YHBA Ideas

Battle of the Books
from Janella Knierim, Sugar Grove Elementary, Terre Haute, Indiana

Each 4th and 5th grade student keeps track of the YHBA titles they read on the Young Hoosier Reader board in our media center. If they read five or more by the spring voting date, they get to participate in the "Battle of the Books". We use an electronic game board and have 5 students on a team. The teams are scheduled just like the NBA - each winning team progressing to the next round. We eliminate all but one 4th grade team and one 5th grade team. When we hold the finale, we have to move to the cafeteria, because the whole school comes to watch and cheer. Where do we get the questions for the competition? Now that all 18 elementary schools in Vigo County are participating, we divide the titles for the coming year and write questions for just 1 or 2 titles, and then we share with all the other media specialists. Each school holds their preliminary competition to determine a Super Team. In May, all 18 Super Teams meet at one school for the final competition. This year-long activity really motivates students to read and the final competition is fierce!

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