Rainbow Readers

The English Department recognise the central importance of reading to a pupil’s development. In Years 7 and 8 (and optionally for year 9) one period of English is spent in the Library each week when students engage in independent reading.

In order to focus this time, the ‘Rainbow Reading Scheme’ has been devised and was introduced in September 2003.

What do I have to do?

You may complete the scheme in any order, but you must begin with red. Read the book, complete the task set and you will get your coloured sticker and certificate.

RED
Read a FICTION book of YOUR CHOICE from any genre - this may be Horror, Science Fiction, Adventure, Crime, Romance, Animal, Fantasy or any other.

TASK
Write a book review using the ‘Writing a Book Report’ sheet for guidance. You should concentrate on giving your response to the book, not merely repeating the story. Word process this book review, and once it has been checked by your teacher it may be emailed to ‘Teen Titles’ magazine and may be published!

ORANGE
Read a collection of POEMS. (If the book chosen is very thick, your teacher will tell you how many you should read).

TASK
Choose your favourite poem from this collection, write it out by hand and illustrate it appropriately. You will be marked on presentation and your work may be displayed either in your classroom or in the Library.

YELLOW
Read a book of MYTHS and/or LEGENDS.

TASK
Most myths were intended to explain something or make a moral point. Think about the issues raised by a myth you read and write a short story of your own (by hand about one side long) illustrating the same point or moral.

GREEN
Read a FICTION book set in the PAST, maybe World War 2 or Roman times for example - your choice. (Suitable fiction library books have green stickers to help you choose).

TASK
Conduct an interview with one of the characters from the book, like those in teen magazines or on radio/television. Your interview should reveal something about life in the historical period you have discovered from the book. You may be the interviewer or may use someone famous as your interviewer (eg Parkinson, Richard and Judy, Blue Peter etc). Word process your interview.

BLUE
Read a NON-FICTION book of YOUR CHOICE. It may be on any topic: sport, hobbies, animals, etc.

TASK
Write a list of 20 things by hand that you have learned from reading the book about the subject chosen. This should be in full sentences, detailed and neatly presented. Include the page number of each point and a full bibliography at the bottom. It may help to take notes or points as you read the book. Your will be marked on presentation and content.

INDIGO
Read a BIOGRAPHY or DIARY, perhaps of someone you admire, or who you would like to find out about.

TASK
Write a review by hand in which you explain why you chose to read about this person, what you have learned about them from the book, and what you now think about the person and the way they have lived their life.

VIOLET
Select a book written by an author on the ‘VIOLET LIST’. The book chosen must also have a violet sticker.

TASK
Write a diary entry by hand for a character from the story – can be a day, week, month, etc. Your diary should talk about how you as the character FEEL about what is happening at that point in time, not merely repeat the story.

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