Book Week Scotland for Schools resource - PDF - Scottish Book Trust

LEARNING RESOURCESALL LEVELSBook Week Scotlandand the Reading Hour for Schoolswww.bookweekscotland.comResource created by Scottish Book Trust

Contents of this resource3 Book Week Scotland and the Reading Hour4 Classroom activities4 Things to do during Reading Hour4 Things to do throughout Book Week Scotland7 Whole school activities7 Things to do during Reading Hour8 Things to do throughout Book Week Scotland12 Activities in the local community12 Things to do during Reading Hour12 Things to do throughout Book Week Scotland14 Useful links15 Scottish Book Trust resources2

Book Week Scotland and the Reading HourBook Week Scotland is the country’s national celebration of books andreading, taking place from the 26th November to 2nd December 2012. Itprovides a great opportunity for you to get the whole school involved incelebrating the pleasure of reading!With reading for pleasure at the heart of the new curriculum, promotingenjoyment and choice in reading is high on every school’s agenda. BookWeek Scotland will give you a chance to focus on the pleasure of readingfor its own sake, and encourage pupils and staff to share their experiencesof reading with each other.The aim of the Reading Hour (which takes place at 11 a.m. on Friday 30thNovember) is to get as many people in the country as possible reading atthe same time. This is an easy and fun way to participate in Book WeekScotland, and gives you a chance to really build excitement andanticipation! In this resource, you will find a number of ideas to help youmake the most of the Reading Hour.Book Week Scotland is a great opportunity for everyone in a schoolcommunity to make time for reading for pleasure – pupils, teachers, schoolmanagement, classroom assistants, school staff and families. This is thetime to read together, share favourite books, talk about why reading isimportant to each of you and most of all to have FUN!Many of the activities in the resource are applicable to more than one stageof the curriculum. To save space in the resource, all of the most commonlyappearing links are at level 3: just remember that most of the activities canbe applied at all stages of the curriculum.Scottish Book Trust would love to hear about what your school gets up toduring Book Week Scotland! If you have photos of your activities whichyou would like to share, please get in touch via our Facebook page orTwitter account – details are below:Scottish Book Trust on Facebook:www.facebook.com/scottishbktrust?fref=tsScottish Book Trust on Twitter: twitter.com/scottishbktrustAlternatively, if you want to submit photos via email, or if you would like towrite a blog for our Learning section about what your school is doingduring Book Week Scotland, please emailchris.leslie@scottishbooktrust.com.By submitting photographs, you are consenting for these to appear in a galleryof Book Week Scotland images on Scottish Book Trust’s website and Facebook page.3

Classroom activitiesCfETHINGS TO DO DURING READING HOURShare your Reading Hour recommendations with another schoolYour class could confer with another class of pupils at a different school totell each other what they will be reading during the Reading Hour. Youcould set up a GLOW meet – there are some handy guides here:blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/GlowingHelp/?cat=3019Tch 3-03aTch 3-04aLit 3-11aLit 3-09aCarry out a Reading Hour surveyYou could appoint a team of pupil researchers to find out what their peersare reading during the Reading Hour.Lit 3-28aLit 3-14ainCreate a Reading Hour challengeYou could challenge pupils to find ‘quick reads’ – books from the schoollibrary which can be read in an hour. They could then write a quicksynopsis of the book and everyone’s quick reads could be compiled into aleaflet or poster full of recommendations.Lit 3-11a,Eng 3-27aTHINGS TO DO THROUGHOUT BOOK WEEK SCOTLANDRegister your class to vote in the Scottish Children’s Book AwardsIt’s free and easy to register your class to take part, and we have a set ofgreat teaching resources for each age category! Find out more atwww.scottishbooktrust.com/scottish-childrens-book-awardsLit 3-11a‘If you liked this book, try…’ bookmarksThis is a great idea from the National Literacy Trust! Pupils can createbookmarks to leave inside books when they return them to the library. Onthe bookmarks, they can put their book recommendations to otherreaders. They can recommend other texts by the same authors, or othertexts of the same genre:www.literacytrust.org.uk/practical_ideas/3160_practical_ideaif_you_liked_this_book_try_bookmarksLit 3-11aExa 3-06a4

