Our Euro 2024 Book Battle Reading Challenge is now completed
With the tournament over we really hope you and your pupils have enjoyed your book battles and discovered some great new titles and authors.
Although entry to the prize draw is now closed, the guidance and resources will remain accessible for schools on this page. These were designed for use with students aged 5 to 14 (Key Stages 1, 2 and 3).
We're very happy for you to continue using the resources to promote a reading culture in your school, encouraging staff and students to share recommendations with each other and champion the books you have enjoyed.
Be sure to stay up to date with new challenges by visiting our competitions and reading challenges page and ensuring you are signed up for resources and training newsletters from us.
Kicking off in Germany on Friday 14 June, Euro 2024 was a celebration of men's football on the pitch and reading for pleasure in the classroom. Our challenge invited everyone aged 5 to 14 years to join in the fun (staff included too!) and finish the school year on a footy-booky high!
It's time! Celebrate Euro 2024 with your whole class and discover lots of popular texts to read along the way. There will be as much fun (and drama!) happening in the classroom as there will be on the pitch...
About the challenge
We are excited to bring you engaging Euro 2024 Book Battle teaching resources. These activities support reading for pleasure, reading stamina and reading diversely in your school with pupils keen to read more and discuss different texts through their love of football.
You can access:
- classroom-ready Teacher Guidelines to support straightforward delivery
- a designed Euro 2024 wallchart to help you and your class follow the book battles taking place in your classroom alongside the football matches
- a recommended reading list with lots of great suggestions for ages 5 to 14 years
- a certificate to congratulate all those that participate in the challenge
- bonus content! Tom has pre-recorded an exclusive quiz that you can host in your classroom at any point. This is not connected to our live Book Battle reading challenge. Watch the quiz here.
Why get involved?
This challenge is easy to deliver and uses fun and interactive ways for pupils to engage with reading and different texts.
It supports pupils to make choices and consider different reading formats, e.g. book, magazine, comic, article. Pupils are also encouraged to work with their peers, and to develop their oracy skills such as presenting in class and debating.
Pupils need to champion their choice of text to ensure it wins each 'book battle' to progress through the tournament all the way to the final.
Which text will become champion of Euro 2024 in your classroom?
How to take part
- Download the teacher guidelines and read through the suggested ways of delivering the challenge
- Print out the Book Battle wallchart (x2 A3 sheets) and display it for all to see
- Decide from the guidelines how best to deliver the tournament in your classroom
- Discuss the challenge with your pupils allowing plenty of time for them to start choosing their texts ahead of kick off on Friday 14 June. The recommended reading list has a variety of ideas for inspiration.
- Run your book battles in line with the football tournament or within a timeline that suits you best
- Present all participants with a celebratory certificate
- The deadline for entries was 16 July 2024, but the resources remain live should you wish to use them again.
National Literacy Trust Reading Champions is supported by ALCS.
Explore useful teaching resources developed by ALCS to support understanding and communication about copyright with guides for children, young people and teachers. Watch this ALCS animation as a great starting point to helping your students understand copyright in a fun and interactive way.
Find out more about the National Reading Champions Quiz and Challenges.