from project to project, the root causes of team actions that led to them might be entirely transferable (and avoidable.) Even on our own projects, we need to avoid the habit of running away and hiding from failures.”

Buy Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management .

8. HBR Guide to Project Management by the Harvard Business Review

The HBR Guide to Project Management draws on the collective knowledge of top business professionals to teach project basics such as:

• Building a committed and focused team
• Breaking objectives into manageable tasks
• Managing stakeholders’ expectations
• Measuring project success

Each chapter uses clearcut language, indexes, and charts to break down complicated concepts into the simplest elements. This feature makes HBR Guide to Project Management one of the best books for first time project managers.

Notable Quote: “When forming project teams, people tend to focus too narrowly on technical skills and overlook interpersonal and organizational skills, which are just as important..”

Buy HBR Guide to Project Management .

9. Risk Up Front: Managing Projects in a Complex World by Adam Josephs and Brad Rubenstein

Risk Up Front is about forecasting all possible complications at the beginning of a project to better prepare to confront those challenges. The book identifies the tools and techniques needed to build high-performing, critical thinking teams that overcome obstacles and achieve timely and impressive results. The writing style is conversational and peppered with lists and illustrations that make for entertaining reading.

Notable Quote : “It is crucial to change the cultural norm on your team from an expectation of “We will do our best!” to the commitment “It will be so.”

Buy Risk Up Front: Managing Projects in a Complex World .

10. Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure by Todd Williams

While most project management books describe the entire project lifecycle, Rescue the Problem Project hones in on when projects don’t go to plan. The book outlines common circumstances like missed deadlines, disappearing budgets, and interpersonal conflict, and suggests steps to fix these issues. Todd Williams explains how to properly identify and understand issues, using case studies and real-life experiences to explore topics such as the contributors for failure, methodologies for project recovery, as well as solution strategies and implementation.

Notable Quote: “Experience teaches that when the customer anticipates something without specifically requesting it, and it is missing from the exclusion list while other nonrequested items are included, the customer argues that the anticipated item is in scope.”

Buy Rescue the Problem Project .

11. 97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know: Collective Wisdom from the Experts by Camille Fournier

Succeeding in the engineering field requires extensive technical knowledge and skill that often takes precedence over the development of soft skills. Thus, many engineering managers struggle to adopt dynamic approaches to leading project teams. 97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know gathers insights from dozens of industry leaders including author Camille Fournier, former CTO of Rent the Runway. Technical managers in search of project management books for engineers can benefit from the concise advice presented by this collection.

Notable Quote : “I’m going to share a head-smackingly simple lesson that has served me well. Ready? Make every fourth one-on-one meeting a retrospective to discuss improvements to your one-on-ones.”

Buy 97 Things Every Engineering Manager Should Know .

12. The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture by Scott Belsky

Project managers in need of assurance as well as instruction can benefit from The Messy Middle. This book is a primer for enduring the grueling complications and self-doubt that often arise in the midst of important endeavors. The book covers emotional abilities such as leading through uncertainty as well as tactical competencies like providing structure and communication to teams. Scott Belsky explores the gamut of successful venture leadership, from idea inception and initiation to implementation, endurance, and closing. The author explains the technical skills and emotional intelligence needed to thrive throughout the journey.

Notable Quote: “Sadly, most people are not patient enough to reap the fruits of their own labor. Great teams gain their strength and resilience while toiling their way through the valleys, not just from relishing the view from the peaks.”

Buy The Messy Middle .

Managing the many moving parts involved in project development and deployment can be difficult. Fortunately, project management books provide time-tested frameworks and expert advice for navigating projects successfully. These guides break down operations into simple elements, helping you stay organized and in control of timely deliverables.

For more reading, check out our posts on change management books , employee engagement books , business finance books and these books on teamwork .

You may also be interested in our list of the best project management software and how to stop micromanagement at work .

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FAQ: Project Management Books

Here are answers to common questions about project management books.

What are project management books?

Project management books are instructional guides on concepts like Agile, Scrum, work breakdown structures, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and team management. The books provide easy to understand explanations and step by step processes. While some of these works aim to outline the basics, others focus on specific angles such as recovering problem projects or working more quickly and efficiently.

What are good project management books for beginners?

Some good project management books for beginners include A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Fundamentals of Project Management, Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide, and The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management.

Can reading books help you become a better project manager?

While reading books alone will not make you a talented project leader, following the advice set forth in these guides will help you develop skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get your students excited to read

Not all students are excited to read a book. So how can you make reading a book more engaging and fun? This is a huge challenge for most teachers, so I hope I can help you out!

Here’s what you’ll find in this blog post (click on the title if you want to jump to the section directly)

5 tips to get your students excited about reading

• 15 creative and digital book report lesson plans (free & ready to use!)
• The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment (your students get to choose!)

Instructions on how to use these digital book report lesson activities

Before you dive into the book reports, you have to get your students excited about reading first. In this previous post about reading, I’ve listed 10 tips that will encourage your students to read . I’ve come up with 5 more amazing tips! Here we go:

1. Use AR apps

Here are a few apps with amazing storylines and AR books.

• Wonderscope , for example, is an excellent storytelling tool. It uses augmented reality to transform ordinary places into real-time stories. Students also learn to read with the app. They ask questions to the characters in the story and listen to the characters’ answers.
• The Ghostkeeper’s journal and field guide : This book is an immersive adventure for readers aged 10 and up, offering several AR experiences to enhance the storyline. These are accessed via a mobile app “ Ghost-o-Matic ”.
• Bookful creates an engaging reading experience and brings stories and characters in books to life. The app holds the world’s largest 3D/AR library with hundreds of titles from leading publishers and brands such as: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, DK’s Encyclopedia, and children’s favorites such as Barbie, My Little Pony, Thomas & Friends, Transformers, and The Smurfs.

2. Escape lessons

Here are 3 fun ready-to-use escape lessons to spark your students’ joy of reading:

• A Halloween Murder : Let your students investigate the murder of the victim: Brat Spook. When they find the murderer, they get their “inspector” badge. Let them look for evidence in the murder scene, talk to suspects, analyze lab results, and so on!
• Finding Rudolph : Save Christmas by helping Santa find back Rudolph. Students go through different challenges, talk to eye-witnesses, and follow Rudolph through a winter maze, so Santa can deliver all the presents to the children.
• Easter Bunny Substitute : Can your students find a good Easter Bunny replacement? In the last breakout game for the classroom, the Easter Bunny is hurt, so your students need to interview the possible applicants and take tests to replace the Easter Bunny themselves. If they succeed in the challenges, they get an Easter Bunny substitute badge.

3. Storytelling

If you bring cultural elements into your lessons by telling a story, your students will be more eager to learn. Storytelling makes students want to “live the story”. And they do this by reading it. If your story is strong enough, your students will love learning and reading. They will even remember the lesson content better.

Here’s a fun & ready-to-use example: The life of William Shakespeare

4. First chapters

5. Books & sleepovers

You can even add different parts to your sleepover. For example, let students read their favorite passage in a book of choice out loud, and 1 hour before bedtime, all your students take their book and read in silence. Or how about creating cozy themed corners? Fantasy, science fiction, detectives,… When your students are reading in themed corners, they get the full experience. They can even dress up as a character in their book whilst reading.

15 Creative and digital book report lesson plans

Step 1: Get your students excited about reading. ✅ Step 2: make sure they don’t lose their interest when you’re announcing the book report assignment! ☑️ This part can be demotivating.

As the lower grade students often still get fun book report assignments, the higher grade students often get a dull worksheet where they have to describe the characters and give a summary. Change up your book report assignments with these creative, free & ready-to-use lesson ideas.

Take a look at all these ready-to-use and free digital book report activities. They’re all made with BookWidgets . You can even make exercises like these yourself in your own BookWidgets account.

Keep on reading to find out how to use these exercises in your lessons.

How did your students experience the book? Let them fill the glasses with drawings of the storyline/the book. The glasses represent the view of the students. Students can get really creative and use the toolbar at the bottom to draw and type.

You can ask your students to present their book report artworks to the other students as well. This way, your students can explain what’s on their drawing.

2. Bookworm

3. Timeline

This interactive book report asks your students to create a timeline of the story. When did what happen, chronologically? The have to add the biggest events in the story to the timeline.

4. Comic book

In this book report exercise, your students have to write a comic book based upon the book they’ve just read. When they click on the “start” icon, they can choose fitting text balloons to go with their story.

Here are three other fun websites that let students create comic books: Storyboard That , Comic Life , and Toonytool . They already give you creative templates and drawings. This is a bit easier for students. This way, they don’t have to start from scratch.

