- Rattlesnake Elementary
- Battle of the Books 2024-2025
-
RATTLESNAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BATTLE OF THE BOOKS 2024-2025
Dear 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Families:
Rattlesnake PTA, in conjunction with Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS), is bringing Battle of the Books (BOB) to Rattlesnake Elementary School again this school year. This year is the first year that 3rd graders will be participating.
What is Battle of the Books? BOB is a volunteer reading program for Rattlesnake Elementary 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to read and help increase their reading comprehension. Participating students meet weekly and also participate in reading comprehension “Battles” in teams of three every two months. The program takes place during school hours. The goal is to make reading fun!
How Does a Student Sign Up? To participate, your student will need to complete the sign-up sheet and return it to their teacher by September 27th.
When do Participating Students Meet? Students meet weekly, beginning the week of October and continuing through April. Meeting times will be during the school day, time and place TBD once we have coaches for each grade level. Typically, the participating students eat lunch together in the school’s atrium and will meet for the remainder of lunch and lunch recess. Parent volunteers facilitate discussion and book-related activities.
What is a “Battle”? A Battle will be held at the end of each two-month period (December, February, and April). Each Battle will take place during school and will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Student teams earn points by answering questions about the four books they have read during that two month period. The teams accumulate points as the year progresses. The team with the most points after the third Battle has the opportunity to compete in a Battle hosted by MCPS in April (only the winning team from 4th OR 5th will compete at the district level).
How are Teams Selected? Students are able to select their own teammates within their own grade level. We anticipate that not all students will have a “team” and, therefore, the volunteers will group students in teams of three, as needed. MCPS rules do not allow us to change the makeup of the teams after the first Battle, so it is very important that students understand that this is a commitment to their respective team members. If a student drops out, then a team will consist of one less person.
What Books are on the BOB List and Where Can We Get Them? This year’s reading list is below. Families can purchase the books on their own and/or get them from the local library (the school library will have limited copies available). Please contact Amy Petrini (ampetrini@mcpsmt.org) if you need financial assistance with obtaining books. We ask that participating 4th grade students read Out of My Mind and 5th grade students read A Wolf Called Wander for discussion at their first BOB meeting. Students will receive a calendar providing detailed information regarding when the books will be discussed at school.
Battle of the Books
Grade 3
2024 - 2025
Title and Author
# of Pages
Reading Level
Genre
BA
T
T
L
E
1
Upside Down Magic
by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins
196
3.7
Fantasy
Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor
by John Scieszka
179
4.7
Science Fiction
Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer Holm
191
3.7
Historical
566
4.0
B
A
T
T
L
E
2
Honus and Me
by Dan Gutman
145
4.3
Sports
Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian
by Michael Rex
120
2.2
Graphic Novel
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo
198
4.4
Animal
463
3.6
B
A
T
T
L
E
3
Ruby Lee and Me
by Shannon Hitchcock
207
4.2
Historical
Moo
by Sharon Creech
278
4.4
Animals
The Quest of the Cubs
by Kathryn Lasky
231
4.6
Fantasy
716
4.4
Battle of the Books
Grades 4 and 5
2024-2025
Title and Author
# of Pages
Reading Level
Genre
B
A
T
T
L
E
1
Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper
295
4.3
Realistic
A Wolf Called Wander
by Rosanne Parry
243
4.0
Animals
Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
279
5.1
Science Fiction
Legend of Ghost Dog
by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
200
4.7
Mystery
1017
4.5
B
A
T
T
L
E
2
Circus Mirandus
by Cassie Beasley
292
4.8
Fantasy
Short
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
296
5.3
Realistic
NERDS
by Michael Buckley
306
5.3
Humor
Amal Unbound
by Aisha Saeed
226
4.2
Realistic
1120
4.9
B
A
T
T
L
E
3
The War That Saved My Life
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
316
4.1
Historical
Ghost
by Jason Reynolds
181
4.6
Sports
Skeleton Tree
by Iain Lawrence
278
4.8
Adventure
The Night Gardener
by Jonathan Auxier
350
4.9
Horror
1125
4.6