Classroom Library Activities
CLASSROOM LIBRARY ACTIVITIES WITH DESCRIPTION
1. Mystery Bag Uses paper bags to conceal book covers. Students get a 'mystery' book
that they can't look at before checking it out. After reading it they
report back to the Teacher on how they liked the book. Kids will love
the anticipation of getting something unknown to read.
2. Whisper a story One student passes a very short story along by whispering it to the next
person. The last person in line announces it, and everyone can realize
how the story changes along the way.
3. Popcorn Stories Popcorn stories are little stories that one tells using whatever pops into
his/her mind. If the story stalls while you are playing, try transitions and
connectors to keep it afloat (And so...,because..., next..., etc)
4. Story weaving Weave a story. Thread of the story may be given or only the first line.
Students in groups can complete the story. The completed story will be
presented at the end.
5. Versioning a story Working on a story and changing its content, climax and create a new
version.
6. Draw a scene Think of an important scene and draw it the way you see it. Place the
characters in the scene too and then figure out where you were in
relation to the characters when you read the book.
7. Read Aloud Let students to read aloud a story or some paragraphs from a book
when others listen. Ask simple but interesting questions based on the
presentation.
8. Favourite Book Vote Students vote for their favourite book.
9. Present a Book Review Students will present their short book reviews from their library
notebooks/ reading journal. Let others to ask questions based on it.
10. Book Talk Start a discussion on a book / series of books with a group of students.
Exchange views and comments. The talk will be about,( i) The title of the
book (part/series) ii) author (other books) (iii) illustrator (iv) kind of
book/story (adventure, mystery, fantasy, etc) (v) a brief outline of the
story (not a narration) (vi) style of writing (descriptive, conversational,
first person, etc)(vii) main characters, if any (viii)reading out one or two
excepts (ix) suggested readership level and interest (x) personal
response and why (xi) what made them borrow the book. Did anyone
suggest it?, (xii) any other interesting features they noticed.
11. Vote your Favourite
character
Have a vote for your favourite character. Give small pieces of papers to
all and tell them to write the name of their favourite character. Declare
the winner.
12. Book talk videos Screening of book talk videos in the classroom. YouTube is a good
source.
13. Story Time
(Story telling & Story
reading)
Story time isn't just for little kids, although it's an excellent way to
engage young students and introduce them to the pleasures of reading.
For older students who can already read, consider making story time an
"open mic" event. Have story hour once a month and have students sign
up for five- or 10-minute slots in which they can tell or read an original
story to younger students. For older students, read out a continuing
story or a novel each week.
14. Spooky Story time Halloween themed/scary/ghost stories, songs, dancing and a craft. Be
sure to wear a costume!
15. Book Auction One set of children extols the virtues of the book they have read and
enjoyed, to a younger group or to a set of their own class. They do this
in the style of an auctioneer. No money transaction involved.
16. Book Bag Two or three books in a bag are send to home for reading
weekly/monthly. A letter that goes out with the first bookbag that
explains why the teacher is sending home the bags and how the parents
can send their comments.
17. Reading Grandma and
Grandpa
Invite grandparents to the class and let the children listen them telling
stories or experiences.
18. Letter to your favourite
author
Let students to write short letters to their favourite authors. Best letters
may be selected and send to the author if appropriate. Many authors
like to reply to children.
19. Illustrations from story
books
Students will make illustrations for a selected story.
20. Reading Passport Record the details of books read and those were published from different
countries (translations/folk tales, etc) in a small notepad.
21. Fairy-Tale Hours Teacher or senior students will read fairy tales to children.
22. Paint a story Read and paint a story using imagination.
23. Quiz Time Questions may be prepared on books, authors, events, etc. Oral, written
or visual rounds may be conducted.
24. Book talks by other
pupils
Senior students are invited to the class to give book talks.
25. News and Views This activity helps students to understand and analyse a news story from
different viewpoints. Same news item covered by different newspapers
will be read aloud and discussed.
26. Headline Grabber Headlines from the newspaper will be collected and studied for their
grammar, presentation and viewpoints.
27. Words of the Day Students will find difficult/new words from the newspaper. The meaning
of the words will be written from the dictionary/thesaurus.
28. Word Jar Students write words from the book in a paper strip and placed in a jar.
Then pull out a word and talk about it. Let them guess the meaning. Use
a dictionary to verify.
29. Journal Talk Like book talk, a journal/periodical in the library can be read and
reviewed. Tell the students to collect information from 5-10 journals
(name, publisher, place, theme, cost, frequency, language, style of
writing, readership) and present it.