5. Character portrait

6. Randomness task

Just… add a little spice. I’ve turned the ordinary book report task, where students have to describe characters, the setting, plot, etc., into an exciting one. Your students don’t know yet what they’ll have to describe. They spin the randomness wheel and their task appears. The fun thing about this one is that all of your students will write a different book report.

7. Book cover

Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you’ve read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc.

8. Character family tree

This digital mind map exercise allows your students to add boxes with text and connect them to each other. This is perfect for a book report activity focusing on the characters in their book.

9. Facebook Profile

Modern days call for modern book report lesson ideas. Image the main character having a Facebook profile. What would be on it? That’s exactly what your students have to figure out here. Create a Facebook profile about the main character.

10. Book Collage

Here, students have to add 10 pictures or images that have to do with the book. They can do so by clicking on the photo icon and adding images into their collage.

11. Mirror selfie

In this creative book report, students have to dress up like the character in their book, including holding 3 attributes that refer to the personality of the main character. They have to take a picture or mirror selfie of themselves dressed up, and add that picture to the whiteboard. You can ask them to come forward and present their images and explain why they’ve chosen those specific attributes.

The fun thing about all of these exercises is that they work on smartphones as well. So in this case, students can just open the exercise on their smartphones, take a mirror selfie with their phones and add it to the mirror in the digital whiteboard exercise.

12. Email to the author

Your students have the chance to write a friendly email or letter to the author of the book they just read. Students have to share:

• their opinion;
• the character in the book they liked most, and why;
• their favorite part of the book and why;
• questions that they have about the book.

If you have an email address of the author, ask your students to submit their works to you, the teacher, first. After having given feedback on their letters, they can make some changes and send it over to the author.

If you have the author’s postal address, it’s much more fun to write a classic letter.

13. Conversation between characters

There is something called a “texting thumb” or a “smartphone pinky”. This shows that students like to send texts. A lot of them. So why not include it in your book report lesson plan? In this digital book report, students have to invent a conversation between two characters in their book.

14. Movie vs. Book

A lot of books have a movie version too. If your students choose a book that also has a movie, it’s interesting to let your students make a comparison. With this book report exercise, you’re also sure your students actually read the book instead of just watching the movie and write a summary of the movie and not the book.

15. Emoji summary

The last exercise is also one students can relate to. Nowadays, we use emojis after almost every sentence when we’re communicating with friends. Emojis also have a strong meaning and can be used to express feelings or say something without actually saying it.

The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment

All these book report exercises are so much fun and yet they don’t take up a lot of time. Perhaps they just ask your students to only describe a certain part about the book. Cue… the planner widget.

With this type of BookWidgets activity, you can combine several lessons into one. You can let your students take matters into their own hands and choose which book report activities they’d like to finish.

It’s actually pretty easy. Your students read the instructions in the instructions widget and then start adding at least three book report activities to their planner. They finish the activities, submit them to their teacher, check off their planner, and that’s it!

Above, you can find the 15 ready-to-use book report activities. You can use these lesson examples for free. Since they’re all made with BookWidgets, I’ve listed them in this BookWidgets group . Here’s what you need to do:

• Click on this link . It will immediately bring you to the group with all of the book report activities. If you don’t have a BookWidgets account yet, you’ll have to sign up first for free .
• Duplicate all the book report activities. Click on the settings wheel , select all widgets , click on the settings wheel again, choose duplicate selected widgets . Choose where you want to save the activities in your BookWidgets account.
• Go to your saved book report lessons. You can now click on the black dropdown arrow next to the ‘Show’ button of a particular exercise and select Edit . You can make some changes to this activity (if you want). If it’s perfect for you, click on Share in the upper right corner.
• Share this link with your students. When they click on it, they can fill it out. A lot of the book report examples above have been made with BookWidgets’ Whiteboard widget, in which students can use the tool menu at the bottom to switch tools (draw, type,…), and to switch colors. When done, they can submit the book reports to you by clicking on the envelope in the upper right corner.
• As a teacher, you go to “Grades & reporting” in BookWidgets to find your students’ answers.

Of course, now that you’ve got your own BookWidgets account, you can also create book report activities or other assignments yourself!

Attention! Once your free trial runs out, you’ll only be able to use the widgets you’ve already finished/shared with students. While your BookWidgets account will still work and you’ll still get your students’ results with the free BookWidgets version, you won’t be able to duplicate widgets nor create new widgets yourself anymore.

So that’s it! I hope these lesson ideas are useful for your classroom or at least give you lots of new ideas for your book report lessons! You can even create ones yourself!

Create your first digital book report with BookWidgets

Have fun, share this with fellow teachers and keep on rocking your classroom!

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BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

16 Ideas for Student Projects Using Google Docs, Slides, and Forms

July 31, 2016

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As you probably know, Google Drive is far more than a place to store files online. It also includes a suite of versatile creation tools, many of which perform the same functions as the ones we use in other spaces. These include  Google Docs,  a word processing program that behaves similarly to Microsoft Word,  Google Slides,  a presentation program similar to PowerPoint, and  Google Forms,  a survey-creation tool similar to Survey Monkey.  Although Drive also includes other tools, these three are particularly useful for creating rigorous, academically robust projects. If your school uses Google Classroom or at least gives students access to Google Drive, your students are probably already using these tools to write papers or create slideshow presentations, but there are other projects they could be doing that you may not have thought of.

Below I have listed 16 great ideas for projects using Google Docs, Slides, and Forms.

Annotated Bibliography By the time a student reaches the later years of high school, and certainly by the time she’s gotten to college, it’s likely that she’ll be required to write an annotated bibliography, a list of resources that not only includes the bibliographical information of each source, but also a short paragraph summarizing the resource and reflecting on its usefulness for a given project. Usually an annotated bibliography is required as a part of a larger research paper, but it could stand alone as an assignment that tasks students with seeking out and evaluating sources just for the practice of doing so. And the research tools in Google Docs allow students to locate, read, and cite their sources all in one place. To learn more, see this guide from Cornell University Library on How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography .

Book Review Instead of a book report, have students write a book review instead. This is certainly not a new idea, but publishing the work electronically allows students to enhance the final product with the book’s cover image, a link to the book’s page on Amazon, and even links to other titles the author has written or articles on related topics. For models and inspiration, elementary and middle school students can read student-written reviews on sites like Spaghetti Book Club . Older or advanced students might work toward more sophisticated, nuanced review styles like book reviews written on Oprah.com .

Collaborative Story Because Google Docs is cloud-based, multiple people can work on a Doc at the same time. So students can work together on a story, a script for a play, or any other kind of group writing project. They can use the comments feature to give each other feedback and make decisions together. And because students can work from any location with an Internet connection, collaboration isn’t restricted to school hours; each group member can work on the project from any location whenever they have time.

Media-Rich Research Paper Any kind of research paper can be given a big boost when done in a Google Doc, because students can insert images, drawings, and links to other relevant resources, like articles and videos. Using the research tools built into Docs, students can research their topics and include in-text citations with footnotes.

Super Simple Blog If you don’t want to mess with actual blogging platforms, but want students to be able to experience writing blog posts that contain images and hyperlinks to other websites, this could be accomplished easily in a single running Google Doc.

Table Being able to organize information visually is an important skill, and students who understand how to build a table in Google Docs will have a skill for presenting all kinds of information in the future. They can be used as a compare and contrast exercise, to display data from an experiment, or even put together a schedule. Yes, you could do these things yourself, print them, and have students fill them out, but why not have students practice creating the tables themselves? 

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Story Because slides can contain hyperlinks to other slides, students could build a whole story where the reader chooses different options at key points in the story, leading them down completely different paths. The reader would consume the content as a slideshow, clicking on the links themselves as they go through. This could be a pretty massive undertaking, but we all know students who would be totally up for the challenge.

E-book These could take a variety of forms: mini-textbooks, children’s books, cookbooks or how-to manuals, personal art or writing portfolios, even yearbook-style memory books. To learn more about the possibilities, see my post from earlier this year on  Student E-Books .

Magazine Along the same lines as an e-book, students could use a similar template to create a PDF magazine or newsletter that is shared online on a regular schedule. The possibilities here are endless, useful for student clubs or sports teams, classroom or grade-level newsletters, or magazines put out by groups of students who share a common interest, like gaming systems, soccer, or books.

Museum Kiosk Imagine if we could enhance science fair projects with a looping video display that provides the audience with vivid visuals and text about our topic. Or imagine an art show, where a self-running informational slideshow could be placed beside an art display to share the story behind the piece and photos of the work in progress? This is possible and EASY in Google Slides: Simply create a slideshow, then use the “Publish to the Web” feature to create a slideshow that auto-advances and has no need for a presenter. Pop that up on an iPad or laptop and you’re all set. This mock-up of a slideshow on Coral Reefs shows you what it could look like (click the image to open in a new window).

