Activities based on Reading

Here are some activities which can be completed when you are reading a text. A text could be a novel, a non-fiction book, a comic, a newspaper article, a leaflet, an information booklet or even a website.
 
These activities can be completed while you are still reading a text, some more than once or can be added to as you continue reading:

• Make a timeline of important events in the text .
• Make a list of five titles that you think would make a better name for your text.
• Draw a map of the journey the main character took in the text.
• Write 3 questions you would like to ask the main character in your text.
• Write what you think of the main character.
• Decide what you would change about the text and write two to three paragraphs.
• Draw a picture of a character in your text and write down all the words the author used to describe them.
• Find 3 examples where the writer uses interesting words. Copy them out and explain why you like them. Or more than 3 examples?
• Choose a character in the text and write a diary for one day in their life.
• Write down any new words you have seen in your text, look up their definition.
• Draw a picture of your favourite part of the text.
• Write a description of a character in your text.
• Re-tell an event in the text from another character’s point of view.
• Write a letter as a character in the text to another character in the text, a new invented character or a real-life character.

 
 
These activities can be completed when you have finished the text:

• Write your own blurb for the text.
• Write a review of the text.
• Write a letter to the author and tell why you did or didn’t like the text.
• Write a new ending for the text.
• Draw a poster advertising your text.

​Remember that when you choose a writing task you need use the correct layout for the task. For example: if you are writing a letter you need the address in the correct place; ‘Dear’ or ‘To’ at the start of your letter; a friendly introduction; reasoning in your middle paragraph(s); a conclusion and ‘Yours’ or ‘From’ at the end.