30. Find the Meaning Pocket dictionaries to find the meaning of given words quickly.
31. Go places Groups of students are given with atlases. Ask them to select any place
in the world they have heard about and would like to visit. They can be
taught to go to the index, locate page number and coordinates. Let
them to use left hand for ‘latitude’ and right hand for ‘longitude’ and
make the fingers meet when they find the place. Supplement the
activity with wall maps and globes.
32. Library Book Parade Good books from a classroom library are displayed for some days
outside the classroom to be seen and read by other students.
33. Design a Book Jacket Competition to design a jacket/dust cover for a selected book is
conducted.
34. Design a Bookmark Competition to design bookmark based on a selected theme is
conducted. Best bookmarks shall be awarded.
35. Design a Poster Poster designing based on themes/topics selected from books
36. Interview a Reader A good reader will be on the ‘hot seat’. Let others ask questions on
anything related to his/her reading.
37. Sight word Games Sight words are high-frequency words common in most text, words like
the, and, they, or she. Knowing these words at a glance makes reading
easier. Easy games may be devised.
38. Photo stories Collect and arrange photos in a sequence to create a story.
39. Digistories A digistory is a short video that is comprised of photographs, text, music,
sound and possibly some video clips. Topic varies like Biography, video
diary, fact, fiction, advert, educational video, holiday presentation etc.
Can be used in almost all subjects and made using a tablet/mobile.
40. Book Tasting The covers of the books have been masked so that pupils do not know
which book they will be tasting. The selected books are examined in
groups of 4–5 pupils. Each group has the same books. The idea is that
pupils read each book for two minutes and give a short presentation at
the end.
41. Word cards Look through your book. Choose four words that you do not know.
Write one word on each card. Write a sentence using each word. Cut
out the cards. Write your name on the back of the cards. Share your
words with a partner.
42. Picture Mural In the middle of the Picture Mural sheet, write the topic of your book.
Look through magazines for pictures that relate to the topic of your
book. Cut out four pictures that relate to the topic. (If you can't find
pictures in a magazine, draw four pictures instead.) Glue one picture in
each box. On the line, write a label for each picture.
43. Create a New Page Think of an idea for a new page that you could add to your book. Draw a
picture of the new page. Write a few sentences about what is happening
in the picture. Try to write in the style of the author.
44. Story Sequence On one index card, write the title and author. Choose four key events
from your
book. On each of the remaining index
cards, draw a picture of one event. Write a label for each picture.
Arrange the cards in the order the events happened. (Put the title card
at the top and the first event card directly below it). Glue or tape the
index cards onto the paper strip. Use the story sequence cards to help
retell the story to another student.
45. Opposites Look in your book for four words that are opposites (Examples: up and
down, large and small). Write each word in a box. Draw a picture to
show what each word means. Share your opposites with another
student.
46. Likes/Dislikes Write two things in your book that
you like. Draw a picture of each. Write two things in your book that you
dislike. Draw a picture of each. Share your sheet with another student.
47. Advertise-a-Book
Poster
Think about what pictures and words you could put on a poster to
advertise your book. Draw a sketch of your poster on scrap paper.
(Make sure not to tell the ending of the book.) Include the following on
your poster: book title, author, a sentence or two that would make
others want to read the Book, three pictures that show interesting parts
of the book. Draw your poster on construction paper. Share your poster
with another student. Ask the student what parts of the poster make
the book seem interesting.
48. Book Trailers Screening/making of book trailers (like film trailers). Book trailers made
by publishers, libraries and pupils are available on web for many books.
49. G. K. Hunt Students will find prospective General Knowledge bits from the
newspaper of the day. They shall be divided into groups and each group
will scan one newspaper.
50. Reader Badges Big Reader, Master Reader, Super Reader, Mega Reader, Hyper Reader,
Top Reader (based on the number of books read)
51. Cell Phone for your
Book Character
Create a cell phone for that person (character) with information about
their contacts, text message conversations, missed calls, and
applications.
52. Story Questions Think of three questions about your book. Write one question on each
of the index cards. On the other side of the index cards, write the
answers. Write your initials in the corner of each card. Share your
questions with another student who has read the same book. Ask the
student to answer the questions.
53. New Ending Think of a different ending for your book and write it down. Draw a
picture to illustrate your ending. Share your ending with another
student who has read the same book.
54. Scrap book Think about all the kinds of mementos you would put in a scrap book if
you
had one. Then create a scrap book for your character, cutting out
pictures from magazines or drawing the mementos he or she would
have in a scrap book.
55. Create a childhood for
a character
If your main character is an adult, try to figure out what he or she would
have been like as a child. Write the story of his or her childhood in such
a way that shows why he or she is the way he or she is in the novel.
