A key component in developing better readers is to complete activities after the book has been read. Activities help a reader move from a passive state to active. Participation encourages the development of critical thinking skills, creativity, communication, collaboration, memory, comprehension, identity, social and literacy skills. Activities allow for a deeper dive into a text and allows for the development of knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the text that would be lost once the last page is closed.

Post reading activities can be carried out individually, in pairs, small groups, as a whole class, across classes and year levels. They are therefore ideal as an element of a reading program.

Possible uses:

5. An activity can be allocated to the class and a different class. The novel can be the same or different to then allow for groups to come together to discuss. This can generate interest in reading, especially if it is done leading up to Book Week.

Encourage students to create a book log. They will record the date and the name of the book and author. This information can be used for Book Club, reading program library sessions, Book Expo, Literature Circles and creating class blogs, OneNote, Padlet and books using Storyjumper.

Use Storyjumper to collate student activity work.

Suggested activities

1. Create a new title and dust jacket for your book.

2. Create a Page Turner review. Write a summary of the soty. provide a separate paragraph tht recommends the book for a target audience.

3. Write a new ending for the story. How does this compare witht he aactual ending?

4. Complete a detailed book review.

5. Write three statements that you like about the  book, two statements that you dislike about the book and one question you have.

6. Complete a character analysis. Make a statements about the character that could and could not be disputed. Explain why.

7. Write a newspaper article launching the book. Make a prediction for a follow-on book.

8. Draw a scene from the book and provide an explanation.

9. Write five questios you would like to ask the author. Write five questions you would like to ask a character. Write five :what if questions.

10. What significant event happened in the book. Explain your ideas to someone.

11.  What would you make bigger or smaller in the story?

12. Make and A-Z of your book.

13. Create a timeline of events. You can annotate the timeline if you wish.

14. Make a classroom wall display based on the book.

15. "Peg It" - Place a washing line in the classroom and peg informtion, pictures, ideas about the book.

16. Create a jisaw based on a character or storyline. Have some complete your jigsaw puzzle.

17. Set up expert groups. Each group becomes an expert on a particular aspect of the book. Share your new knowledge with the class. This can be done by rotating class members around the groups and the final group reports to the rotating member.

18. Create a graphic organizer showing the different perspectives in the book.

19. Can you contest something in the storyline? What and why?

20. Select a word, senence, paragraph that captured your imagination. Why?

21. Compare and contrast the book you have read with another book.

22. What were the strengths, weknesses, threats and opportunities in the book?

23. What was happening at teh time the book was set? Did this have an influence on characters or events?

24. In a group create a series of freeze frames based on a scene. Have the class inform you of what took place.

25. Add a new character to the story. who would you add, who would you delete? Why?

26. What technology was highlighted in the book?

27.  Write a scene from the book either in first or third person.

28.How were economics, politics and geography highlighted in the book?

29. How was time used in the book? Was it hours, days, weeks, years, seasons?

30. Explain the setting of your book. Can you think of an alterntive setting?

31. Retell the story and make sure you include key events in  chronological order.

32. Which character from your book would you invite to dinner? Why?

33. Create a poster that could be used to launch the book you have read.

34. You are an image maker. You have been put in charge of giving a character a make-over. Describe the character before and after the make-over.

35.Provide an audio/visual review of your book.

36. Write a poem based on the book yo have read.

37. Create a what you need to know before reading this book fact sheet.

38.Create a comic or manga version of the story.

39. Create a storyboard for the book. If this is completed in groups, each group member can complete a storyboard frame.

40. What stayed the same and what changed in the book?

41. Was there a cause-and-effect relationship?

42. What are the key features of the story?

43.  If a chaarcter was a tin of soup or a cake, what would they be and why?

44. Write the storyline or character like they were a recipe.

45. Make an advertisement promoting the book as a movie.

46. What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of the characters/storyline?

47. What could yo argue about the characters or storyline?

48. Act out a scene from the book.

49. Write a diry entry pretending to be one of the charcters or about an event that happened in the book.