The Basic Skills Agency has put together two innovative new projects aimed at encouraging its students to play an active part in the annual international campaign aimed at raising the profile of reading.

The first is to create a ‘Story Bridge’ between primary and secondary school pupils throughout Wales, with schools working in partnership to provide pupils with a unique experience.

Students from Year 7 basic skills groups will be invited to read a story to Year 3 or 4 pupils in feeder primary schools after being shown how to build a rapport with their audience, how to question pupils about books, how to use facial expressions and voice to bring the story alive.

The second project is based around a Quiz Challenge on World Book Day, Wales –an exciting opportunity for groups of up to four basic skills students to research and design a 15-20 question general knowledge quiz.

Using books to research questions on a variety of topics they will be using local libraries, developing skills in vocabulary, spelling, formation of questions and research methods.They will then be organising a Quiz Challenge event for fellow class members, to be held on Thursday, 3 March, World Book Day.

“The Basic Skills Agency is delighted to be joining the Welsh Books Council again this year in celebrating World Book Day. This year we are promoting a Story Bridge project which links primary and secondary schools with story reading sessions, and for adults we are organising classroom quizzes,” said Rhiannedd Pratley, Executive Director, Basic Skills Agency Wales.

The Welsh Books Council is also encouraging schools to organise special events and activities in celebration of books and reading. Last year thousands of children at hundreds of schools took part in all kinds of activities.

“The Books Council is extremely pleased that the Basic Skills Agency is once again part of World Book Day Wales,” said Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Director of the Welsh Books Council. “From the outset, we have encouraged different partners to support the event and the Agency has a vital role in emphasising that World Book Day is relevant to everyone in Wales.”

A special resource pack has already gone to primary and secondary schools in Wales, giving details of some of the activities that will form part of the seventh World Book Day in Wales. For more information, contact Delyth Humphreys (phone 01970 624151 – delyth.humphreys@wbc.org.uk).

ENDS

Contact:

Delyth Humphreys, Welsh Books Council – Tel: 01970 624151

Guy Pargeter, Taliesin Communications – Tel: 01970 832375

Editor’s note:

• World Book Day – 03 March 2005 – is designated as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. Last year more than 30 countries took part. It is aimed at helping everyone – of whatever age – to explore the pleasures of books and reading.

• World Book Day 2004 was the most successful to date in Wales, attracting participants of all ages. Thousands of children from hundreds of schools took part.