March is Reading Month based on the Candyland game theme

Children can be inspired to read through a month-long challenge during the month of March is Reading Month. For every class that arrives at Candy Castle, the reward is participating in a school-wide game day (or 1/2 day).

One idea is to use a game theme. As a school, a variation of the Candyland game board will be hung around the school walls. This is especially easy since the Candyland board is made up of colored rectangles. If it’s not a school-wide activity, it certainly could happen as a classroom activity.

Then weekly markers are given to students. Each candy is colored for every ten minutes of reading. At the end of the week, the class minutes are added up and then the class game piece is moved across the entire school game board. Or, if it were in individual classrooms, each child would move their game piece.

To bring the whole school game board to life, it is especially stylish if the characters on the Candyland board are scanned and enlarged. This can be done by scanning the images and then using a projector to display them on a wall or using a document camera, and then drawing around them with a black marker. Using pastel chalks is a great way to color the pieces. Older children can help with this activity.

A book jog is another way to encourage reading. Children bring used books from home that they would like to trade. For every book a child brings, they receive a ticket to exchange it for a different book. Create a path by gluing colored paper rectangles through the library and around the hallways. Then place all the books that have been brought along the way. Children walk the path in search of a book. At the end of the road, the boy exchanges his tickets for books. Using the ticket method, children can leave with as many books as they have brought. In honor of the jog in the book, everyone must wear jogging suits to “Jog into Reading.”

In addition to the game, the thematic days can correspond to the different characters such as:

Wear red for Dr. Seuss’s birthday and play on the Dr. Suess website

Wear a funny hat in honor of Lord Licorice

Wear green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and Mama Ginger Tree

Dress up as your favorite fairy tale character in honor of Princess Frostine and King Kandy

Nutty Hair Day in honor of Gramma Nutt (one of every kid’s favorite is coming to school with crazy hair!)

Inspire children to read by bringing a challenge to your school or class this year.

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