Short Film Students can upload their own images and add text boxes to a slideshow to create an animated story, then record the slideshow with a Google extension called Screencastify . They can either record their own voice as narration, add background music, or both. There are so many different kinds of films students could produce: illustrated stories or poems, final reflections for a 20 Time or Genius Hour project, video textbooks on content-related topics, or news-like feature stories of school or community events. In this quick sample, I added music from YouTube’s library of royalty-free music that anyone can use to enhance their recordings:

Video Tutorial Using the same screencasting software mentioned above, students could also create their own video tutorials by creating a Slides presentation on their topic (such as “How to Open a Combination Lock”), then recording the slideshow with narration. This would make a nice final product for a unit on informational writing or a way for students to demonstrate their learning at the end of a unit in science (“How to Take Care of Lab Equipment”), social studies (“How to Measure Distance on a Map”), or math (“How to Multiply Fractions”). Student-made tutorials could even be created to teach classroom procedures. And any tutorials students make could be stored for later, so other students can also benefit from them.  Learn more about how Screencastify works right inside Chrome .

Peer Survey Whenever students need to gather data to support an argumentative essay or speech, let them gather data quickly and easily by creating a survey with Google Forms. Links to the survey can be sent out via email, QR codes , or through a post in a learning management system like Edmodo or Google Classroom. When results come in, students can use them to support whatever claim they are trying to make in their argument, or make adjustments based on what they discover in their research.

Feedback Form Have students provide feedback to each other’s presentations, speeches, even videos using Google Forms. Here’s how it would work: Each student creates her own form, asking for the kind of feedback she wants on the project. As other students view or the project, they can be sent to a form to offer praise or constructive criticism, which the creator would then be able to view privately and use to improve the project. Students could even use their feedback to write a reflection on their process after the project is done.

Quiz One great way to learn material is to create a test or quiz over the content. Have students use Google Forms to create their own multiple-choice, True/False, fill-in-the-blank, or open-ended quizzes on the content they are learning.

Visual Representation of Data Sets Whenever people enter responses to a Form, Google allows the form creator to view responses in charts and graphs. Have students gain a better understanding of how data can be represented visually by accepting responses (or entering their own fake ones) into a Form, then looking at how the numbers are represented in graphs. This could work well as a series of math lessons.

Way Beyond Worksheets

Just this morning on Twitter, someone posted a comment along these lines: “A worksheet on a Google Doc is STILL a worksheet. Students should be using tech to create!” I’ve heard this sentiment over and over, and it’s exactly why I’ve put this list together. Google offers some incredibly powerful tools if we know how to use them. I hope this list has given you a few new ideas to put into your students’ hands. ♦

What to Read Next

Categories: Instruction , Technology

Tags: assessment , content area literacy , English language arts , Grades 3-5 , Grades 6-8 , Grades 9-12 , project-based learning , teaching with tech , tech tools

51 Comments

This is wonderful.

This is my first year teaching in an alternative high school. All students have IEP’s as well as social and emotional disabilities. I really want to focus on literacy as many are well below grade-level, ability wise. Writing of course is a big part of literacy. I’m looking for ideas that they can collaborate on, via Google Docs, Slides, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Check out Boomwriter: A Fun Twist on Collaborative Writing . Lots of good resources there that you might like. Also take a look at Student-Made E-Books: A Beautiful Way to Demonstrate Learning .

I am an RSP teacher in Anaheim. For summer school I am going to have them build a “Bucket List” in Google slides.

Thanks for compiling these resources. I use many already but haven’t tried Screencastify yet. My district uses Google Classroom, but the forms app is blocked on student accounts- I think because it’s a perfect medium for under-the-radar cyberbullying (“How much do you hate Linda?…A little, a lot, a ton…”). Before teachers plan a lesson using forms, they should make sure the feature is enabled for students in their district. In my district, students can access forms and create them but they cannot send them to other students.

Thanks, Robyn. Good to know!

I love these ideas! You are so creative and now I have GREAT ideas for my SS project! Thanks! XD

this is all true

Our district is allowing extra credit this year and I have always been totally opposed to offering extra credit. These ideas are worth extra credit, and my focus this year is on what the students can teach me and the rest of their peers.

This gave me some good ideas for culminating activities. Thanks!

Thank you so much for sharing these ideas about creating projects by using the Google Drive! The middle school I teach at implemented a 1:1 program last year with Chromebooks, so the students have easy access to all of the Google apps. I had always grown up using Word docs and I was a little hesitant to start using Google docs at first. After just a few weeks, I absolutely fell in love with it! It is amazing how you can access all of your docs, forms, slides that you create from any device you’re using and the fact that everything automatically saves is just the cherry on top. I am grateful for this feature, especially working in a middle school where it is easy for students to forget to save something before exiting out. Although I teach Math, I found a lot of your project ideas to be utilized cross-curriculum and I truly appreciate it. I got my feet wet last year and had my students create google slides presentations in groups. At the beginning of this year, I started with a google form I created where students answered review questions from 6th grade Math. I love that when you get the results from all of the forms, you can easily see which areas students are struggling in and which areas they are proficient in because it is presented the results in graphs and charts. I just learned recently that you can create quizzes now, which is awesome because all of the testing in my district is done on the computers, so this will help prepare my students. I want to borrow your idea of having students create peer surveys that they can post on Google classroom in order to gather information and analyze results. This is a great skill for students to have. Thanks again, I truly enjoy reading your blogs!

Be positive at all time

Great collection of resources! Easy to read and very helpful for teachers who often do not get the tutorials they need to instruct with GAFE. I particular like the Museum Kiosk idea. It will work great will my history classes.

– Kevin

Hi everyone! I also would like to suggest my own (free) templates site. Im designing these presentations using “free” resources from other sites such as FreePik, FlatIcon,… and I think the result is pretty good. I invite you to have a look. The site is https://slidesppt.com

In the section of student blog posts, can you clarify how all the students in one class could be writing and posting a running blog which everyone in the class can read and respond to ?

This is Holly Burcham, a Customer Experience Manager. The idea Jenn laid out here is to simply create a shared Google Doc where each student would basically be responsible for his/her own page (literally page 1, page 2, etc.). Within a shared Doc, everyone with permission can be in and typing at the same time. Once “posts” are written, students can go in and add comments to others’ work. The comments would show up in the margins and would be arranged by corresponding content, not time like a typical blog post.

But, as you can imagine, this could quickly become very convoluted and a bit messy. The thought behind using Docs as a student blog is more for writing practice, getting the feel for writing a blog post without doing the real thing…

So, if you’re interested in your students truly creating a blog, we highly recommend checking out Edublogs and Kidblog . Hope this helps!

How are these good for projects? you said that these are for kid presentations, all I see are essay templates and idea’s for teachers to map out their classroom jobs(other then the coral)

Hi, Isaac! I’m not sure what could be used to map out classroom jobs specifically from this post, and I think the ideas here go way beyond essay outlines–please get back to me to clarify exactly what you’re referring to, because we believe all the ideas here are good for student use. Thanks!

You might update this post. Google Forms now supports branching which would be much easier to create a “choose your own” adventure type experience.

Thanks for the suggestion. I can picture how that would work, yes, but I guess the aesthetic experience might be lacking in a Google Form. With Slides you have complete creative freedom to design the slides like a real book. I guess it would be a matter of personal preference?

Where do I go to find accessibility features of Google docs, slides, and forms? I am a teacher of the blind and visually impaired. This technology is wonderful but without the ability to navigate the site independently, my students are at a lost. Can you direct me?

Hi! A couple of things that may be of help: Go to “Tools” in the menu bar and select Voice Typing (use Google Chrome). You can also click on Add-Ons in the menu bar and add the Speech Recognition Soundwriter extension for free. Here’s a link to find more Google Accessibility features — you just have to spend a bit of time looking through the list to see what may be relevant to your needs. I hope this helps!

You can also combine Google forms and docs to simplify book reports for elementary students: https://electriceducator.blogspot.com/2016/03/elementary-book-report-machine.html?m=1

Is there an available rubric or assessment piece for the museum kiosk activity?

Hi Colleen! No, sorry, I don’t have anything on that!

Hi I am a teacher at a elementary school and I was wondering if you had any ideas for what I could do for an autobiography book report.

Hi Madison,

There really are so many things you can have the kids do — I would first think about what you’re expecting the kids to be able to do in the end. What will actually be assessed and what will they be accountable for? (I suggest checking out Understanding Backward Design if you haven’t already.) From there, they can choose how to present what they learned, meeting the assessment criteria. I think using some of the ideas in the Slides section of the post could work really well, especially Student Made E-Books , or making a short film.

