15 Book Club Activities that make reading fun for Key Stage 2

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Are you looking for fresh and engaging ways to bring books to life for your class? Our children’s book club activities for KS2 are designed to transform reading from a quiet, individual task into a dynamic, collaborative adventure. At Bright Light Education, we believe that a love of reading is the foundation for lifelong learning. That’s why our book club activities, created by our team of qualified teachers, are not just fun—they’re proven to boost comprehension, vocabulary, and a genuine passion for stories.

Here are 15 teacher-tested activities to make your reading fun for your KS2 class:

1. Character ‘Hot Seat’

Select a character from the book. One student sits in the ‘hot seat’ and answers questions from the rest of the group as if they were that character. This builds empathy and deepens understanding of character motivation.

2. Book Trailer Production

In small groups, have students create a short video trailer for the book using simple video editing apps or even just a camera phone. They can write the script, choose a soundtrack, and act out key scenes.

3. Story Mapping

Provide a large piece of paper and have students draw a visual map of the book’s plot, including key events, settings, and character journeys. This is a great way to help visual learners grasp the story arc.

4. The ‘What Happens Next?’ Challenge

Stop reading at a cliffhanger. Have students write their own version of the next chapter. Then, read the real chapter and compare ideas.

5. Book Bento Boxes

A ‘Bento Box’ is a Japanese lunch box with compartments. For this activity, students fill a real or drawn box with items that represent the main character, setting, and plot points of the book.

6. Reader’s Theatre

Assign students parts from a chapter and have them perform a script, without props or costumes. This helps them focus on vocal expression and brings the dialogue to life.

7. Book Cover Redesign

Give students blank paper and art supplies and ask them to create a new cover for the book, based on their interpretation. They can also write a new back-cover blurb.

8. ‘Would You Rather?’ Character Edition

Create a list of ‘Would you rather?’ questions based on the characters or themes in the book. For example, Would you rather be the main character or their best friend? Why?

9. The Author Interview

Students work in pairs. One is the author of the book, and the other is a journalist. The journalist asks questions about the book, and the ‘author’ must answer creatively.

10. Digital Storyboard

Using a digital tool or app, students create a storyboard of the main events in the book, adding images, text, and even sound effects.

11. Book-Inspired Sensory Bin

For younger Key Stage 2 students, create a sensory bin with items related to the book’s setting or themes. For a story about a forest, for example, include leaves, twigs, and small plastic animals.

12. ‘Found Poem’

Give students a copy of a page from the book. They must read through the text and highlight words and phrases to create their own poem.

13. Character T-Shirt Design

Students design a T-shirt for a character in the book, using words or images that represent their personality or journey.

14. Book-themed Escape Room

Create a simple escape room with clues and puzzles based on the plot or themes of the book.

15. Vocabulary Detective

As they read, students are tasked with finding five new words. At the end of the chapter, they share their words, and the group tries to guess the meaning from the context before looking up the definition. Use our Vocabulary Detective Template to help!