Celebrate Read Across America: Fun Activities to Inspire a Love of Reading!

Reading opens doors to new worlds, sparks imagination, and builds a foundation for lifelong learning. That’s why Read Across America is such a special event in classrooms across the country! Celebrated every year in early March, this national reading initiative encourages students to develop a love of books and literacy.

Whether you're a kindergarten, first-grade, or second-grade teacher, Read Across America is the perfect opportunity to create engaging, hands-on activities that get students excited about reading. That’s why I’ve put together a fun-filled activity pack to help you celebrate this special event in your classroom!

What is Read Across America?

Read Across America is an annual event launched by the National Education Association (NEA) to promote reading and literacy among students. While it was originally associated with Dr. Seuss’s birthday, the celebration has since expanded to include books of all kinds, reflecting the diverse experiences of young readers.

This event is a great way to:

• Encourage reading for enjoyment

• Introduce students to new authors and books

• Create engaging, literacy-rich experiences in the classroom

• Foster a lifelong love of reading

No matter how you choose to celebrate, the goal is to make reading exciting, fun, and meaningful for every student.

Engaging Read Across America Activities for Your Classroom

To make your Read Across America celebration both educational and fun, I’ve created a special activity pack filled with low-prep, hands-on activities designed to get students excited about reading!

What’s Included in This Read Across America Activity Pack?

This resource is packed with engaging literacy and math activities to help your students celebrate reading in a meaningful way.

• Flyer & Parent Letter – Spread the excitement with a customizable flyer and letter home to encourage family involvement.

• 11 Reading Response Sheets (Editable in Canva) – Keep students engaged with creative reading comprehension activities.

• 16 Fun Crowns (Black & White Only) – A simple, no-prep craft to celebrate reading day in style!

• CVC and CVCE Color by Code Activities – Short and long vowel word practice with a fun coloring twist.

• Math Color by Code (Addition & Subtraction) – Three designs to reinforce addition and subtraction within 10 and 20, plus doubles facts.

• Guess the Picture Book Title PowerPoint – A fun, interactive game to test students’ knowledge of popular picture books!

  
  

How These Activities Cultivate a Love of Reading

1. Makes Reading Fun and Engaging

One of the best ways to encourage a love of reading is to make it enjoyable! These activities transform reading into an exciting, interactive experience, rather than just another classroom task. Whether students are coloring by code, completing reading response sheets, or wearing their reading crowns, they’ll feel like they’re part of something special.

2. Encourages Comprehension and Critical Thinking

The reading response sheets give students the opportunity to reflect on what they read, helping them think critically about stories, characters, and themes. These activities deepen their understanding and encourage discussion about books.

3. Builds Confidence in Early Readers

Activities like CVC and CVCE color by code provide valuable phonics practice, reinforcing early reading skills. As students decode words and see their progress, they gain confidence in their reading abilities.

4. Connects Reading to Other Subjects

This resource isn’t just about literacy—math color by code activities help students strengthen their addition and subtraction skills while having fun. Integrating reading with other subjects makes learning more dynamic and engaging.

5. Creates a Classroom Community Around Reading

Wearing crowns, playing interactive games, and celebrating books together fosters a sense of community in the classroom. Read Across America is about more than just books—it’s about sharing a love of reading with friends and classmates!

Make This Read Across America the Best One Yet!

With the right activities, Read Across America can be an unforgettable celebration that inspires students to develop a lifelong love of reading. This fun and engaging activity pack makes it easy to plan an exciting, literacy-rich experience for your classroom!

Download the Read Across America Activity Pack HERE and get ready to celebrate reading in a way your students will love!

Happy reading!