Madison, I love the idea of using Google Slides for autobiography book report. I’m thinking about Jennifer’s Slides suggestions and just tailoring it to your book report criteria/rubric. Thoughts?

thank you very much!!

Thank you! I can’t wait to explore some of these options more. This list is very much appreciated! 🙂

I really appreciate your kindness and your efforts and I’m going to try everything you have mentioned in this wonderful article

Thanks. Higher Ed ESOL Prof -no lesson prep for me… but I DO have my reading list for the next several (10-12) hours! All suggestions added to the original post are appreciated.

I am a huge fan of Google resources, but you have showed me some new ways I can use these. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for some great ideas! I have another suggestion that I have used before- my students really liked it- a collaborative Google Slides presentation. I did this for types of organic molecules as an intro to organic chemistry. Each pair of students in the class was assigned a specific molecule to research. They had to create 1 slide with some specific information and add to a collaborative google slides presentation that I shared on Google Classroom. When the slideshow was complete, they could all access it, and they used it to take notes.

Great suggestion Susan! Thanks so much for sharing this idea.

I am wondering if I can find similar google instructions to send to my students now that we are teaching remotely and 90% of them probably don’t know how to use Google. This would be a fantastic use of their time. Thank you

Take a look at Jenn’s Google Drive Basics video course ! I think it’s got what you’re looking for – it’s for teachers and students!

I am thinking about doing a Rap Challenge in which they (as teams based on which class period they are in) create lyrics using WWII vocabulary we have used.

I create raps for my students and my though was that I would take parts of ALL of their submissions and create a WWII rap to add to the collection they have heard already.

Which of the Google Drive features would be my best bet for collaboration like that while the students are all working from home?

Hi Jim! I think this could be done in Google Docs pretty easily, as they are just writing a script, correct? If you want to share video or audio, you can just put these files into a shared folder in Drive and give all students access to those files. I hope this helps!

Amazing ideas

An innovative way to eliminate paper.

Hi! I love this site. I am beginning to use technology in my higehr education classroom. Could you help me to suggest some kind of game to use in Communication Skilss? Thanks a lot

Hi! Check out our Gamification Pinterest board and see what might be relevant. Hope this helps!

I’m a college student (who is now a nanny which brought me to this page) and for the screen recording, I highly reccomend Loom over Screencastify. In my experience using both during the remote learning period, the video quality is much higher on Loom, the user interface is easier, and you can’t edit Screencastify videos in an external editor like iMovie. (I had to do a group presentation and since partner lived in Kuwait we used this vs Zoom, etc. to record the presentation since we weren’t recording at the same time. It was very difficult to figure out how to merge our parts of the presentation into a single file.)

Also with screencastify the time limit per video on the free version (5 min I think) was frustrating as my work was longer. May not be a problem for students but for educators using the tool who don’t have the premium, this could be highly inconvenient. With Loom there isn’t a time limit.

What an adventure for me, who’s relatively new to this google drive thing. Mind blowing resources. It’s amazing. I’m excited as to what I can do with and in google drive. I’m definitely taking it one day at a time, will surely enjoy this ‘CRUISE’. Thank you Jennifer.

What does it mean to type I am from Germany?

Hi Flannery! It can mean a few different things depending on the context–either typing on a keyboard or the “kind” of something (“What type of ice cream do you like?”). We’d love to give a specific answer, so please let us know which part of the post or which comment you saw that you’d like more clarification on. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing these ideas. July 2021

I love all the awesome ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. This post had so many options to choose from and some that I personally loved when I was in school. There are so many different ways to make learning fun with technology!

So glad you enjoyed the post!

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Why & How to Build a Book Project Plan

• December 20, 2018

John Wagner-Stafford talks you through the steps of creating a book project plan

Planning so self-publish a new book in the new year? Let John Wagner-Stafford , co-founder of ALLi Partner Member Ingenium Books , explain how to do this super-efficiently by designing and following your own book project plan.

A project plan for your book serves the same purpose as the blueprints for the house you'll build, the trip plan for your year-long round-the-world trip, or the grocery list for your big dinner party. It begins with an idea of what you want to achieve and ends with the last tasks needed to successfully publish your book.

At Ingenium Books , we believe that writing a book and self-publishing in today’s marketplace requires adopting some good small business practices . If you approach your book writing and author career like a small business owner, you will increase your chances for success. 

Most businesses today pay special attention to how they plan their projects. They employ at least a few project management best practices and some sort of a project management system. The general notion of winging it without a plan will probably not get you very far when running your own business, including when that business involves publishing your own book.

What is a project plan for your book?

Essentially, a book project plan is a status gathering and reporting system .

When I worked at Ubisoft as a video game producer and the world entered into a new millennium in 2000, I and my team were huddled around one of our open-space meeting tables setting up and planning a new project: Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time . We faced many decisions and choices about technology, systems, people, and money. My responsibility was to sort out how we were going to report our progress. Which data gathering and reporting system we would use to plan, track and report the progress and health of this enormous project? Ubisoft wanted to make sure each project manager, all the creative leads, the game designers, story writers, and the producer (me) were all on the same page. I chose a combination of Microsoft Project for the big picture and a system I developed for the daily deliverables.

The systems would need a project manager who would enter and update the data daily to help us manage dependencies and resources. We would literally do the rounds with each artist and enter into the database the percent of their progress, take note of any anomalies or roadblocks in the way of advancement, then the report would end up on my desk each afternoon, so I would be able to decide how to move forward with the next day's plan.

Your book project plan

You can use these principles and concepts for your book project too. There won't be quite so many moving parts and there will be fewer people to deal with.

A book project plan can be a simple task list on a piece of paper, several pieces of paper in a file folder, or a plan created with a software program. Either way, it will have some or all of these characteristics:

• May be laid out on a timeline indicating when tasks are to be completed, how they relate to each other, and what happens if they are delayed.
• Provides a view of how long it will take to get the job done.
• Offers a window into how much your project will cost .
• Gathers together in one place all the information you need to answer the questions: why, what, when, who, and how.
• Answers the question,  what if ? Your plan will allow you to test different scenarios and help you choose which one is right for any moment.

A plan makes it easier to turn on a dime and head in a different direction.

Without a plan, you will not see problems on the horizon which are slowing you down now.

And you will have no effective way to course correct when things are not quite right.

Benefits of a book project plan

Most authors come to us with an idea, or a manuscript of varying quality, in various stages of completion. They don't, however arrive with plans. They often haven't thought of a marketing plan, or a distribution plan. Not one has ever considered a book project plan. Well, we think of—and take care of—the book project plan.

Writing a plan is the first step to organizing your project. It delivers a fighting chance for your book to get published the way you conceived it.

It helps you identify, in advance, all the very components that go into writing and publishing your own book. A book project plan focuses on getting the important things done at the right time and it helps you choose priorities.

Your plan will let you see which tasks are falling behind or which one need to be advanced. It lets you see what happens to your scheduled publish date if things get delayed. (Like maybe completing the first draft of your manuscript is taking you way longer than you expected. It happens.)

Creating your book project plan will help relieve the burden of constantly wondering if you're on top of every detail. It will let you focus on the big picture.

How do you put a book project plan together?

You'll need to do a bit of research, and it will take a bit of time to get it all set up right. Here are some high-level project plan components you can start with to get you going.

•    A plan/purpose statement
•    Big-picture task list with estimated durations and dependencies (what other tasks are dependent on this one)
•    Resources list
•    Deliverables list and their costs
•    Timeline (could be Excel or Numbers, at Ingenium Books we use Aeon)
• A project purpose statement

Your purpose statement includes why you are writing your book . It will address what you expect to gain personally and professionally as a result of writing your book and what are you able and willing to invest to get your book published (time and money).

If you have already created a purpose statement, add it to your book project plan. You will be reminded of your purpose each time you update your plan. When you hit a rough patch, or become overwhelmed, having your purpose statement right up front on your book project plan will help you answer the question, “Why am doing this, and why now?”

• Big-picture task list

What you add to your task list will depend on what stage you are at in getting your book published. Your task list could also be affected by the subject and genre of your book. If you have a lot of writing to do to finish the first draft of your manuscript, you might break down your writing tasks by chapter. It will also depend a bit on what help you are planning to obtain from others:

• Are you hiring a cover designer?
• Marketing specialist?

If you have a lot of research to do, for example, that might make its way onto the task list.

