March is Reading Month Based on a Candyland Game Theme “Meet Me at the Candy Castle”

Inspiring kids to read can be achieved through a month-long challenge during March is Reading Month. For every class reaching the Candy Castle the reward is to participate 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 game board is made up of colored rectangles. If not a school-wide activity, certainly this could happen as a classroom activity.

Then, weekly bookmarks are handed out to students. Each piece of candy is colored in for every ten minutes of reading. At the end of the week the class minutes are totaled and then the class game piece is moved along the school-wide game board. Or, if in individual classrooms, each child would move his or her game piece.

To spice up the school-wide game board it is especially snazzy if the Candyland game board characters are scanned and enlarged. This can be done by scanning the images and then using a projector to show them on a wall or using a document camera, and then draw around them with black marker. Using pastel chalks is an excellent way to color the pieces. The older children can help with this activity.

A book jog is another way to encourage reading. Kids bring in used books from home that they would like to exchange. For every book that a child brings in, he gets a ticket to exchange for a different book. Create a path by taping rectangles of colored paper through the library and around the halls. Next, lay out all of the books that have been brought in along the path. Children travel the path looking for a book. At the end of the path the child exchanges their tickets for the books. By using the ticket method children can leave with as many books as they brought. In honor of the book jog, everyone should wear jogging suits for “Jog into Reading.”

In addition to the game, theme days can correspond to the various characters such as

Wear Red for Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and play the games on http://seussville.com

Lord Licorice: Wear a funny hat in honor of Lord Licorice.

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

Princess Frostine & King Kandy Day: Dress as your favorite fairy tale character

Gramma Nutt: Nutty Hair Day (a favorite of all kids is to come to school with crazy hair!)

Inspire kids to read by bringing a challenge to your school or class this year.
Download the supplemental pages, such as the recording sheet bookmarks from the download center within the Mastermind Group of Educators website.