Every year, the excitement for reading burgeons across the United States as schools, libraries, and communities celebrate Read Across America. Initiated in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is a day dedicated to encouraging children and teens to read. While it originally coincided with the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss on March 2nd, it has since expanded to encompass a year-round program that promotes reading for all children and young adults.
Here are some engaging activities that educators and parents can organize to get kids excited about reading:
1. Book-Themed Costume Parade
Encourage students to dress up as their favorite book characters and hold a parade either in the classroom or outside on school grounds. This not only makes for a colorful and fun event but also encourages students to deeply engage with their chosen character’s story.
2. Read Aloud Marathon
Organize a day where teachers, older students, or community members read aloud from selected books in shifts. This keeps a continuous storytelling environment throughout the day, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and sharing experiences through literature.
3. Mystery Reader
Invite surprise guests from the local community or even celebrities to read stories to the students without revealing their identities until they start reading. This can create a buzz of excitement and speculate on who will be the next mystery reader.
4. Reading Bingo
Create bingo cards with various genres or types of characters (e.g., an animal protagonist, a book set in space). As students read books that match these criteria, they can mark off those squares until they reach bingo.
5. Bring-a-Book Picnic
Organize an outdoor picnic where everyone brings a favorite book to share with others. This allows for informal book discussions in small groups and promotes sharing interests among peers.
6. Virtual Author Visits
Schedule virtual meetings with authors who write children’s books. Have them talk about their writing process, answer questions, and read excerpts from their books.
7. Book Swap
Set up an area where students can bring books from home that they no longer want and swap them with others. This helps refresh their personal libraries at no cost.
8. Bookmark Crafting Station
Set up crafting stations where children can create their own bookmarks using art supplies provided by the school or library. These custom bookmarks can then be taken home as mementos of Read Across America Day.
9. Library Scavenger Hunt
Design a scavenger hunt inside your local library where clues lead participants to different parts of the library or to specific books they may not have otherwise discovered.
10. Creating A Classroom Book
As a group project, have each student write and illustrate a page of a storybook. Combine all pages into one book for the classroom library so everyone can enjoy their collective work.
These activities do more than just fill up time; they build literacy skills while making reading an enjoyable and anticipated event for all involved! Giving children these fond memories associated with reading is crucial in fostering lifelong readers who understand the power and joy found between pages of books.
