There are so many great reasons to make a reading tree! First and foremost, it’s fun! But it’s also a wonderful visual way to remind your child of all the books they’ve read. It acts as both a way to keep track of progress made and a way to inspire your child to read more. And if you post it in the kitchen, it can prompt family members, friends, and other visitors to talk to your child about books, which is an incredible literacy activity in itself, and a great way to boost your child’s love of reading.
What you’ll need for this literacy activity
- Poster board or a large sheet of paper (or 4 pieces of 8.5″ x 11″ pieces of paper taped together to make a larger piece)
- Brown, green, red, and yellow construction paper
- Pen or marker
- Scissors
- Tape
- Glue
- Ziplock bag
- Tacks
How to make a reading tree
Cut out a trunk and branches for the tree with the brown construction paper. Glue the trunk and branches to the poster board or paper. Cut out leaves with the green, red, and yellow construction paper. Make sure the leaves are big enough to clearly write book titles on (even long ones, like Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day). With your child, fill out the first leaf with a book your child has recently read. Include the title of the book, the author, and the date when the book was read. Have your child glue the leaf onto one of the branches. Fill out as many as apply for the past month or so. Then, place the empty leaves in a ziplock bag with a pen. You can tack the bag next to the tree. Whenever your child finishes a book, fill out a leaf and add it to the tree. Tape the reading tree to a wall where your child can reach the branches, preferably in the kitchen or somewhere where others can see — and be inspired by — your child’s reading progress.
