Ideas to Celebrate Banned Books Week in Your School
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tread with caution, Banned Books Week is here! From September 22-28, books that have been deemed inappropriate, challenged or previously banned will be celebrated in libraries and classrooms across the country.[/vc_column_text][vcex_spacing size=”15px”][vc_column_text]Banned Books Week reminds us that censorship can still be an issue, in print or otherwise. This annual event is an opportunity for students to understand the importance of a free mind and access to information, and that some of their favorite stories may not have been available to all readers in the past.[/vc_column_text][vcex_spacing size=”15px”][vc_column_text]So how can teachers and students celebrate Banned Books Week? We’ve compiled a list of classroom activities, display suggestions and more for you to use! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Classroom Activities” title_align=”separator_align_left”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vcex_heading text=”Mugshot Picture” font_weight=”semibold” icon=”fa fa-camera” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fbriangalindo%2F5-criminal-mugshots-of-characters-from-banned-books%3Futm_term%3D.osGJ8LJew%23.ctx0zp0Nw%20||target:%20_blank|” icon_color=”#6c4b84″ font_size=”18″ color_hover=”#6c4b84″ color=”#6c4b84″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Have your students take mugshots while reading a banned book! This BuzzFeed article curated artwork of famous characters from banned or challenged books; you can easily pull inspiration from this in your classroom or library.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vcex_heading text=”Mock Debate” font_weight=”semibold” icon=”fa fa-comments” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teach-nology.com%2Fteachers%2Flesson_plans%2Flanguage_arts%2Fliterature%2F912banned.html%20|||” icon_color=”#6c4b84″ font_size=”18″ color_hover=”#6c4b84″ color=”#6c4b84″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] Engage your class in lively mock debate about censored/challenged books. Teach-nology has a free lesson plan that can be applied to most grade levels.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vcex_heading text=”Guess the Book” font_weight=”semibold” icon=”fa fa-book” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.berkeleypubliclibrary.org%2Fevents%2Fbanned-book-week-game%20||target:%20_blank|” icon_color=”#6c4b84″ font_size=”18″ color_hover=”#6c4b84″ color=”#6c4b84″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] Have a fun guessing game throughout the week for your students to guess what banned book you’re quoting from. You can follow an idea from the Berkeley Public Library here, or simply write a daily quote or passage from a banned or challenged book on the board for students to guess.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vcex_heading text=”Crossword Puzzles” font_weight=”semibold” icon=”fa fa-puzzle-piece” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armoredpenguin.com%2Fcrossword%2FData%2F2011.09%2F2216%2F22160918.699.html%20||target:%20_blank|” icon_color=”#6c4b84″ font_size=”18″ color_hover=”#6c4b84″ color=”#6c4b84″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]We’re a bunch of word nerds at Flocabulary, so we’re big fans of these banned books crossword puzzles from the Guthrie Memorial Library. You can also create your own online or printable crossword puzzle, with plenty of free options.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vcex_heading text=”Nearpod’s Lesson” font_weight=”semibold” icon=”fa fa-pencil-square-o” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teachhub.com%2Fvideo-writing-prompt-banned-books-week%20||target:%20_blank|” icon_color=”#6c4b84″ font_size=”18″ color_hover=”#6c4b84″ color=”#6c4b84″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Use Nearpod’s lesson on Banned Books Week to teach students about what a banned book is and why this week is so important. This interactive activity will not only inform students about particular banned books, but also get them to think critically about topics such as censorship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text][Tweet “Check out these resources for #BannedBooksWeek!”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Displays” title_align=”separator_align_left”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Displays are a great way to get students excited about Banned Books Week. Transform your classroom or library into a book jail or wrap caution tape around banned books. Pinterest has many display ideas for classrooms and libraries.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”13273″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852651358076/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Build a Banned Book List” title_align=”separator_align_left”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The American Library Association has an official list of books that have been challenged. Here are a some classics (both modern and otherwise) to add to an in-class book list:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Censorship of words and ideas blocks the flow of creativity. Banned Books Week can remind students and teachers of that.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee[/vc_column_text][vcex_spacing size=”15px”][vc_column_text]The Giver by Lois Lowry
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky[/vc_column_text][vcex_spacing size=”15px”][vc_column_text]Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Teach Banned Books with Flocabulary” title_align=”separator_align_left”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Flocabulary has several units on banned or challenged books, and are a great option to build into your discussions or lessons for Banned Books Week. Check ’em out:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Censorship of words and ideas blocks the flow of creativity. Banned Books Week can remind students and teachers of that.
Let us know what ways you’re planning on celebrated this week![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]