In general, though, the big-picture tasks will be similar for most authors and most books.  Here is an example of a partial list of starting-point tasks we add to our plans to get your book published:

✓    Project start

✓    Project purpose

✓    Marketing plan

✓    Manuscript development

✓    Marketing implementation

✓    Distribution prep

✓    Pre-Launch marketing

✓    Launch week

✓    Post-launch marketing

Of course, under any of these high-level tasks, you will need to add subtasks . Adding these subtasks to the project plan for your book has pro and con implications, in particular related to manageability and clarity.

With more detail comes more effort. There will be more follow up and more reporting, BUT you are less apt to miss out on the little things.

With less detail, the process is much easier to manage, follow, and report on. But you might miss something important.

• Resources list

Simple and easy. This is where you identify who will be doing what . You can do this in one of two ways. Use titles, or use people's names. We use titles like author, cover designer, editor, proofreader, formatter, etc. If yours is a simple plan and you are doing most of the work yourself, then you might not need this. (A word of advice though, never underestimate the need for an editor. If you hire no one else to help with your book, at least hire an editor!)

• Deliverables list

Adding a deliverables list is essential . It does not need to be exhaustive but will help when you are identifying dependencies. Assigning dependencies will help to realize the impact of early or late delivery on other tasks or deliverables, such as your launch date.

Record the deliverable and who will be responsible for the delivery. Determine the duration, the cost, and what task(s) need to be finished before this can start and which task(s) cannot start until it is delivered. The result of adding deliverables to your project timeline might look like this in your plan.

• Project timeline 

The project timeline is part of the system and can take on one of many forms. It can be as simple as your Outlook or Google calendar. You can use an Excel spreadsheet or sophisticated gantt chart software. The important notion is to create a view of the progression of each task and how it relates to time passing, when it should be completed, and the order in relation to the other tasks. As your project progresses, modify the dates or position in your system to give you a view of how the changes affect what is to come.  Here are a few examples:

Google Calendar

Excel spreadsheet

Gantt chart

By preparing a book project plan you will provide yourself with:

• an effective means to monitor how your project is advancing
• a view of which tasks are not panning out as planned
• what effect that might have on the overall project

It will help you better manage your book project in a professional, business-like manner .

And, approaching your book project with a small-business perspective will pay off in spades by saving time and money. Also, you’ll appear to be organized and professional in the eyes of your suppliers and it will boost your own confidence about getting your book published. Period.

John is co-founder of Ingenium Books, which is a partner member of ALLi. He’s also a serial entrepreneur and a creative project producer. John’s creative & entrepreneur accomplishments include professional musician (saxophone, vocals); recording engineer with artists like Peter Frampton, Celine Dion, Pat Metheny, and Leonard Cohen; soundtrack producer for film and television; trainer and coach to the sound mixer team at MSNBC when the New York-based network went live for the first time in 1997; producer of notable video games such as Prince of Persia, Myst IV-Revelation, and Splinter Cell IV-Double Agent; COO during the startup phase for KANDY Outdoor Flooring Inc., licensed realtor in two Canadian provinces; a master canoeist; and ASA-certified sailor. John is co-author, with his wife and business partner Boni Wagner-Stafford, of Rock Your Business: 26 Essential Lessons to Start, Run, and Grow Your New Business From the Ground Up.

OVER TO YOU Do you have any further ideas to add to John's advice? We'd love to hear them.

OTHER USEFUL POSTS ABOUT BOOK PRODUCTION From the ALLi Author Advice Center Archive

Book Production : 12 Avoidable Rookie Errors

12 Reasons Why Book Production for Indie Authors Means Thinking Digital

Book Production: Print on Demand vs Offset Litho

Primavera P6 allows executive-level employees to communicate with other workers, project managers, and planners easily. In addition, notes can be made on the software schedule to ensure that all users see the message.

Oops, you forgot formatting the ebook and print book content files.

Thanks Joan, the images here are for example purposes only…. we absolutely include those elements in our project plans!

LOVE this idea! I do something similar, but not as involved. So many good tips here to ponder. Thanks for the great article and the insights. I bet this will help a lot of authors to work “smarter, not harder,” as the saying goes. 🙂

Thanks so much J.P.!

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Project Management Plan: Samples, Examples & Free Template

Learn how to create a project management plan that actually works and ensures you get your project over the line on time and on budget, with samples and examples

Table of Contents

What is a project management plan, what is a project management plan used for, what are the main elements of a project plan, how to write a project management plan, sample project management plan outline, using our project management plan template to build your project plan, project management plan: faq's.

A project management plan is a comprehensive document that outlines how a project will be executed, monitored, controlled and closed. For project managers and their teams, it's the ultimate toolkit for achieving their objectives while managing day-to-day pressures such as time, cost, scope, resourcing and risk. This guide outlines what a project management plan is used for, why it's important , and offers a step-by-step guide on how to make one that actually works.

Your project plan document is where you go deep on the ins, outs, overs, and unders of your project. It's where you break this vision down into the day-to-day execution of your project, covering everything you need to do to reach your project goals.

A detailed project plan will plot out everything from timelines to budget, resourcing to deliverables, and more, giving you a blueprint of what needs to be done (and when) that you can use to guide — and assess — your project.

The key components of a project management plan are:

Project Objectives

Scope Statement

Schedule Management

Cost Management

Resource Management

Communication Plan

Stakeholder Management

Procurement Management

Closure Criteria

Project Organization

Ready to get down to business? Here are 5 key things you need to do when writing a project plan.

1. Identify the baselines for your project

Before you begin writing a project plan, you need to make sure you have the basics down. Start by identifying the baselines for the project’s scope, schedule and cost, as the rest of your project planning will need to fit in around those constraints.

As mentioned above, these baselines should already be roughly outlined in your project charter — but here’s where you really start to map them out and create accurate estimates. And the more detailed, the better, because these are what you’ll be using for comparison to measure how your project performs.

2. Identify your project dependencies

Or in other words, ask yourself: what needs to happen before this other thing can happen? Identifying your project dependencies at the outset of your project means you can plan your timelines more efficiently, spot potential blockers, and ensure that you avoid unnecessary delays.

3. Identify project stakeholders

You’ll already have done the groundwork for this in your stakeholder analysis, but as you flesh out your project management plan and think through the phases of your project in more detail, you’ll likely start to find more project stakeholders at each phase.

Now is also a good time to go deeper on which stakeholders need to be informed and involved at which stages, for a more comprehensive stakeholder management plan you can use at each phase of your project.

4. Identify project milestones

What are the key markers of your project’s progress? It can be a concrete deliverable, the end of a phase in a stage-gate process — whatever milestones make sense to you, breaking your project down into manageable chunks, each with a defined goal, helps to keep the team motivated, allows you to celebrate each achievement, and signposts how the overall progress is coming along.  Learn more about using Milestones here .

5. Identify who’s responsible for what

Once you start to get a big-picture understanding of the work that’s needed and the resources you have to complete it, you can start deciding who should do what. Giving each item an owner is essential to getting things done. No more “oh, was I supposed to do that?” — once you identify who’s responsible for what, you can ensure accountability and transparency.

The 5 Stages of Team Development

All teams develop according to some natural patterns and using that knowledge, you can offer some guidance to build the kind of team that communicates well and finds better ways to collaborate and achieve the goals you’ve established. Here’s what you need to know.

Now let's go through a sample project plan. In the below example, we highlight the main sections of the plan and what needs to be included in each one to set your project up for success.

Section 1: Executive summary

The executive summary offers a concise overview of the entire project. It includes key highlights such as the project's purpose, objectives, scope, timeline, budget, and major stakeholders. It's often the first section stakeholders read to get a high-level understanding of the project.

Section 2: Project introduction

This section sets the stage by providing context and background information about the project. It explains why the project is being undertaken and introduces the main objectives and scope of the project.

Section 3: Project objectives

Here, the project's specific goals and objectives are outlined in detail. Objectives should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to provide clarity and guidance.

Section 4: Project scope

The scope section defines what is included and excluded from the project. It helps prevent scope creep by establishing clear boundaries and also mentions any assumptions and constraints that may affect the project.

Section 5: Schedule management

This section details the project's timeline, including milestones and deadlines. It breaks down the project into tasks and identifies task dependencies. Often, visual representations like Gantt charts are used for clarity.

Section 6: Cost management

Here, the project budget is presented, including cost estimates for various project components. It may also outline cost control measures to ensure the project stays within budget.

Section 7: Quality management

This section focuses on the quality standards and objectives for the project. It describes quality control and assurance processes, as well as any inspection and testing procedures that will be implemented.

Project management template

Save time on setup without sacrificing attention to detail. With our project management template, you can quickly create project management plans that help you complete your project on time and on budget.

Section 8: Resource management

In this section, the project team is introduced, and roles and responsibilities are defined. It addresses resource allocation, scheduling, and, if applicable, procurement needs.