Create a River of ReadingPupils are often unaware of the extent to which they read. Creating a“River of Reading” with them can help open their eyes to how muchreading they actually do.CfELit 3-11aLit 3-28aGet them to draw two wavy lines representing a river, and in between thelines ask them to write down everything they read over (for example) oneweek. This must include functional reading like bus timetables, cinematickets and instruction manuals. After one week, they should have a clearillustration of how big a role reading plays in their lives.Having a greater awareness of the choices they have made as readers canhelp pupils to choose their future reading.You can choose to model this process to your pupils by creating your ownRiver of Reading.Poetry VandalismPoetry Vandalism is a great idea which allows pupils to discover poetry inunusual places! Have a look at this blog on Scottish Book Trust’s website,which gives more detail:www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog/learning/2012/05/poetry-vandalismEng 3-31aLit 3-20aWrite a letter of recommendationAsk your pupils to pick a book they like, and imagine that it has not yetbeen published. They can imagine they are a literary agent, writing a letterto a publisher trying to convince them to publish the book. They can focuson the following areas:llllWhy the book will appeal to its target audience;What it is about the book that makes you want to keep reading;How well constructed the characters are;How rich the setting is.Compile a list of recommendations for the libraryYou can ask pupils to compile a list of possible books for the library tobring in next year. The following websites should help to start you off:lllPan MacMillan children’s books:www.panmacmillan.com/childrenshomeHodder: www.hodderchildrens.co.uk/Carnegie Medal for Children’s Fiction:www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/carnegie/Lit 3-11aEng 3-19aLit 3-29aLit 3-11a(Lit 4-11aif pupils areable toindependentlyfind a websiteor other source)5

My Favourite Books – Teachers are readers too!Start each day or each lesson by reading a short extract from one of yourfavourite books and share with your class what you particularly like aboutit. Ask them which of their favourites they like for similar reasons.CfELit 3-11aLit 3-09aBook openingsThe opening few sentences of a book are what really draws the reader in.You could get your pupils to suggest their favourite openings, and hold aclass vote on which is the best. This task could also be extended throughthe whole school, and you could put a twist on it by asking pupils to writetheir own openings.Lit 3-11aEng 3-27a6

Whole school activitiesCfETHINGS TO DO DURING READING HOURCreate a poster for your eventYou can use Scottish Book Trust’s Book Week Scotland poster to advertiseyour event. The poster has an empty space for you to fill in the details ofyour event. Just go back to the same page you downloaded theseresources from and you’ll find the poster!Create intrigue about the Reading HourYou can build excitement and anticipation about the Reading Hour bybasing your activities around the idea that something big is happening, butnot telling the pupils what it is!Exa 3-06aEng 3-27aYou could appoint a Reading Hour committee of pupils who can design acampaign designed to build intrigue. This could include posters or shortvideos.Spreading the word about the Reading HourYour pupils could design posters for the Reading Hour to display aroundthe school. To help other departments engage with the Reading Hour, yourpupils could design posters specifically for other teachers to fill in, alongthe lines of, “The book I will be reading during The Reading Hour is...”.Lit 3-11aTch 3-03aTch 3-04aYour pupils could also set up a blog about the Reading Hour, and sharetheir experiences with another school. Secondary pupils could find textssuitable for primary pupils and then make recommendations to primaryteachers through the blog. You can find a guide to getting started withGLOW blogs here:blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/GlowingHelp/?p=1428Bring the whole school together for Reading HourIf you are a reasonably small school why not all get together in the hall toshare reading hour? You could all read your own books, or differentclasses could share favourite books with one another, or older pupils couldread with younger buddies.Lit 3-11aIf you are a large school where a whole school gathering is difficult, couldyou share Reading Hour as a year group?7

