What is International Literacy Day?
International Literacy Day was celebrated for the first time in 1967. It takes place on the 8th September every year to promote the importance of reading and writing skills around the world.
Why are reading and writing important?
Being able to read and write helps us in our every day life in many ways. Can you think of times in everyday life where we read and write? Reveal for some ideas!
- Writing shopping lists.
- Reading signposts.
- Reading and replying to text messages.
- Reading and writing cards.
Writing
Vocabulary
Build your vocabulary with BBC Bitesize.
Are you ever lost for words? Here are some guides to give you the words you need for different situations.
Story writing
There are lots of different types of stories (genres) such as science fiction, fairy stories, scary stories and mysteries.
However, every story always has a beginning, a middle and an end.
The plot is what will happen in a story and this can be different depending on what type of story it is.
Watch this video to find out more about different types of stories.
There are many different types of fiction genres, but they all have one thing in common: that the stories are made up.
If these ducks were in a mystery story, then there might be a crime for a detective to solve and a mystery to work out.
Or if the ducks were in a science-fiction story, it might take place in a futuristic world where everything is wildly different and fantastic.
Each genre has its own style and set of rules.
So whether it is a fairy story where the prince and princess live happily ever after or a scary story with frights and shocks, paying attention to genre is important when reading and understanding a story.
Activity: Story starter
Sometimes it can be hard to think of new characters, a setting and a plot all at once. Use the story starter activity to help you get started.
Poetry writing
Poems can be short or long and can be about any subject you feel like writing about.
They often rhyme but they don't need to. When words rhyme, they have the same sounds - like cat, rat and mat.
They can also have a rhythm - rhythm is the beat and speed of a poem.
Watch this video on writing poems.
How to write a poem
What is a poem?
This is a chef. He's not going to make food though. No. He is going to make a poem.
Stop that!
The main ingredient in a poem is words.
Poems can be about anything: they can tell a story or they can be a thought you had, or an emotion you felt.
But a poem can't exist without words.
So make sure you put plenty of them in.
THE! A! BUT! IS!
Some poems rhyme. That means words that sound the same.
Branch! Lunch!
Now we’re getting somewhere. Next we need rhythm.
So the words can sound fast like 'tiny speckled bird' or they can drag like 'the snake slides slowly'.
Season with alliteration…this is when you string together words which have the same first letter or sound, like 'the snake slides slowly'…and I think we’re done.
'The tiny speckled bird flits from branch to branch, The snake slides slowly looking for its lunch'.
Words, rhyme, and rhythm: that's how you make a poem.
Poetry challenge
Here are some challenges. How many can you complete?
- Write your own four line poem.
- Write a poem using 25 words or less.
- Write a poem using rhyming words
Comic Strip
Comic books or graphic novels are colourful books with lots of images that usually feature lots of adventures and superheroes!
They're made up of comic strips that tell a story through words and images.
Have a go at creating your own comic strip or print off the template to help you get started.
Printable comic strip
Create your own comic strip with this printable PDF.
Reading
A great way to get inspiration for your own story is by reading other stories and books.
Talking about books with the people around you is a great start. Can you answer these questions about a book or story you have read? Try and explain why when giving your answers.
- Which character was the most interesting?
- Which point in the story did it get exciting?
- Was there anything puzzling that happened in the book?
Blue Peter Book Club
Learn about the Blue Peter Book Club and how you can earn your book badge!
BBC Teach illustrated audio stories
A collection of illustrated audio stories including the Boy who Cried Wolf read by Richard Briers.
Illustrating a story
Some writers choose to illustrate their story so that the reader can see what the writer wants them to.
Super Movers: English collection
Make learning English more fun and active with the Super Movers. Songs, dances and rhymes to get you up and moving and practising your reading and writing skills.
Super Movers English Collection
Fun songs and dances to help you spelling, punctuation and grammar rules.
Play
Karate Cats English Game
Learn and practise: spelling, grammar and punctuation with Karate Cats
Small Town Superheroes English Skills Game
Perfect your punctuation, tackle tricky spellings and grow your grammar skills with this English game.
Play Bitesize Primary games. game
Fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art and design, computing and modern languages.
