Book Week / Shortlist Judging Panel
Shortlist Judging Panel
Children become a book award judging panel, reading the CBCA shortlisted books, scoring them against simple criteria and voting before the real winners are announced.
How to run it
- Borrow several shortlisted books from the school or local library in the weeks before Book Week.
- Agree on three or four judging criteria with the children, such as story, pictures, characters and how it made them feel.
- Have children read the books over a few sessions and score each one on a judging card.
- Tally the votes, announce the panel's winner, then compare it with the official results.
You will need
- CBCA shortlisted books
- printed judging cards
- pencils
- tally chart
Make it easier or harderYounger children judge the picture book category with smiley-face scores; older children judge the longer categories and write a short review for their pick.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4, Outcome 5Judging books against criteria builds critical thinking and the confidence to justify an opinion.
Fits these theme days
More like this
Ancient Egypt · Science Week · Science Day +2
Salt Mummy Apple Experiment
Children preserve apple slices in salt and compare them with uncovered slices over several days, discovering how drying helped ancient mummification.
Art Attack Day · Big Kids Club · Café Day +2Paint and Juice Session
Older children enjoy a relaxed canvas painting session with juice or mocktails, combining creativity with a social, café-style atmosphere.
Art Through the Ages · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +1Paint Like a Famous Artist
Older children look at the styles of well-known artists, such as dots, swirls or bold shapes, and create their own artwork in that style.
Basketball Day · Challenge Day · Games Day +1Knockout Shooting Game
Players line up and race to sink a shot before the person behind them, in a classic elimination basketball game.