Section 9: Risk management

The risk management section identifies potential risks and uncertainties that could impact the project. It discusses risk assessment, prioritization, and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of these risks.

Section 10: Communication plan

The communication plan outlines how project information will be shared with stakeholders and team members. It specifies communication methods, frequency, and reporting channels to ensure effective communication throughout the project.

Section 11: Stakeholder management

This section lists project stakeholders and analyzes their interests, influence, and expectations. It also outlines strategies for engaging and managing these stakeholders to ensure their needs are addressed.

Section 12: Procurement management

If procurement of goods or services is involved, this section explains the procurement strategy, vendor selection criteria, and how contracts will be managed.

Section 13: Change management

Change management procedures are detailed here, including how changes to the project scope, schedule, or other aspects will be requested, evaluated, approved, and communicated.

Section 14: Closure criteria

Criteria for determining when the project is complete and ready for closure are specified in this section. It may also include plans for project handover and post-project evaluation.

Section 15: Project organization

This section describes the project team's structure, roles, and responsibilities, ensuring everyone understands their positions and reporting lines. It may also mention external stakeholders and their roles if applicable.

Once you’ve documented your project management plan, bring it to life with a project management tool that will help you to stay on track, keep your team accountable, and promote transparency.

Here are 3 ways you can use Teamwork.com to supercharge your project management plan.

Add your supporting documentation to Teamwork Spaces

Use the Teamwork.com and Teamwork Spaces integration to link a project in Teamwork.com with a space in Teamwork Spaces, so your important project documents are only ever a click away.

Some documents you might want to add in addition to your project charter and project management plan include:

Scoping documents

Risk assessments

Change management plans

SOPs for important project processes

List of stakeholders and their roles

Outline of approval processes

Communications management plan

Any other best practices documentation or supporting info as necessary

You can even embed task lists into your pages and mark tasks as complete right from Teamwork Spaces, so you can keep work flowing without even needing to switch tabs.

Start adding your Milestones

Break down your work into Milestones and task lists that are going to help you reach them. With Teamwork.com, you can assign an owner to each Milestone, map out your Milestone due dates and see them represented in the project calendar, and even get a full change history for milestones so you can track any edits.

Visualize your task dependencies with a Gantt chart

Gantt chart-style views are a useful way to get a visual representation of your tasks and their dependencies, allowing for better scheduling and resourcing. In Teamwork.com, you can drag and drop to quickly rearrange your project schedule , without throwing everything out of order or straying off-plan.

Remember: software should support the way you work, not dictate it. So regardless of methodology or team type, create a project plan that works for you and your team — and find a tool that helps you put it into action.

Use our project plan template

Now that you know how to create a project management plan that actually works, you’re ready to implement using our team management software . To help you get up and running quickly, we’ve created a ready to use project plan template . Our project template will help you quickly create project plans that ensure all of your projects are completed on time and on budget

What is a project management plan template?

A project management plan template is a pre-designed framework that provides a structured format for creating a project management plan. It serves as a starting point for project managers and teams to develop their specific project plans, saving time and ensuring that key project management components are properly addressed.

How can a template help you build a great project management plan?

A template can help you build a great project management plan by saving time, ensuring comprehensive coverage of project management aspects, and incorporating industry best practices and visual aids for clarity. They also support collaboration, version control, and customization to fit the unique needs of each project, making them a valuable tool for project managers in achieving successful project outcomes.

What is the main purpose of a project management plan?

The main purpose of a project management plan is to provide a comprehensive and structured roadmap for successfully executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing a project. It serves as a central document that outlines project objectives, scope, schedule, budget, quality standards, resource allocation, risk management strategies, and communication approaches.

What tools do I need to help manage a project plan?

To effectively manage a project plan, you'll need a set of tools and software that cover various aspects of project management. These include project management software, communication and collaboration platforms, file and document management solutions, time and task tracking apps, and budgeting and financial management tools.

What steps are involved in the project planning process?

The steps involved in the project planning process include defining specific project objectives and scope, identifying deliverables and key milestones, budgets, risk assessment and quality control measures. It should also include a communication plan and stakeholder engagement strategies.

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12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

Whether you’re teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they’re more than just a test or essay.

Below, you’ll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.

Choose your favorite projects to offer to students as options on a book report project choice board.

Create a Board Game

When I gave “create a board game about the book you read” as a book report option for my students, I was pleasantly surprised at the results! Quite a few students excitedly chose this option and created some really fun-looking games centered on their books. 

This is a great project choice if you’re looking for something that students can’t create by just Googling the book.

Here are some tips and suggestions for assigning a board game book report:

• Give clear parameters and requirements to keep students on track, such as requiring game elements to represent certain literary elements of the book they read.
• Provide suggestions for game components and materials – encourage students to consider the game play and elements of their favorite board games and to use materials they already have at home to create them.
• For a whole-class novel study, consider allowing students to work in teams to create the novel-based board games, then setting aside a class period for students to play each others’ games and see who wins!

If you’re looking to save time… clear directions handouts, lots of suggestions, and a handy grading rubric for a board game post-reading assessment are all included in this resource . Take a look! 

For more independent reading response ideas, check out this post with ideas for fun post-reading projects.

Create a Journey Box

Engaging students in authentic conversations about books is a passion for Carolyn of Middle School Café .  In traditional oral book reports, students simply get up in front of the class and read a summary of the book they read.  Carolyn found this method of oral book reports painful for both her and her students.

Wanting to find a way to help her students talk about their book and keep her class engaged, Carolyn began incorporating Journey Box Book Reports.  A journey box is a shoebox (or bag) that contains artifacts from the story that help the reader share important events from the story. 

Students predetermine what events of the story are most important to share, then they create an artifact to share with the class or small group as they explain the plot.  As an example, Carolyn had a student who read The Diary of Anne Frank.   He created a small 3D tree that he displayed on the desk as he shared about how Anne looked out the window and dreamed of her former life.  It’s a small piece of the story that helps the student explain the plot point and gives the audience something visual to look at and stay engaged. 

Journey Box Book Reports have been successful for Carolyn in both her middle school and high school classrooms.  She does suggest, if using Journey Boxes in older grades, to have students share their stories in small groups.  

Create a Literary Food Truck

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s food – especially high schoolers – and with this in mind, one of Simply Ana P’s favorite ways to recap a class novel or an independent reading unit is with Literary Food Trucks. This is definitely not a new idea, but it’s one that will have you coming back for seconds 🙂 

Ana first tried this project at the end of The Odyssey , where students were able to decide which book(s) they wanted to make the focus of their trucks. The main requirement was that every single choice made had to be intentional and clearly relevant. With this in mind, students could start the planning process. 

You can make the truck’s requirements as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but Ana recommends having students plan: 

• Truck name, design, and branding colors
• Menu design and items (5 items minimum)
• Employee uniforms
• Merch 

Ana includes a writing component by having her students defend all of their selections in the form of a proposal. This is later used in their presentations, and the better (more intentional) their proposal is, the more likely they will win the class vote. This proposal can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what writing goals you have for them, and should definitely include text evidence. 

Part of the beauty of this type of project is that it can be done digital or paper-based. Ana likes to walk her students through a Canva tutorial, where there are even menu templates that students can use so they don’t feel overwhelmed starting from scratch. Or, for more creative students, they can create their trucks on chart paper, poster board, or even 3D dioramas.  After students finish making their food trucks, it’s always fun to take a day for the in-class Food Festival, where students are invited to bring in items from their menus or simply some type of snacks. Some students get super hype about this day and even make/wear aprons or themed employee uniforms. Students are able to walk around, visiting each of their trucks, and casting their votes for Best Food, Most Relevant, and Most Detailed. Have fun and bon appetit !

Create a Mood Board

It can be hard to come up with creative post-reading assessments for your students when they’re done with a full class novel, literature circles, or a choice reading unit. In an attempt to combine 21 st century skills with literary analysis, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary decided to try something a little different. Enter: The Mood Board.

A mood board combines images to elicit a feeling from a viewer much like a writer does with words. The possibilities for using a mood board with your class are endless. Students can create a mood board for an overall book, a character, an event, a theme, a poem, etc. Then, have your students carefully curate a board that is aesthetically pleasing and considers color, space, and design in the execution. As students explain why they’ve made the choices they have, the upper-level thinking comes naturally.

Canva is an excellent tool to use to create your mood boards. Having students interact with software they may be unfamiliar with is a meaningful learning experience in and of itself. If you want to learn more about how to use mood boards in your own classroom, click here to read Samantha’s blog post about it or check out the resource she created that includes done-for-you student instructions, examples, and a rubric here .

Create a New App

How would a character’s life change if there was just the perfect app to solve their conflict??

