We're getting ready for our 5th Annual Family Reading Night. Some of the most popular activities we've done is a Book Trivia Game that always draws a crowd, and an area we call "Books Tell Us How" where kids can learn to do things from books. Making bookmarks with stampers and stickers is always popular, as is making paper airplanes. This is a good activity for the gym where there's room to fly them. We also had lots of fun with local science teachers doing a "Mr. Science" type demonstrations. This year, we're going to try an "Open Mic" for kids to read their original stories and poems.
We are doing a reading night for the first time this year too.
We are planning costumed readers, snacks, a craft, book fair open, and a book swap . . . asking families to donate gently used books the week prior. PTO will sort them on to a tables in the gym. Each student can choose two books on reading night. We are gambling that we will have enough donations! Any extra books will be donated to a local children's charity.
It does'nt sound that bad, the first year we decided to open our book fair at night, we added an ice cream social and had guest readers like our Snow coming Queen and some principals and Football players. We also had a basket raffle, then the next year we added a cake Walk. If you don't want to go as big as adding an Ice Cream Social and a Basket Raffle, you could just add a cake walk, many people got into that and it only cost a quarter to enter each time. Your on the right track and you can add as many things as you want to make it a success.
The Dr. Seuss website has a lot of suggestions on games to play with the kids. We did about 10 different games, made hats, did costumes, one fish two fish fishing games (just a magnet fishing pole into a pool of fish with paper clips attached--this was done over a blind so the kids couldn't see where to put the poll), did the green eggs thing and various other activities they offered on the website (just google Dr. Seuss). We did a poster contest that was judged that night (our theme was "oh the places you'll go" with Dr. Seuss), we had a big birthday cake and all sang happy birthday to Dr. Seuss (and then cut and served the cake) and ended the night with a rocking chair reading of a Dr Seuss book while the kids sat around the reader.
It was fun and in the cold weather the parents really liked having an activity for the children to participate in that was indoors and out of the weather.
We have several local celebs come out and read during our March reading month-- The Police Chief, Mayor, our School District Superintendent, etc..
Also possibly have a meet and greet with the CAt in the Hat, and a photo opportunity. That will interest families with younger children- this could be "Bring your Camera", or offer pics for purchase, or for free. This is a great night out that doesn't cost a family very much if anything. Good Luck!
