This Theme Page is mainly for teachers who want to explore beyond the traditional book reports, be it in writing, talking, creating or in digital form. At the end, there is some advice for book reports, too.
Warm-Up
“Book Report” from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!” Trimmed – YouTube (1:53)https://youtu.be/IPibAvHU1-UTrimmed for Literacy Foundations Session #6 Longer version for Intermediate level (5:30)
Asking and Answering Questions: Reading Literature – YouTube (1:56)https://youtu.be/C2fWZHaNugcIn this video, students will learn how to ask and answer questions before, while, and after reading a fiction book.
Elementary
Book Report Template – Animated Style | Powtoonhttps://www.powtoon.com/video-template/book-reportA new twist on a classic assignment. The ability to report on what they read is key to a student’s success in school and life. Use this as an example without Powtoon if you like. Also under Digital Book Tasks
A book report – On the same pagehttps://onthesamepageelt.wordpress.com/2020/04/10/a-book-report/Here’s a simple report that students can complete after reading a novel, a short story, or any narrative excerpt.
General Book Ideashttps://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/genbookideas.htmGet the children to write a letter to the author. They could even include some samples of the work they’ve been doing. Contact the author’s publisher or publicist to find out the best address to send stuff to before you post a large package!
An Amazon Listing Cumulative Novel Project! – Teaching with a Mountain Viewhttps://teachingwithamountainview.com/an-amazon-listing-cumulative-novel/Before I introduced the project to the students, I pulled up an Amazon listing page for a book we had previously read. Â We talked about all the elements that it included and what stuck out to us.
Not Your Same Old Book Report – Dioramas, Trioramas, Quadramas – Teachnet.comhttps://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/not-your-same-old-book-report-dioramas-trioramas-quadramas/For some ideas that really make you rethink the concept of three-dimensional reports, we’ve pulled together ideas from some of our T2T contributors. – Also under Handicrafts below
Beyond the Book Report: Ten Alternatives – Edutopiahttps://www.edutopia.org/blog/book-report-alternatives-elena-aguilarBlogger Elena Aguilar shares some creative ideas to make book reports more fun and meaningful for all types of learners (and teachers!).
Intermediate
Reading tasks for homework | ELT Planninghttps://eltplanning.com/2021/01/11/reading-tasks-for-homework/Hiya, hope online learning is going well. Here are some random reading tasks I set for homework. Each student chooses one of these to do a week.
15 post-reading activities – On the same pagehttps://onthesamepageelt.wordpress.com/2020/05/10/15-post-reading-activities/The following board contains a series of activities that the students can choose to do after reading a novel or a short story. A hybrid lesson plan for remote learning
Novel Study Choice Boardshttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differentiated-Novel-Study-Choice-Boards-Literature-Circles-168033Two differentiated choice boards for students reading any novel or participating in a literature circle.
Reading Activities for Any Book — Literacy Ideashttps://www.literacyideas.com/reading-activities-for-any-bookOpen ended Reading activities: Awesome reading tasks and activities for any book or age group. Fiction and Non-Fiction.
23 Ways to Use a Text in Your ESL Classes | ELT Planninghttps://eltplanning.com/2020/08/24/23-ways-to-use-a-text-in-your-esl-classes/Through these methods, you’ll learn how to squeeze a text for all its worth. As you’ll see, these tips don’t just help students become better readers.
Classroom Activities: 25 Book Report Alternatives | Scholastichttps://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/classroom-activities-25-book-report-alternatives/If you notice big eye rolls or hear lots of groaning when you mention the words “book reports,” any of these 25 alternative book-related activities are the perfect remedy
Creative Alternatives to Book Reports | Lexia Learninghttps://www.lexialearning.com/blog/creative-alternatives-book-reportsTake a look at these fun and effective alternatives to book reports and get your students (and yourself) out of the report rut.