This is the question Krista from @whimsyandrigor poses to her students as they finish a novel and begin to reflect on the character’s journey. Students begin by discussing all of the details surrounding the protagonist and what they experienced. In small groups and in whole-class discussions, students discuss the conflicts, both internal and external, and then brainstorm all of the realistic and not-so-realistic ways the character could have addressed their problems.

Once students have generated a healthy list of ideas, Krista tells them they get to become an app developer and they must create an app that would greatly benefit a character from their reading.

The requirements are:

• The app cannot already exist.
• The app can be totally unrealistic/not probable.
• The app developer must be able to explain how its features would benefit the character.
• The developer must also create an icon for the App Store.

Here is a print-and-go handout students use to get designing. 

Here are some example apps students could create: to help Will from Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down , maybe an app that predicts his future would help him decide what to do once he steps off the elevator. Or maybe Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would have benefited from a life-detection app that would accurately determine whether or not someone was actually dead.

When students sette on the conflict they want to address and the app that would help, they write a Spill the TEA paragraph, as explained by Krista in this YouTube video .  Using this paragraph organization strategy, students will introduce their app, use evidence to explain how it is necessary for the character, and explain how the app would have benefited or changed the protagonist’s journey.

Now they get to be a graphic designer as they design the app’s icon. Students may want to peruse the actual App Store to get ideas about how an icon is designed, what elements must be present, and how to create something that is eye-catching.

If space allows, Krista encourages you to display the icons and Spill the TEA paragraphs in the hallway for other students to see the in-depth critical thinking and character analysis your students did after finishing a novel. 

Who says technology is only a distraction for our students?! This activity proves technology can help students dive deep into a text and its characters!

Write a Vignette

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 often focuses on character-based activities for novel studies including a character profile activity , character conversations through text messages , or the writing of a good vignette. 

Vignettes can be a great way to assess students’ literary analysis skills and understanding of the text. Students write a short piece of about 500 words that is descriptive of a particular moment in time focusing on one of the book’s characters. These moments could be placing the character in a new setting, writing about a particular moment in the story that was less developed, or even extending to a moment beyond the book’s conclusion. Lesa provides students with some mentor texts, including “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street or “The Prisoner Van” by Charles Dickens in Sketches by Boz or even one from a novel being read in class. Review the stories for structure, language choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language, and so on. This helps to co-create the criteria for the assignment. Then students write their own vignette. Build in some peer review as an accountability piece and voila!

Create a Character Collage

It’s safe to say that most English teachers have a bin of cut-up magazines somewhere in their classrooms. While these tattered copies of People and Us Weekly have definitely seen better days, they live on in the many collage creations of our students.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use collages as visual representations of comprehension. After reading a novel or short story, creating a character collage to show how a character has evolved from beginning to end requires students to use higher order thinking skills to analyze, synthesize and demonstrate their understanding of characterization by dividing their page in half and choosing words and images to represent the character at the start and conclusion of the story on each side.

The results will show the depth of your students’ interpretation of character as well as their ability to use critical and creative thinking skills to represent their knowledge.

Other ways to use this idea instead of showing character evolution are to show two different sides to a character, for example, who they are with different people in their lives. 

If you are looking for other ways to incorporate collage and magazines into your post-reading assessments, check out this blog post for more ideas!

Design Shoe Charms

Crocs are not Olivia ’s shoe of choice, but when she noticed her students bedazzling their plastic footwear with shoe charms, it was a learning opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. Here’s how to make it work in your classroom:

First, have your students choose a character from the book they have finished reading. Then encourage them to find quotes from the book that reveal the character’s interests, values, or personality. Once they have found their quotes (she has her students find 4), tell them to design and color shoe charms that represent those interests, values, or personality traits. This helps students with inferencing, textual evidence, and even symbolism!

When your students have finished making their shoe charms, they can either tape the charms to their shoes for a fabulous, foot-themed fashion show, or they can glue them to a picture of a Croc for quirky classroom décor. Check out this Instagram post to see the charms Olivia’s students came up with!

Create a Movie Poster

When was the last time you went to the movies? Did you notice the posters along the way? If yes then you have walked down the movie studio promotional lane. Like trailers, studios create movie posters to grab the attention of movie-goers before they even enter the theater. Yes, you may have already purchased your movie ticket, but those posters were created for the future. After you finish watching Sonic 2 , what movie will you see next? You probably already pointed to that poster on the way into the theater and said, “That looks like it is going to be good. I want to see that!”   As a post reading idea, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students create movie posters based on the text read in class. This allows her to complete a formative assessment on what the students learned from the text. Before having her class create a movie poster, she shows them examples of posters from different genres such as drama, action, family-friendly, and comedy. Then she hands out a piece of construction paper and goes over the basic requirements. On the movie poster, the students are required to have their actors names or image (characters), the title of the movie, a visual (setting or symbol from the story), and a tagline, and a short two to three sentence summary of the movie. Once her students are finished with the assignment, she displays them outside the classroom, so the students can have their own movie studio promotional lane.  If you are looking for more after reading ideas, click here .

Try Novel Engineering

Whether you’ve been hoping to collaborate with another department, or just really want to try something new, Novel Engineering is an amazing way to get students thinking outside of the box ! Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher has found that Novel Engineering requires students to actively comprehend and interact with a novel and get creative about how to help improve the lives of characters! Basically, students work to create a product that will help solve a character’s problem. Here’s how it works…

Before reading : Choose a narrative text where the character faces tangible conflicts. Model and practice the design process in small ways. Try using picture books like Mucha! Muncha! Mucha! in order for students to see and practice what they’ll be doing with a text at grade-level.

While reading : Emphasize the conflicts characters face and give students time to brainstorm possible products that would help solve said problem. Make sure students record evidence from the text so they can later justify the need for the product they design.

After reading : Give students time to draft, craft, and improve their designs that will help solve a problem faced by a character. You can give students options where they draw their creation, make their creation, or even plan a digital app like this, depending on time and resources. Whatever you choose, students will be sure to be pushed to use some skills they may not always practice in an ELA classroom!

Staci has some FREE Novel Engineering Digital Planning Pages or you can read more about her experience with novel engineering on the Donut Lovin’ Teacher blog .

Create a Tik Tok Video

How many times have you passed a group of students filming a TikTok in a hallway? Have you had students ask to film in your class once they finish assignments? You are not alone. Students love TikTok and Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room has figured out how to get students using TikTok for academic purposes!

Yaddy likes to challenge students to create TikTok videos that track a character’s development, encapsulates the main theme of the story, or that exemplifies a key conflict. These easy, low stress videos are great at getting even reluctant students to participate.

To incorporate TikTok videos as a means of assessing students after a novel or story, try the following steps:

1)      Get students to brainstorm which part of the novel they would like to use for their video.

2)      Ask students to start combing TikTok for an audio that fits with the portion of the text they chose

3)      Ask them to plan out how they will realize their vision

4)      Rehearse and film!

5)      Bonus: ask students to upload their videos to Google Drive and share the link with you so that you can make QR codes to post around your classroom!

Want to get started using TikTok videos for book reports? Check on Yaddy’s free planning sheet here !

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Hands-On Python BEGINNER: with 162 Exercises, 3 Projects, 3 Assignments & Final Exam Kindle Edition

This book is an in-depth and activity-based introduction to Python programming. It follows a step-by-step practical approach by combining the theory of the language with hands-on coding exercises including quizzes, projects, assignments and exams. We begin by setting up the development environment and cover the basics of Python language like comments, operations, data types, variables, functions, conditional statements, loops, strings and comprehensions. Further we cover all the main data structures in Python like Lists, Dictionaries, Tuples and Sets in detail. At the end of each chapter there is a coding quiz of ten questions. We build three projects which are Turtle, Words and Snake Game and after each one there will be an assignment. And finally we have the final exam, which will let you to test your Python level. By the end of the book, you will learn all the fundamental concepts of Python in great detail by writing thousands of lines of code. All the supplementary resources ( code files, quizzes, assignments, final exam etc.) are available for download at the Github repository. The link for the repository is provided in the book. Here is what you will find in this book: Theory : In each topic, we will cover all the Theoretical Details with example coding. True/False (42 questions) : We will have True/False questions at the end of the sub-topics. Coding Exercises (120 questions) : At the end of each chapter, we will have Coding Exercises that is a Quiz of 10 questions. Projects (3) : We will have 3 Projects in this book. You will learn how to apply Python concepts on real-world problems. Assignments (3) : After each project, you will have an Assignment. These assignments will let you build the project from scratch on your own. Final Exam : At the end of this book you will have the Final Exam. It is a multiple choice exam with 20 questions and a limited duration. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Getting Started 3. The First Program 4. Variables 5. Functions I 6. Project 1 – Functions 7. Assignment 1 – Functions 8. Conditional Statements 9. Functions II 10. Loops 11. Strings 12. Project 2 - Words 13. Assignment 2 – Words 14. List 15. Dictionary 16. Tuple 17. Set 18. Comprehension 19. Project 3 - Snake Game 20. Assignment 3 - Snake Game 21. Final Exam 22. Conclusion

• Book 1 of 3 Hands-On Python
• Print length 1011 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publication date October 15, 2021
• File size 11181 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Not Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
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Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09JM2ZCKW
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 11181 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 1011 pages
• #108 in Python Computer Programming
• #255 in Microsoft Programming (Books)
• #328 in Python Programming

About the author

Musa Arda has Bachelor’s degree from Industrial Engineering in 2007, and he has been working as a Software Developer for more than 14 years. He uses many programming languages and platforms like; Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, SAP ABAP, SQL, React, Flutter and more.