56. E-mail directory Create the e-mail directory of all the people you can imagine your
character keeping in touch with on e-mail. Explain why you selected the
people you did and what it shows about your character. Then construct
several exchanges between your character and some of the people in
your character’s directory.
57. Word collage Write the title of the book in the centre of a sheet of paper. Then look
through
magazines for words, phrases, and sentences that illustrate or tell
something about your book. As you look, think in terms of the theme,
setting, plot line, as well as characters. Work to get fifty such words,
phrases, or sentences so the whole sheet of paper will be covered. The
visual impact of the collage should tell a potential reader a lot about the
book.
58. Event Timeline Think about the important events
that take place in your book. Write these events in the order they
happen. Start at the top of the page. Along the left side of the page,
write when these events happened. For example, what time of day or
season was it? If you are not sure, label the left side beginning, middle,
and ending. If you have space, add some small pictures to illustrate the
events on the timeline.
59. Book News Imagine that you are a news reporter. Write a short article about the
exciting part of your book. In your article, answer these questions: Who?
What? Where? When? & Why? Give your article a title.
60. Glad Book Sad Book Glad Book Sad Book teaches children how to treat library materials and
reinforces how to properly care for books and how to behave in a
library. Tape happy and sad faces to a cube the children will roll. Have
the children take turns rolling the cube. If a student rolls a happy face,
she should provide one example of a way to care for a library book or
one way that a person should behave in the library. If the student rolls a
sad face, he should give an example of a way to mistreat a library book
or a way a person might behave poorly in a library. Create a game board
with a finish line and advance each team’s token with every example of
happy or sad books they provide, or just play until the time allowed has
elapsed or students are out of examples.
61. Readers’ Theatre This activity can help students become more excited about material in
classic works of literature that are found in the library. Select several
groups of students in a class to put on a presentation of a scene or two
from a work of fiction. The presentation can be funny, serious or a mix
of both. Try to encourage students who would not normally participate
by making it a competition of some kind with a big prize. The students
do not have to memorize lines, they simply can sit in their chairs and
read the book, but they can use their voices to make the material fun
and interesting. This can encourage those watching the presentation to
read more after seeing the words come to life. Either way, more
students read as a result of the activity.
62. Book Buffet The activity gives students an opportunity to read genres that they
never would have picked up by themselves. Place a different book on
each desk in a classroom. Tell students that they will be reading the
book for 5 to 8 minutes and then you will tell them to switch with
someone else. These books should be of a great variety with many
different types represented. At the end of the class, students should
have switched 5 to 10 times. Ask them if there are any books they
started that they would continue to read if they had the chance. If so,
make sure those students get a copy of the books they enjoyed.
63. Create a Bibliography Give a topic and let them to search the library database and shelves.
64. Preparing Article Index Tell them first how to index an article. Periodicals/journals/newspapers
are given to students find articles and index them.
65. Reading to teddy
(stuffed animals)
When parents read to their children, it is a passive form of reading for the
child. But when children read to their stuffed animals, it is a more
spontaneous, self-directed form of reading, helping them develop into
more active readers.
66. Reader of the Week A student is selected as the Reader of the Week. His/Her photograph will
be displayed on the Bulletin Board.
67. Turn book reviews into
videos
Texts are written based on a familiar book and turned into a script. They
are edited to make them suitable for recording. Tablets can be used to
record and edit the videos.
68. Publishing
stories/poems/articles/
paintings in the local
newspaper/magazine
Selected creations by students may be send to local newspapers and
magazines for publishing.
69. Non-fiction Book
Projects
Pupils create a nonfiction book that discusses the topics taught during
the School year. Primary children can perform this activity if information
cards are used.
70. Virtual Author visits Pupils interview authors during a remote question hour or via Skype.
71. Media Talks Pupils present interesting media content to other pupils and critically
evaluate it. Some of the presentations are video recorded.
72. Photo report/essay Photos on a topic is collected and pasted.
73. Game to Story Games can be used to softly encourage children to illustrate, read, write
and express themselves orally. Tell them to write a mini story using the
game characters.
74. Reading in pairs Reading with peers encourages and supports reluctant readers to
become good readers.
75. Photos or magazine
pictures
Find two or three photos or magazine pictures that would have special
significance to your character.
Mount them on a sheet of paper and write an explanation of why they
would be important to your character.
76. Wall Magazine Anything related to children’s creativity can be displayed. Poems,
stories, articles, reviews, illustrations, etc.
77. Book Board Maintained by the children, with their own book reviews, illustrations of
characters, suggestions, comments, quotes from the book, clippings
from newspaper, magazines, etc.