THINGS TO DO THROUGHOUT BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND“I am currently reading” badgesYou can ask everyone in school – including all staff and any visitors – towear an “I am currently reading” badge. You could get pupils to designtheir own badges following this guide:www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Badge-PinCfELit 3-11aExa 3-06aUse an Authors Live video!Scottish Book Trust’s Authors Live program is packed full of great videosfor you to watch again with your pupils. Have a look through our Watch onDemand section for authors you think your pupils will love!www.scottishbooktrust.com/watch-on-demandFor ideas on how to use the events, have a look at this video in our CPDsection, in which a school plans a day of activities around FrancescaSimon’s Horrid Henry event:www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/CPD/toolkits/engage-whole-schoolwith-authors-live-event(CFE outcomeswill varydepending onthe activitieswhich come outof this)Set up a pupils’ reading group and create book listsYou could involve a pupils’ reading group very closely in Book WeekScotland by asking them to compile book lists! Take your cue from theRapid Readers group at Carluke High, who put together lists of books suchas “The books we couldn’t put down”, “Books that we’d like to be madeinto a film”, and “Saddest books”:cookbooks.glowscotland.org.uk/blog/2010/09/01/rapid-readers-usingglow-to-support-a-lunchtime-reading-club/Lit 3-11aLit 3-28aIf you have school radio, you could set up a radio programme dedicated tocelebrating the pupils’ favourite books. The following links should providesome ideas, inspiration and guidance:llSandaig Primary’s podcasts:www.sandaigprimary.co.uk/radio_sandaig/index.phpA collection of resources helping you to make your own podcast:www.recap.ltd.uk/podcasting/info/podresources.phplllPodcasting advice from Teaching Ideas:www.teachingideas.co.uk/ict/podcasting.htmSBT’s Book Talk podcast on The Hunger Games, featuring pupils fromHolyrood High School: www.scottishbooktrust.com/booktalk/thehunger-games-the-echo-chamberDuncanrig High School’s account of setting up a radio broadcastingproject: www.educationscotland.gov.uk/sharingpractice/i/improvingcommunicationskillsduncanrigradio/introduction.asp?strReferringChannel=learningteachingandassessment&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-566126-648

Design new book jackets for books in the libraryYou could ask pupils to design new jackets for their favourite books, oreven books which they feel need a better cover! You can build in lots ofdiscussion about what makes a good cover, and then let the class judgewhose cover is best.CfELit 3-11aExa 3-03aOrganise a school reading committeeYou could take volunteers (or even hold elections) for a reading committee,which can decide on activities. The committee could contribute bookrecommendations for different genres (you could appoint each member of thecommittee to the role of an expert in a particular genre). They could broadcastthis through a school newsletter or magazine, or through school radio.The committee could create displays for the library and be in charge ofkeeping the displays up to date with new recommendations.Lit 3-11a(Lit 4-11aif pupils areable toindependentlyfind a sourceof bookrecommendations)Reading AssembliesAssemblies are the ideal opportunity for you to promote books. Ideas caninclude:llllA book recommendation section, where a pupil or staff member canrecommend one of their favourite reads;A GLOW meet with a literary character (one of the teachers indisguise);A GLOW meet with another school, sharing recommendations;A ‘most despicable character’ trial! You could hold a school vote onthe most despicable character ever to appear in a children’s book, andthen hold a trial where all the evidence is considered. You can getpupils to call out with their evidence, and then shout for the characterthey think should be convicted...Invite a local writer or illustrator to the schoolThe expertise and enthusiasm of professional writers can help you todeliver some great projects in school! Have a look through our database tofind the right person for you: www.scottishbooktrust.com/author-searchOur Learning Blog and LLF in action Blog both have some great examplesof what can be done with the assistance of a professional artist.Lit 3-11aLit 3-09aLit 3-02aLit 3-03aLit 3-01a(CFE outcomeswill varydepending onthe activitieswhich come outof this)Staff interviewsYou could get pupils to interview other members of staff about theirfavourite books. Questions could include:lllllWhat was your favourite book as a child?Are there any books you would recommend to pupils?What’s the best non-fiction book you’ve read recently?How do you choose the books you read?What was the last book you read but didn’t finish?Lit 3-09a9

