Independent reading activities
1.
Making reading choices
Look carefully at the book you have chosen; look closely at
the title, images on the cover and read the blurb on the
back.
Write a paragraph explaining why you chose the book or, if
the book was chosen for you, what is interesting about the
book. You can comment on the title, the author (if you chose
it because you had read other books by the same author), the
images on the cover, the ‘blurb’ on the back cover.
2.
Hooking you in
Read the first two to three pages of your book.
How does the story hook you in at the beginning? Make a list of words or phrases that you
feel are effective in making you want to read on.
3.
The protagonist
Read the first ten pages of your book or the opening chapter
(whichever is longer).
Who is the main character (the protagonist)? What have you
learnt about the protagonist e.g. How would you describe
their personality? How old are they? What have you learnt
about their family? etc.
Remember to back up your points with words and phrases
from the novel.
4.
Description
Continue reading until page 30 of your novel.
Choose a descriptive passage – it might describe a place, person or thing - and make a list of
examples of vivid imagery (similes, metaphors, alliteration, powerful verbs, adjectives and
adverbs).
Draw a picture of the person, place or thing being described and label with the words and
phrases you have selected.
5.
Adapting the novel
Continue reading until page 50 of your novel.
Write a short play script of a key moment in the novel so far. Don’t forget to use the
conventions of a script, e.g . if the setting changes, then the scene changes. Aim to write
two pages of script.
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Independent reading activities
6.
Exploring character
Continue reading your novel until page 80.
Think of five questions you would like to ask one of
the characters. Then write their answers as if you
were that character.
7.
?
Making predictions
Read to the middle of your book.
Write down what problems the protagonist has encountered and the situation they are
currently in. What do you think will happen by the end of the novel?
8.
Dear diary
Continue reading until you are about ¾ through your
book. Stop at the end of the chapter you’re reading.
Choose one of the characters from the book and
write their diary following most recent events.
Remember in a diary a person can say what they are
really thinking and feeling.
9.
Word exploration
Carry on reading to the end of the next chapter.
Complete these activities:

Choose five words which the author has used that you don’t know the meaning of.
Write them in your book and use a dictionary find out what they mean. Write the
definitions in your book.

Find five descriptive words. For each one use a thesaurus to find five synonyms and
five antonyms for each of them.
10. The ending
Read to the end of the novel.
Write a review of your book. Make sure you don’t give away too much of the plot but you can
write about your favourite moments and/or characters. Aim to write 150–200 words.
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