20 Book Activities to Try With Grades 3-5

Book reports are a thing of the past, and its time to be innovative and try some book activities that your students will enjoy. The activities below will reinforce and enhance what your students are currently reading. Try a few, or try them all. They can also be repeated throughout the year. If youd like, you can print out a list of these activities  and hand them out to your students. 20 Book Activities for Your Classroom To be a little bit inclusive, you can ask your student to choose an activity from the list below that they think will go well with the book they are currently reading. Draw two or more characters from your story. Write a brief dialog exchange between the characters.Draw a picture of yourself on the television talking about the book you are currently reading. Under your illustration, write down three reasons someone should read your book.Pretend your story is a play. Draw two specific scenes from your story and underneath the illustrations, write a brief dialog exchange of what is happening in each scene.Make a timeline of the important events that are happening in your book. Include important dates and events that took place in the characters lives. Include a few sketches of the main events and dates.If you are reading a poetry book, copy your favorite poem and draw an illustration to accompany it.Write a letter to the author of your book. Make sure to include any questions you have about the story, and talk about what your favorite part was.Choose three sentences from your book and turn them into questions. First, copy the sentence, then beneath t hat, write down your questions. Example: The emerald was green as a blade of grass. Was the emerald as green as a blade of grass?Find 5 plural (more than one) nouns in your book. Write down the plural form, then write the singular (one) form of the noun.If you are reading a biography, create an illustration of what your famous person is known for doing. Example, Rosa Parks is known for not getting off the bus. So you would draw an illustration of Rosa Parks taking a stand on the bus. Then explain in two more sentences about the picture you drew.Draw a story map about the book you are reading. To do this draw, a circle in the middle of your paper, and in the circle write the name of your book. Then, around the title, draw several pictures with words underneath about the events that happened in the story.Create a comic strip of the main events that happened in your book. Be sure to draw balloons to accompany each picture with dialog from the characters.Choose three words from your boo k that you like the most. Write down the definition, and draw a picture of each word.Choose your favorite character and draw them n the middle of your paper. Then, draw lines coming out of the character, and list of the characters traits. Example: Old, nice, funny.Create a small most wanted poster of the meanest character in your book. Remember to include what he/she looks like and why they are wanted.If you are reading a biography, create a portrait of the famous person you are reading about. Under their picture include a brief description of that person and what they are most known for.Pretend you are the author of the book and make up an alternative ending to the story.If you are reading a biography, make a list of 5 things you learned that you did not know.Draw a Venn diagram. On the left side, write down the name of the character that was the hero of the story. On the right side write down the name of the character that was the Villain of the story. In the middle, write down a few things they had in common.Pretend you are the author of the book. In a brief paragraph,  explain what you would change in the book, and why.Divide your paper in half, on the left side write facts, and on the right side write fiction (remember fiction means it is not true). Then write down five facts from your book and five things that are fiction. Recommended Reading If you need some book ideas, here are a few books that students in grades 3-5 will enjoy reading: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy BlumeCaddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie BrinkThe BFG by Roald DahlThe Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice DalglieshEverything on a Waffle by Polly HorvathIn the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao LordThe Secret School by Avi