Reading Task Card 1
Look at the apostrophes in this text.
Write down each word which has an
apostrophe, and explain why it is there.
Reading Task Card 2
Find 10 common nouns in this text and make
a list.
Also find 5 proper nouns.
Reading Task Card 3
Find adjectives in the text.
Make a list of them. Then, make up some
sentences. Each sentence must contain at
least 3 of the adjectives.
Reading Task Card 4
Find the meanings of the words you do not
know. Once you've done that write
sentences of your own which use each of the
words.
Reading Task Card 5
Find a synonym of each of the underlined
words in the text you've been given.
Copy out the passage using your new words.
Reading Task Card 6
Write some facts you have learnt from
reading this piece of non-fiction text.
Reading Task Card 7
Pick a descriptive word from the text,
write it down and, using a thesaurus, write
down five synonyms and antonyms for
that word.
Reading Task Card 8
Re-read a chapter. Pick out three words
that you feel are powerful words and that
you could use in your own writing in the
future.
Reading Task Card 9
How does the story hook you in at the
beginning?
Make a list of words and phrases that you
feel are effective in making you want to read
on.
Reading Task Card 10
Draw and label a character from a
description in the book.
Reading Task Card 11
Think of 5 questions you would like to ask one of the
characters.
Swap these with someone else in your group and
write the answers as if you were that character.
Reading Task Card 12
List the words and phrases used to create
an atmosphere, such as ‘scary’ or
‘spookiness’ ‘tension’ ‘relaxed’
Reading Task Card 13
Write about a memory or experience of
your own that is similar to something
you've read in the book.
Reading Task Card 14
Write an interview or conversation between
you and the main character of your book.
Remember to write detailed responses for the
character.
Reading Task Card 15
Which character in this book are you most
like?
Explain your answer
Reading Task Card 16
Which character in this book would you
most like to be? Explain your answer.
Reading Task Card 17
How did the book make you feel when you
were reading it?
Explain your answer.
Reading Task Card 18
Design a t-shirt for the main character
What colour would it be?
What design could it have on the front?
Reading Task Card 19
Write a letter to someone telling them about
the book and your opinion of the book.
Reading Task Card 20
Imagine you are one of the characters in the
story.
Write a diary entry that reflects thoughts
and feelings about an event in his/her life.
Reading Task Card 21
Draw a poster advertising the book.
Make sure you write on the poster why people
should read it!
Reading Task Card 22
Draw a picture of your favourite part of the
book and write a sentence about what is
happening.
Say why you chose this particular extract.
Reading Task Card 23
Write a letter to the author telling them
why you did or didn’t like their book.
Reading Task Card 24
Write a description of the main character: their
looks, the way they dress, the way they talk and
their personality
Reading Task Card 25
Design a new front cover for your book.
Remember to include the title and author.
Reading Task Card 26
Draw a background for the main setting in
the story.
Reading Task Card 27
Write an alternative ending for your book.
Reading Task Card 28
Write a letter as a character in the book to another character in the
book, a new invented character or a real-life character.
For example you could write a letter as Tracy Beaker (from Jacqueline
Wilson's book) to the Prime Minister asking him to do something about
foster homes or to the local police asking them to help her find her mum.
Reading Task Card 29
Make up some quiz questions about the
book.
Don’t forget to give the answers!
Reading Task Card 30
Which chapter do you think was the most
important?
Explain what happens in his chapter and why
you like it.
Reading Task Card 31
Pick a descriptive word from the text; write
it down and, using a thesaurus.
Write down five synonyms and antonyms for
that word.
Reading Task Card 32
Re-read a chapter – pick out 8 of words that
you feel are powerful words and that you
could use in your own writing.
Reading Task Card 33
How does the story hook you in at the beginning?
Make a list of words and phrases that you feel
are effective in making you want to read on.
Reading Task Card 34
Choose a descriptive passage and make a
list of examples of vivid imagery – similes,
metaphors, alliteration, noun phrases etc.
Reading Task Card 35
Choose a key moment in the book and
change the event.
Re-write the following chapter…
Reading Task Card 36
Think of 5 questions you would like to ask one of the
characters.
Swap these with someone else in your group and write
the answers as if you were that character.
Reading Task Card 37
List the words and phrases used to create
an atmosphere, such as ‘scary’ or
‘spookiness’ ‘tension’ ‘relaxed’
Reading Task Card 38
Write about what a character might be thinking
or feeling at different stages of the story.
You could write it in the first person, or in a
speech bubble.
Reading Task Card 39
Write about a memory or experience of
your own that is similar to something you've
read in your book.
Reading Task Card 40
Predict what might happen when you are about
halfway through a book.
Write your prediction in the form of a story plan
in boxes.
Reading Task Card 41
Before you finish the book, write down your
predictions for the ending.
After you finish, check back and check the
accuracy of your prediction.
Reading Task Card 42
Write an interview or conversation between
you and the main character of your book.
Be sure you write detailed responses for the
character.
Reading Task Card 43
Which character in this book are you most
like?
