Our school runs from age 4 kindergarten to 8th grade. The older grades have an academic night in April – we alternate between a science fair or a social studies program each year. The younger grades have their own academic night – always based on literacy. Last year we had a Literacy Luau. We decorated the school, dressed in tropical prints, and had tropical-themed stations and snacks.
Last night’s theme was “Bedtime Stories.” The faculty, students, and parents came to school dressed in their pajamas. Students were given a Bingo card to get stamped at a variety of stations throughout the building. One classroom was set up for reading by flashlight. Children could campout under desk forts draped with blankets and read some good books. Another classroom was filled with unusual musical instruments. Each child was assigned a word from a book and played their instrument anytime their word was read aloud throughout the story. There was a craft station where children made night lights using Styrofoam cups and glow sticks. And the snack room was filled with comfy pillows. There, students were given graham crackers and milk as they watched a Dr. Seuss movie. I worked the photo booth room where children posed in a cozy bed scene decorated with star and moon hangings and stuffed animals. The evening ended with a family meeting where everyone gathered together to talk about their favorite part of the event. Everyone who filled their Bingo card got to take a book home.
Maybe it was due to the age of these students, or the novelty of wearing their pajamas at school, or even just being at school after dark, but the students and their parents and even a few grandparents were so excited to be there. Literacy Night beats the heck out of the science fair.
Last night’s theme was “Bedtime Stories.” The faculty, students, and parents came to school dressed in their pajamas. Students were given a Bingo card to get stamped at a variety of stations throughout the building. One classroom was set up for reading by flashlight. Children could campout under desk forts draped with blankets and read some good books. Another classroom was filled with unusual musical instruments. Each child was assigned a word from a book and played their instrument anytime their word was read aloud throughout the story. There was a craft station where children made night lights using Styrofoam cups and glow sticks. And the snack room was filled with comfy pillows. There, students were given graham crackers and milk as they watched a Dr. Seuss movie. I worked the photo booth room where children posed in a cozy bed scene decorated with star and moon hangings and stuffed animals. The evening ended with a family meeting where everyone gathered together to talk about their favorite part of the event. Everyone who filled their Bingo card got to take a book home.
Maybe it was due to the age of these students, or the novelty of wearing their pajamas at school, or even just being at school after dark, but the students and their parents and even a few grandparents were so excited to be there. Literacy Night beats the heck out of the science fair.