More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports
https://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/more-ideas-than-ever-book-reports/
Reading Tasks Fiction – Non-Fictionhttp://www.stjosephs.cheshire.sch.uk/serve_file/246346
20 Ways of Looking at a Bookhttps://www.varsitytutors.com/englishteacher/20ways
https://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/more-ideas-than-ever-book-reports/
Reading Tasks Fiction – Non-Fictionhttp://www.stjosephs.cheshire.sch.uk/serve_file/246346
20 Ways of Looking at a Bookhttps://www.varsitytutors.com/englishteacher/20ways
91 Ways to Respond to Literature
https://www.angelfire.com/ok/freshenglish/bookreportideas.html
Beyond The Book Report
https://www.byrdseed.com/41-ways-to-go-beyond-the-book-report/
The Book Circlehttps://webenglish.se/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Book-circle.pdf
Choice of Reading Tasks
https://webenglish.se/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Choice-of-Reading-Tasks.pdf
Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Menu: Novel Study https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aiUZpZr1mipT1fcM9wu5nzink9pp0NZ13k_Z8KLha74/copy
https://www.angelfire.com/ok/freshenglish/bookreportideas.html
Beyond The Book Report
https://www.byrdseed.com/41-ways-to-go-beyond-the-book-report/
The Book Circlehttps://webenglish.se/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Book-circle.pdf
Choice of Reading Tasks
https://webenglish.se/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Choice-of-Reading-Tasks.pdf
Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Menu: Novel Study https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aiUZpZr1mipT1fcM9wu5nzink9pp0NZ13k_Z8KLha74/copy
Book Talks
Comprehension Dice Gamehttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Comprehension-dice-Game-grades-K-2-1247651Students read a picture book in pairs. After reading they roll a dice and the corresponding number instructs them to apply a certain comprehension strategy
Roll-A-Questionhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Roll-a-Question-FREEBIE-2564421These free-response pages are the perfect tool to engage students after reading both fiction and nonfiction texts. Use whole class, with partners, or as a literacy center. Enjoy!
Reading Questions to Askhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Questions-to-Ask-About-Reading-Freebie-1840503?st=3bbdac5ca5ea469a5dc2ff9253d34960Included are six categories of questions with examples of each that will be sure to pump up conversations about literacy among students.
Five Alternatives to Book Reports Your Students Will Lovehttps://www.readitwriteitlearnit.com/post/five-alternatives-to-book-reports-that-students-will-loveBook reports and summaries are a thing of the past. Engage your middle and high school students with five book report alternatives that will leave them asking for more
Book talk – Interactive Gamehttps://sites.google.com/view/spraktrollet/game-book-talkA Flippity.net Board Game for talking about books by Marita Elg @Spraktrollet
Digital Book Tasks
Book Report Template – Animated Style | Powtoonhttps://www.powtoon.com/video-template/book-reportA new twist on a classic assignment. The ability to report on what they read is key to a student’s success in school and life.
15 Digital Book Report Ideas Your Students Will LOVE | The Techie Teacher®https://www.thetechieteacher.net/2019/02/15-digital-book-report-ideas-your.htmlJazz up traditional book reports with these 15 different DIGITAL book report ideas your students will love! There is a lot of opportunity for differentiation and reaching all kinds of learning styles with these activities.
Building Intelligence Plus Character: Are We Really Still Assigning Book Reports? 20 Ways to Encourage Students to Interact with Textshttp://buildingintelligencepluscharacter.blogspot.com/2012/08/are-we-really-still-assigning-book.html20 ways to encourage students to interact with books rather than just read them (with and without technology enhancement).
Projects to Engage Middle School Readers – Edutopiahttps://www.edutopia.org/blog/projects-engage-middle-school-readers-beth-hollandIn middle school, we ask students to dissect texts and perform literary analysis. However, that does not mean that we have to limit how we assess their understanding of the books.
Handicraft Book Tasks
Not Your Same Old Book Report – Dioramas, Trioramas, Quadramas – Teachnet.comhttps://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/not-your-same-old-book-report-dioramas-trioramas-quadramas/For some ideas that really make you rethink the concept of three-dimensional reports, we’ve pulled together ideas from some of our T2T contributors.
Ten Great Creative Book Report Ideas – Minds in Bloomhttps://minds-in-bloom.com/ten-great-creative-book-report-ideas/There are many, many great ways for students to respond to literature. These will work for almost any book and are especially good when students are reading independent book selections.
Book Report Mobileshttps://performingineducation.com/book-report-mobiles/A fun book report project that requires only household items!
22 Creative Book Report Ideas for Every Grade and Subjecthttps://www.weareteachers.com/creative-book-report-ideas/From mint tins to cereal boxes to T-shirts. Here are 22 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful:
103 Things to Do Before, During, or After Reading | Reading Rocketshttps://www.readingrockets.org/article/103-things-do-during-or-after-readingThis article offers a collection of interactive activities that help kids become more involved in the stories that they read.
Book Reports
A book report – On the same pagehttps://onthesamepageelt.wordpress.com/2020/04/10/a-book-report/Here’s a simple report that students can complete after reading a novel, a short story, or any narrative excerpt.
How to Write a Book Report – Guide with Examples | Time4Writinghttps://www.time4writing.com/writing-resources/writing-a-book-report/This roadmap will help you navigate around writing a school book report with ease.
How to Write a Killer Book Report | Brightlyhttps://www.readbrightly.com/write-killer-book-report/Use our simple book report checklist to help your child nail the essential elements of their school book reports, reviews, or critiques.
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