Book Week was always one of those weeks we genuinely looked forward to as teachers. There was something special about seeing books and reading take centre stage for a few days, and we loved hearing students talk about their favourite stories and characters.
Of course, for the kids, there was usually one part of Book Week that stole the show… dress-up day!
If you’ve ever taught on Book Week dress-up day, you know exactly what we mean. The kids arrive bursting to show everyone their costumes, they want to know what their friends have dressed up as, and the excitement only grows until the parade is done. By the time the parade is finished, trying to settle everyone straight back into a regular lesson can be a challenge.
We quickly learned that this was the perfect time to give students something creative to work on. They needed an activity they could really get stuck into, while still keeping the focus on what Book Week is actually about: celebrating books and reading.
That’s exactly how our Book Week Reading Reflection Craft was born.
Try something different from another book review
When we’re looking for an activity to connect with a book or celebrate reading, a book review is often the first thing that comes to mind. There’s absolutely a place for book reviews in the classroom, but our students complete them regularly throughout the year, and Book Week gives us the opportunity to do something a little different.
Rather than asking students to reflect on one particular book, why not use the week as a chance for them to think about themselves as readers?
Students can reflect on the books and genres they enjoy, their reading habits and their own experiences with reading. It opens up conversations about what they love to read and gives them a chance to celebrate their individual reading preferences rather than everyone responding to a book in exactly the same way.
Best of all, their reflections become part of a creative Book Week craft that they can be proud of when they’re finished.
Turn their reading reflections into a Book Week display
Our Book Week Craft combines meaningful reading reflection with the fun of making something, which makes it a great project to have ready during Book Week.
There are different designs to choose from, including:
- A rocket
- An open book
- A stack of books
- And our fave a library card.
You might decide on one design for your whole class so the finished display has a consistent look, or let students choose their favourite and create a more colourful mix.
Giving students that element of choice is such a simple way to increase their investment in an activity. They’re all working towards the same learning goal, but their finished creation still feels personal to them.
Once they’re complete, they also make a fantastic Book Week display. You could hang them around your classroom, create a hallway display or even ask your school librarian if they’d like to showcase them in the library. We’ve seen them displayed in school libraries before, and they look so cute when everyone’s creations are hanging together.
Click here to get your copy.
Save this one for Book Week dress-up day
After the parade, students are usually still buzzing. They’ve spent the morning looking at costumes, talking about characters and soaking up all the excitement happening around the school, so expecting everyone to immediately switch back into a regular lesson isn’t always realistic.
A creative reading project gives that energy somewhere productive to go. Students can settle into cutting, creating, writing and reflecting while still being part of the Book Week fun.
They’re engaged in something that feels different from their everyday work, but they’re also thinking about books, reading and themselves as readers. Plus, by the end of the session, you’ve got something wonderful to put on display.
“Absolutely perfect for a quiet afternoon with my kids; they loved being able to choose the template they wanted to do. Had heaps of fun making them so far and will be using them again.” Sophie
Keep Book Week simple for yourself, too
As much as we love Book Week as teachers, it’s important to remember that it’s also one more event sitting on top of everything else teachers are already doing.
We want our students to celebrate reading, join in the fun and make special memories, but that shouldn’t mean Book Week needs to create a huge amount of extra work behind the scenes for teachers.
That’s one of the reasons we created this activity. You can still give your students a fun Book Week experience, include meaningful reading reflection and create something special for your classroom without having to come up with another activity yourself.
Book Week should be about enjoying books and celebrating reading with your students, not adding another job to your enormous list.
“My students loved this activity. It was easy to prepare. We worked on one side at a time and the students found it really engaging. They also made the classroom look great.” Michelle
Looking for an easy Book Week activity?
If you’d like to try something different from the traditional book review this year, our Book Week Craft is an easy way to bring reading, reflection and creativity together.
Students get a Book Week project they’ll enjoy working on, you’ll have a beautiful display at the end, and there’s one less Book Week activity for you to plan.
Take a look at the Book Week Reading Reflection Craft here and tick that Book Week activity off your list.
Rainbows ahead 🌈
What to read next:
Set up a Where’s Wally at your school (Free template)
Podcast episode: Simple ideas to make Book Week easy
About Rainbow Sky Creations
Ashleigh Smith and Alisha Hughes are experienced primary educators and the co-founders of Rainbow Sky Creations. With more than 30 years of combined classroom experience teaching in Australia and internationally, they create practical, engaging resources that help primary teachers save time and make learning meaningful and fun. Together, they also host the Rainbow Skies for Teachers podcast, sharing classroom ideas, teacher tips and real-world strategies with educators around the world. Connect with us on Instagram or LinkedIn.
