Ready, Set…Read Across America Activities!

Want to get everyone communicating consistently? Why limit yourself to just a day when you can have an entire week (or even a month!) of Read Across America activities?

We’ve created a template with fun, educational suggestions for each day of the first week of March, but you can easily stretch it across the whole month and fully celebrate National Reading Month! Check out the official NEA Read Across America resources for more ideas.

Monday:

Start the week with daily book talks to spark your students’ curiosity. Choose inspiring stories that may not be on their radar. Since March is also National Women’s History Month, consider featuring stories about women trailblazers—the perfect way to kick off Read Across America Week with a focus on empowerment.

Bonus: Encourage students to give their own book talks, and offer bonus points for costumes inspired by their favorite characters!

Tuesday:

Have you heard of Novel Engineering? This activity combines literacy and STEM by challenging students to solve real-world engineering problems identified in a book they read. Using simple materials like cardboard, tape, and string, students can create innovative solutions. Learn more about Novel Engineering here.

This activity is a fantastic way to engage students in both STEM skills and literacy development.

Wednesday:

It’s Wacky Wednesday! Celebrate by wearing crazy hats or silly socks and diving into funny books. This day is all about humor. Bring in an author (or use online resources) to teach students how to structure a joke, and get them writing their own.

Who knows, you might have a future comedian in your class! (If so, brace yourself! 🤣) Find funny book recommendations here.

Thursday:

Here it is—Read Across America Day! Make this day extra special by dressing up as your favorite book characters and encouraging students to do the same. Be sure to communicate this home in your weekly update so families can prepare!

Organize a school-wide celebration with activities like:

• 🔥 Book campout in the gym or auditorium
• 👩🏽‍🏫 A room-to-room with guest readers, including a Mystery Masked Reader
• 👯‍♀️ Book buddies—pair younger students with older ones for a special reading time

This will be a day your students will remember! Get inspired with NEA’s celebration ideas.

Friday:

Wrap up the week by focusing on writing. After all the reading you’ve done, now it’s time to encourage students to write! Whether they’re budding novelists, journalists, or (most likely) future social media influencers, let them get creative.

Set up a student author event where they can read their work and even give autographs. Finish off the day with a celebration of their hard work!

Cap It Off with Family Engagement

At the end of the week, be sure to share the highlights of your Read Across America activities with families in your weekly update. Include a reading resource for parents to encourage literacy at home. Common Sense Media has great tools for supporting reading development.

Every little bit helps when it comes to fostering a love of reading!