If World Book Day tends to catch you unawares every year, you’re not alone. This year, the big event is on 6 March so there’s still plenty of time to get the classroom or whole school organised.
This year’s theme is: Read Your Way. Research by World Book Day shows that children feel reading is something they have to do, rather than something they choose to do.
Read Your Way encourages everyone to let go of reading pressures and expectations and empowers children and young people to have fun discovering reading on their own terms.
Along with resources on www.worldbookday.com, here are some ideas to mark the global event.
Create a “Read Your Way” Classroom Display
Reading Choices Chart. Design a chart and poll how your students prefer to read. Use choices such as:
- Read aloud
- Read with a friend
- Read in another language
- Read a comic book
- Listen to an audiobook
Encourage students to pick their preferred method and add their name under it.
“Read Your Way” Stations
Set up different reading stations in the classroom:
- Traditional Books Corner – Paperbacks, picture books, non-fiction.
- Comics & Graphic Novels – A space for visual storytelling.
- Audiobook Zone – Set up a listening station with headphones.
- E-Reading Zone – Let students explore digital books on tablets.
- Storytelling Spot – Students can act out stories instead of reading.
Encourage Student-Led Reading
- Peer Reading – Let students read to each other in pairs or small groups.
- Reading Buddies – Pair older students with younger ones.
- Mystery Reader – Invite a surprise guest to read to the class. It’s a great way to get a local parent, teacher, author or librarian involved.
Plan Classroom Activities
- Book Swap – Let students bring in books to exchange with their classmates but keep track of all swaps so they can be returned to their owners.
- Writing Challenge – Get students to write their own short stories or alternative endings to their favourite books.
Make it a Challenge
- Reading Bingo – Give students a bingo card with different reading challenges.
- Book Review Wall – Let students write short reviews of their favourite books.
- Treasure Hunt – Hide clues around the classroom that lead to a special book.
If you’re willing to take the day to the next level, here are some simple, last-minute ideas for you to get dressed up as to celebrate the day:
Bruce Bogtrotter
From Matilda by Roald Dahl – Dress in a school uniform and smear chocolate all over your shirt and face. If you want to commit to the role bring some cake along to tuck into at break.
Matilda
by Roald Dahl – Pop a red ribbon in your hair and bundle a stack of books together with string. Easy!
The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams
For any male teachers out there, grab a dress and a football and you’re good to go.The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat – From The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dress all in black and make a tall red and white hat from paper or card. Paint a cat nose and whiskers with eyeliner and it’s purrfect.
Tintin
by Georges Remi
To dress as Tintin, all you need look is a blue top and a large amount of hair gel.
Harry Potter
by J.K. Rowling
Forget the robes, just get a pair of thick-rimmed glasses and draw a scar on your head.
