With the 2014 Winter Games upon us, many families will be watching their country’s athletes competing to bring home a medal. At the same time, kids all over the world will be imagining what it would be like to be an Olympic champion. While the odds are slim that our own kiddos will grow up to compete in the Olympic games, they can be champion readers! This Olympic season challenge your kiddos to compete in the 2014 Winter Reading Olympics!
- Invite the Readers – You can’t have an Olympic games without competitors. Send out invitations to your children and their friends inviting them to compete in the 2014 Winter Reading Olympic Games.
- Opening Ceremony – Of course if you are competing in the Olympics, there must be an opening ceremony! So have the competitors dress as their favorite book character and parade around the house with their Olympic torches. For easy to make torch instructions, visit Spoonful.com. Make sure the press (a.k.a. parents) are their to capture the footage on film!
- Let the Games Begin! – After the children have attended the opening ceremony, they are ready to begin the reading competition. Each competitor has two weeks to read as many books (or words for older readers) as possible. Your reading medal challenge might look something like this: 3 books in 2 weeks earns a bronze medal, 6 books in 2 weeks earns a silver medal, and 10 books in 2 weeks earns a gold medal. Determine the medal parameters for your Reading Games – the goal is to get excited about reading!
- Medal Ceremony – When the reading competitors have completed the games, it’s time for the medal ceremony! Present each competitor with the medal they have earned (visit Activity Village for medal printables) , raise the flag, and sing the national anthem.
- Closing Ceremony – Nothing completes a competition like a good party! Have the children wear their medals and hold the closing ceremonies celebration. Perhaps each child could give a presentation on their favorite book they read during the competition. The point of the closing ceremonies is to celebrate the kids’ success; so make sure to have decorations and plenty of food – and don’t forget to extinguish the flame until the next Olympic Reading Games (Summer 2016)!
