World Book Day 2023
Linking with a children’s mental health focus that is very much a current issue, our World Book Day focus this year was remembering that it is ok to fail sometimes; it is how we cope that is most important.
Teachers engaged children in books that taught this focus through characterisation, theme and factual information about the lives of some successful people in our world today. The children then explored the theme of coping with failure and accepting the mistakes we might make. Some even shared their own research that had been completed at home.
Here are the two focus books that we used across the school to reach out to children.
Non-fiction and fiction focus books
Even the most well-known people have struggled to succeed! Find out what they learned and how they turned their failures into triumphs with this engaging and youthful guide on how to succeed long term. There is a lot of pressure in today’s society to succeed, but failing is a part of learning how to be a successful person.
Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s poignant tale follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favourite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear? After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that Life begins when you get back up.
Half-term homework
In order to promote our love for reading across the school, we arranged a half-term homework project that allowed our children to get creative! They used their craft skills to turn an ordinary wooden spoon into their favourite book character. Take a look at their creations...
Masked Reader
Each and every member of staff recorded themselves in disguise. Their video shared a part of their favourite children's story.
How did it work?
Each day, the class teacher played a clip of a masked reader to their class - each sat with their competition entry slip.
The children had to decide which member of staff they believe is behind the disguise. They then had to listen again very carefully to the words being read. Which book do you think the masked reader is reading from? Once written, it could not be changed.
The competition ran from 27th Feb to 31st March.
We had a range of books chosen and the children were very good at spotting the clues from characters, settings or events to decide on their book choice.
Would you like to have a go yourself?