Explain your answer
Reading Task Card 44
Which character in this book would you
most like to be?
Explain your answer.
Reading Task Card 45
Imagine you are an Agony Aunt in a magazine.
Write some advice to the character having
problems in the story.
Reading Task Card 46
Finish this sentence: "I love the way the
author. . ."
Give examples to support your opinion.
Reading Task Card 47
Make up questions that start with the following
words: who, when, how, why, what and which.
Remember to end each sentence with a question
mark.
Reading Task Card 48
Who else should read this book? Why?
Who shouldn't read this book? Why?
Reading Task Card 49
Write a letter to someone telling them
about the book and your opinion of the book.
Reading Task Card 50
Construct a time line to fit the story.
Include all the main events.
Reading Task Card 51
Pick one word from your book and using a
thesaurus make a thesaurus page for it.
Reading Task Card 52
Pretend you are a travel agent and want
your customers to visit a place in the story.
Write a paragraph explaining what you would
tell your customers about the place.
Reading Task Card 53
Write a telephone answering machine
message for a character in your book.
Reading Task Card 54
Draw a cartoon strip of the main events in
the story.
Reading Task Card 55
Write a telephone conversation between
you and a character from the story.
(remember the rules for speech)
Reading Task Card 56
Make a list of words and phrases used to
create atmosphere/ suspense, etc.
Reading Task Card 57
Compare this book to another/others by
the same author.
Reading Task Card 58
Write a newspaper report linked to the
main events in the story.
Reading Task Card 59
Write a new beginning for the book.
Decide how you would start the story by
writing the opening paragraph.
Reading Task Card 60
Make up a wordsearch or crossword for
the book.
Reading Task Card 61
Make up some questions you would ask to
check someone had read the book
carefully and understood the story.
Reading Task Card 62
Draw a picture of your favourite part of the
book and write about what is happening.
Say why you chose this part of the story.
Reading Task Card 63
Find new vocabulary (words) that you do not
really know the meaning of and write them
up with the meaning in your book.
Remember to use a dictionary to help you.
Reading Task Card 64
What do other characters think or say
about the main character?
Why do they feel this way?
Reading Task Card 65
How does the character change
throughout the story?
Explain your answers.
Reading Task Card 66
Imagine you are one of the characters in the
story.
Write a diary entry that reflects thoughts
and feelings about an event in his/her life.
Reading Task Card 67
How does the main character treat other
people in the book?
Explain your answers.
Reading Task Card 68
Write a note to your friend telling him or
her a bit about this book.
Explain why you think he or she ought to
read it.
Reading Task Card 69
Design a ‘Wanted’ poster for the main
character in the story.
Reading Task Card 70
Choose something that belongs to the main
character and pretend they have lost it.
Write a ‘lost’ notice for the local
newspaper.
Reading Task Card 71
Design a house for the main character to
live in.
Reading Task Card 72
Make a timeline of the important events in
the story.
Reading Task Card 73
Make a list of characters in the story and
explain why each is important to the
storyline.
Reading Task Card 74
Design a birthday card for the main
character.
What age are they?
Reading Task Card 75
If you were able to give a present to the
main character, what would you give them?
List 5 gifts you would give and why you
would give those particular gifts.
Reading Task Card 76
Make a dictionary containing 10 or more
difficult words from the text.
Reading Task Card 77
Write an acrostic poem for the main character in the
story.
eg. S = studies hard at school
A = always listens to the teacher
M = made good grades
Reading Task Card 78
Write a letter to the main character.
Reading Task Card 79
Write a letter from one character to
another in the book.
Reading Task Card 80
Copy out your favourite sentence in the
book.
Why is this your favourite sentence?
Reading Task Card 81
Write a sentence about each character in the book.
Choose 5 words to describe his/her behaviour.
Give an example for each one eg. Sally is foolish when
she goes into the mill by herself.
Reading Task Card 82
Pretend you are one of the characters in the
story. Who will you be?
Write a diary entry for one day in the
story.
Reading Task Card 83
Which chapter do you think is the most
important?
Explain what happens in this chapter and
why you think it is the most important.
Reading Task Card 84
What questions would you ask the main
character during an interview?
Write 8 questions that you would like to ask.
Reading Task Card 85
Do you like the title of the story? Do you
think it is appropriate for the plot?
Think of 5 better titles.
Reading Task Card 86
Design an advertisement for your book to
sell it on ebaY.
Think about what information you need to
attract the bidders!
Reading Task Card 87
Write a paragraph trying to convince
someone to read your book.
Remember to use persuasive language.
Reading Task Card 88
What is the different between fiction and nonfiction texts?
Write a paragraph to describe each type of text
and make a list of features that are different.
Reading Task Card 89
List all the characters from a story and then rank them
according to different criteria, for example most powerful to
least powerful, kindest to meanest.
Discuss the differences between the rankings and ask whether
different criteria give different insights.
Reading Task Card 90
Draw an outline of a character.
Record all the different roles they play in
the story, for example daughter, friend.