He creates online learning content and writes books to share his experience and knowledge with his students. His main purpose is to combine theory and hands-on practice in his teaching resources. That's why there are hundreds of programming exercises, quizzes, tests, projects, exams and assignments in all of his courses and books. He is dedicated to help his students to learn programming concepts in depth via a practical and exiting way.

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Book Report Alternative: Creating a New Book Cover

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

The proverb says, “You can't judge a book by its cover.” In this lesson plan, students are not judging what is inside the book, but what is on the cover itself. What does it include? Why? What is left off? Why do you think that is? After examining many book covers and dust jackets, students recreate a cover or dust jacket for a selected book; then, they share their creations with their classmates and explain the changes they made or what they chose to keep. Students use a checklist to make sure they have all of the needed components, and the teacher can use the checklist as an assessment piece.

Featured Resources

Book Cover Guide : This online guide provides information about the components of a book cover. Book Cover Creator : This online tool allows students to design and prints covers for books.

From Theory to Practice

In her English Journal article "Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report," Diana Mitchell explains "Students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. They want new ways to think about a piece of literature and new ways to dig into it" (92). Mitchell's observation is supported by Jim Cope's survey of 272 high school seniors in five Georgia high schools. In the article reporting his findings, Cope states, "Book reports were listed as the third most negative school reading experience, and can be considered a subset of students' general disdain for assigned reading" (21). Like Mitchell, Cope suggests that teachers "move away from the traditional book report and consider more exciting activities" in order to raise students' interest and engagement in reading. The end result of book report alternatives, such as the one explored in this lesson plan, is that the activities "whet the interest of students in exploring new directions and in responding with greater depth to the books they read" (Mitchell 92). Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

Selected texts for students to examine

• Examining Book Covers and Dust Jackets
• Book Cover Components checklist
• Dust Jacket Components checklist
• Book Cover Rubric

Preparation

• Gather books for the students to examine that have different and interesting book covers or dust jackets. You can also choose images of book covers online at Amazon.com , Barnes and Noble , or another online book seller.
• Make appropriate copies of the Examining Book Covers and Dust Jackets , Book Cover Components , and Dust Jacket Components .
• Make copies of the rubric so each student has a copy.
• Test the Book Cover Guide and Book Cover Creator on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

Student Objectives

Students will

• examine the components of a book cover or dust jacket.
• design a new cover for a book or a dust jacket based on their comprehension of the story.
• share and explain their new book covers or dust jackets.

Session One

• Explain that the class will be looking at numerous book covers and dust jackets so they can see what information is found there.
• Discuss the difference between a book cover (the front of a book) and a dust jacket (paper covering found on a hardback book that is usually illustrated and includes front and back flaps, that protects the binding of the book from scratches).
• Show students the books that you have gathered for this activity. Hold them up, and let the students see the book covers and dust jackets.
• Have students share their initial reactions to the different book covers and dust jackets. You may also want to show the students examples of older book covers online: Publishers' Bindings Online: 1815–1930 and Dust Jackets from American and European Books, 1926–1947 from the New York Public Library Digital Gallery .
• Provide time for students (individually, in pairs, or groups) to examine the book covers and dust jackets.
• While they are examining the book cover and dust jackets, ask students to identify the information contained on most book covers. Depending on the level of the students, you may want to provide them with a handout that provides prompts as they look at the books.
• As students explore and examine the different book covers and dust jackets, observe their book-handling skills and the comments they are making about what they see.
• At the end of the session, allow time for the students to share some of what they observed.

Session Two

• Begin this session by asking students to share the attributes of book covers and dust jackets. Record this information on the board or on chart paper.
• To make sure that students see all of the different components, share the Book Cover Guide .
• Invite the students to share the book cover or dust jacket that was their favorite. Students should state reasons why that cover or jacket was their favorite. Record this information as well.
• Using the known attributes of book covers and dust jackets, and what makes the covers or dust jackets attractive or pleasing, invite students to recreate a book cover or dust jacket for a book that they have already read or listened to as a read aloud.
• Pass out and review the Book Cover Components checklist or the Dust Jacket Components checklist so that students know the information required on their book covers or dust jackets. Also pass out or display the rubric so they know how their project will be assessed.
• Demonstrate the Book Cover Creator to students in the computer lab or using an LCD projector. Show the students how the tool works and create an example using a text that all students have read or are familiar with.
• Answer any questions the students may have.

Session Three

• Allow this entire session for students to recreate the cover or dust jacket of a book that they have read or listened to as part of a read aloud using the Book Cover Creator .
• Monitor students as they work, and provide feedback and support as needed. This is also a good time to take anecdotal notes and/or interview the students about their knowledge of the books and the components of a book cover or dust jacket.
• Remind them to revisit the Book Cover Components checklist or Dust Jacket Components checklist so they include all of the required parts.
• Continue working until all students have completed their projects and have printed them out.

Session Four

• When all of the students have completed their projects, allow time for the students to share their new book covers or dust jackets. Prompt students to explain what they changed from the original cover and why.
• If possible, have the students share the original book cover or dust jacket when they share their recreations.
• As students are sharing, assess their work using the rubric .
• Ask students to consider how the potential readers of a book might influence the choices for the book cover. A book from the Harry Potter series can provide a useful example. Have students discuss how the cover might be designed differently based on whether the readers are their own age, teenagers, or adults.
• Share books that have more than one cover. Books that have been dramatized as movies often have a second version of the book cover that features a character or scene from the movie. Books such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , and Because of Winn-Dixie would work for this discussion. Ask the class to discuss the differences between the two versions. If desired, use the Venn Diagram to organize the information on the two covers. Ask students to review the differences and discuss the reasons that the new version was created—who will the new version appeal to? why was a new version necessary? if you had your choice, which version do you prefer?

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Focus on observation and anecdotal note taking as students work on their projects to provide ongoing assessment of their progress.
• Use the rubric to assess students’ book covers or dust jackets.
• Compare the students’ checklists to their final projects to make sure that all of the needed components are present.
• Lesson Plans
• Professional Library
• Student Interactives

In this article, Versaci details the many merits of using comics and graphic novels in the classroom, suggests how they can be integrated into historical and social issues units, and recommends several titles.

The Book Cover Creator is designed to allow users to type and illustrate front book covers, front and back covers, and full dust jackets. Students can use the tool to create new covers for books that they read as well as to create covers for books they write individually or as a class.

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By Mary Montero

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I love using authentic texts to supplement our basal, so I almost always use novel studies where most small groups are reading different books that relate to our current unit of study. It’s important to have accountability and meaningful engagement with the novels though. This is where novel projects come in!

Before we dive in, if you’re looking for book suggestions to use with these projects, here’s a list of must-read upper elementary novels and tips for choosing the perfect novels for your class .

Free Novel Projects

Character Novel Project : Dive deep into character traits, character conflict, and character change with this novel project.

ABC Novel Project : This one is great if you’re short on time! Students must show their understanding of the novel by using evidence from the text to support their choices. Students will need to show their understanding of characters, themes, literary elements, etc.

Timeline Novel Project : Students will put key events from the novel in sequential order and explain the significance of each one. This one is easy to differentiate by providing students with some (or all) of the key events needed.

Amazon Listing Cumulative Novel Project : Turn your students into critics by having them write a catchy book review. I often end the school year with this one because it’s such a comprehension project!

Reading Skills Foldable Cumulative Novel Project : This is another option for an end of the year novel project because it requires students to show their understanding of the intricacies of the book, as well as the key reading skills we worked on all year long.

More Comprehension Ideas

If you’re looking for more ways to help your students think about their reading, these independent reading response anchor charts are a staple in our classroom. For a more hands-on approach, these free open ended comprehension car ds are great too!

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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