Change namesYou can change the school’s naming system for Book Week Scotland!Use the names of literary characters as your names for houses, teams androoms. For instance, your pupils could transform the school into Hogwartsfor a week, making posters with the rules of Quidditch for the sports hall,painting pictures of pupils’ favourite selection from the moving paintingsfound in Hogwarts, and much more! Check this link for inspiration:oakton.patch.com/articles/viewfinder-senior-prank-turns-school-intohogwarts#photo-5810368You can also ask pupils for their ideas!CfE(outcomeswill vary butmay include:Exa 3-06aExa 3-03a)Set up a teachers’ reading groupA reading group can help readers of all levels of engagement to developtheir reading. Again, the free Teachers as Readers ebook on the ScottishBook Trust website can help to provide ideas to get the most out of areading group:www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/CPD/toolkits/teachers-as-readersCreate booktrailers and display them around the schoolBooktrailers are a great tool for engaging pupils with reading anddeveloping digital literacy. Scottish Book Trust has created a series ofBooktrailer Masterclass videos which tell you all need to know to getstarted: www.scottishbooktrust.com/cpd/toolkits/booktrailer-masterclassYou can see a video of how booktrailers work in the classroom, and how theycan develop critical thinking, in this video on the Scottish Book Trust website:www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/readit/booktrailers-in-action-videoLit 3-11aTch 3-03aTch 3-04aEng 3-19aEng 3-27aLit 3-24aIf you have large screens around the school, you can run pupils’ trailers tohelp build excitement about books.Drop Everything and ReadAs a shorter version of the Reading Hour, you can institute a DropEverything and Read scheme at a set point in the school week.Lit 3-11aHold a whole school book swapYou can ask pupils to bring in books they are finished with and hold a bookswap. This event could be extended to parents and the local community.Lit 3-11aHold a whole-school reading quizYou could make up quizzes for pupils of various age groups, askingquestions about the content of different books which they can borrow fromthe library. If there are a lot of questions from a lot of different books, pupilscould do the quiz in teams, each team member reading different books.You could involve your local library in this task by asking them to bring inadditional copies of books.Lit 3-11aLit 3-14a10

It may be an idea to do some research to make sure the information youare asking for in the quiz questions is not available on the internet! It willhelp if you use books which are slightly less high-profile than (for example)The Hunger Games or Twilight, as the plot details of these books will beeasily obtainable online.CfEStage a book hunt!Place books in hidden locations around the school. When pupils find them,you can attach a written task to the book. For instance, if you hide a copyof a book on a famous footballer in one of the school sports areas, youcould attach a task which asks pupils to write a summary of the player’searly life.(CFE outcomeswill dependon the tasksyou set)You can give prizes out to each pupil who finds a book and completes atask!11

Activities in the local communityCfETHINGS TO DO DURING READING HOURHold a Reading Hour event in the local libraryYour pupils could do a lot of the activities in this pack with a local library –creating bookmarks, organising book displays, holding quizzes, etc.- andcentre these activities around the Reading Hour.Contact your local librarian and see where they could use a hand! Yourpupils could organise a “book party” for members of the community. Olderpupils could guide younger pupils round the library, explaining how to use it.Lit 3-11aHWB 3-12a(otheroutcomesdepend onactivities)Visit a local nursery for Reading HourAsk your pupils to spend Reading Hour reading with pupils for a localnursery. You could arrange for your pupils to visit the local nursery to giveout books. If your pupils have a particular favourite picture book, see if youcan arrange for them to donate their copies, or alternatively raise funds tobuy some new ones. Book Week Scotland is happening close to Christmasthis year and this might make for a great gift for nursery children.Lit 3-11aHWB 3-12aHWB 3-13aTHINGS TO DO THROUGHOUT BOOK WEEK SCOTLANDInterview members of the communityYour pupils could visit members of the local community to find out abouttheir favourite books. If they film the interviews, they could compile thefootage into a video project.Lit 3-09aLit 3-14aLit 3-25aHWB 3-12aYour pupils might also want to design a survey to find out what people likebest in a good book, or to find out the community’s top ten reads.Raise funds to send books abroadThis is an excellent opportunity to get pupils working on enterpriseactivities. They will need to think about the following questions:llllllHow will they find a school to donate books to?How will they decide which books to send?How will they get the books? Will they aim for second-hand books, ornew ones? If they are buying books, how will they raise the money?If they are raising money, how will they raise awareness and promotetheir campaign? How can they get as much of the school as possibleinvolved?How will they arrange delivery of the books?How will they let the rest of the school know how the project turned out?The Pelican Post website (www.pelican-post.org/index.php) actually helpspupils deal with a lot of these questions by sourcing a school and givingLit 3-11aLit 3-14aHWB 3-12aHWB 3-13aHWB 3-14a12