78. Book Award Think about what kind of award you want to give your book. Here are
some examples:
• best characters
• best story
• best illustrations
• best ending
• best descriptions
At the top, write the kind of award you are giving the book. Write why
the book deserves the award and draw a picture.
79. Assembly programmes Book reviews, one-act plays, skit, quiz, mime, enacting scenes from a
book, etc., presented in the morning assembly.
80. Classroom Library
Report
A monthly/quarterly report on the functioning of the Classroom Library
is prepared and presented in the assembly. Details of activities
conducted, new books added, competitions, best readers, etc. are
included in the report.
Collaborative Activities
S. No. Activity Description
1. Meeting of Classroom Library
in-charges & Leaders
Monthly/Quarterly meeting of Classroom Library
Committee shall be convened to plan, execute, report
and evaluate the activities.
2. Visit to the School Library Take children to the main school library. Let them
know about the resources and services.
3. Local Library visit Visit to the local public/academic library. Ask students
to write a report about the visit.
4. Open Library Day Organize an Open Day for all classroom libraries and
invite parents and other members of the local
community. Have students showcase their library in
many ways. Invite suggestions from the visitors.
5. Book Donation Drive Announce a book donation drive for the library. Let
parents come forward.
6. ‘Caught Reading’ Candid photographs of children reading books in the
classroom and from around the school are taken and
displayed.
7. Author visit Invite children’s authors/illustrators to the school. Let
them interact with students.
8. Story Tellers Invite professional story tellers. Class-wise sessions can
be planned.
9. Readers’ Club Form a club of readers by selecting representatives
from each class. Elect President and Secretary and plan
activities. Children like to become office bearers.
10. Exhibitions/Displays On special days/events/themes by selecting related
books from classroom libraries. (Gandhi Jayanti,
Independence Day, Environment Day, Women’s Day,
etc.)
11. Book Fair Invite publishers/book sellers to organize a 2/3 Day
book fair. Books for the library can also be selected
from the Fair. Some competitions can also be
conducted in connection with the event.
12. Classroom Library Blog A blog with pages of each classroom library. Details of
books available, new additions, activities, reports and
creative contributions by students and teachers may
publish. Will act as a classroom library e-magazine also.
13. Best Classroom Library of the
Year Award
A committee evaluates the functioning of all class
room libraries and the best library is awarded.
14. Reading Workshop Students who need help mastering reading- or writing-
related skills could find a workshop helpful. Workshop
will be on skills such as creative writing, reading
comprehension, standardized test-taking or speed-
reading. For younger students, offer help with writing
in cursive, forming letters or reading aloud. Ask older,
high-achieving students to lead the workshops.
Provide the workshops free of charge and serve light
refreshments.
15. National Reading Day /
Reading Month (June 19)
Administering Reading day pledge in the assembly.
Remembering Shri P. N. Panicker and Library
movement. Month-long activities.
16. National Library Week (Nov.
14-21)
A weeklong celebration of books & reading. A number
of inter-classroom library competitions and activities
can be conducted. Inaugural and valedictory
programmes will be colourful events.
17. World Book Day (April 23) Shakespeare’s birthday. Programmes showcase world
literature can be organized.
18. Visit a writer at his/her home Take students to an author’s residence. Know about
his/her contributions. Interact. Acquire prior
appointment.
19. Reading Nooks Keep used children’s magazines and copies of
newspapers at different corners of the school where
children gather during recess/free time (park, lobby,
play-ground).
20. Drop Everything And Read
(D.E.A.R.)
A whole school mass reading campaign when
everyone in the campus read together during a pre
announced period/hour, leaving everything aside.
Curriculum based books are excluded.
21. Theme Weeks To encourage students to read books on all different
subjects, feature a different theme each week or
month. Base activities for that month on the theme
you select. Set up a story time to read your favourite
children’s book on that subject aloud to help interest
even the youngest library patrons.
22. Screen a Film of the book A film version of the book can be screened on a day or
in instalments (Harry Potter, Metilda, Jungle Book,
Malgudi Days, etc). Class-wise selection and
screening.
23. Visit to Book Stores and Book
Fairs
To understand the book selection process. Group of
25-30 students. Allow to browse for 45 minutes. Make
them calculate the cost of books. The experience can
be shared as an assembly presentation.
24. Student/book Exchange
programmes between
classroom libraries
Interested students may be allowed to visit other
classroom libraries. Books can be shared/exchanged
among the libraries.
25. Reading Challenges Reading challenge programmes with many
components may be planned (Example: Face a Book Challenge
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