instructions for delivery. It’s up to you whether you want to direct them tothis website, or let them start from scratch.CfEIt doesn’t have to be another school either – you might want pupils toconcentrate their efforts on getting books for their local hospital, nursery orany other worthy recipient!Hold a celebration of books with parents and pupilsYou can invite parents and pupils in for an evening of book-relatedactivities. You may want to ask pupils to think of a programme ofentertainment for the evening. There are different possibilities: you couldask senior pupils to put together the evening for younger pupils and theirparents, for example.The pupils will probably need to think about the following questions:l How they will collect numbers for the event;l How they will organise catering;l Who will introduce the evening;l Whether they need to make up a programme for attendees;l Whether they want to organise any competitions (writing competitionsorganised beforehand and judged on the night, book reviewcompetitions, voting for favourite first lines, etc.) and whether theyneed to source prizes;l What kind of activities will help to promote books (booktrailerscreenings, book readings, video reviews, etc.).Hold a book themed lunchYou could put this on yourself, or ask older pupils to put a lunch on forparents or members of the community.Lit 3-11a(Lit 4-11aif pupilsare able toindependentlyfind a sourceof bookrecommendations)HWB 3-13aHWB 3-12aFor younger pupils, you can create a themed menu, changing the names ofdishes to ones found in children’s books. Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes isa great starting point!Record a book podcast for hospital radioYour pupils can approach a local hospital to spread the word about theirfavourite books. Depending on the format used by the hospital, the pupilscan either record a podcast first or broadcast their show live.You can refer back to page 7 and 8 for advice on creating podcasts.Lit 3-11aLit 3-09aHWB 3-12aHWB 3-13a13

Useful linksWebsites to find out about new books and poetryReading MattersSearches for books based on your preferences www.readingmatters.co.ukLiterature for LadsA blog full of book recommendations for boys www.literatureforlads.comMy Best Friends are BooksA blog featuring news and recommendationsbestfriendsrbooks.wordpress.comScottish Poetry LibrarySPL’s site allows you to browse poetry by tagswww.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/tagsTeen ReadsNews, interviews, competitions and reviews for teens! www.teenreads.com14

Scottish Book Trust resourcesThere are many more resources on our website which can help you buildexcitement about reading in your school – these ones should give you agreat starting point.How to Adapt Picture Books into DramaA guide, including a full kit list, for adapting picture books into playswww.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/cpd/toolkits/picture-book-dramaTeachers as Readers free e-bookThis book details a project which asked 12 teachers to investigate howthey could model their reading behaviours to pupilswww.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/CPD/toolkits/teachers-as-readersAuthors LiveRecordings of live author events for all ages, run by Scottish Book Trustand recorded at the BBC www.scottishbooktrust.com/watch-on-demandBooktrailer Masterclass videosA series of videos explaining what a booktrailer is and how to make onewww.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/cpd/toolkits/booktrailer-masterclassScottish Children’s Book AwardsScotland’s national children’s book awards – register your class to takepart! www.scottishbooktrust.com/scottish-childrens-book-awardsLive Literature FundingApply for funding to finance a visit from a writer or illustrator to your schoolwww.scottishbooktrust.com/live-literature-funding15