Hundreds of Catholic students put on their thinking caps and attempted to answer questions about books they’ve read recently during the first Battle of the Books competition since 2019.
Students in grades 3 to 5 from St. Agnes, St. Michael, St. Mary and St. Margaret excitedly gathered in 28 teams at the Mae Wilson Theatre on April 28 to recall facts about 14 books they have read since the fall. After answering the questions, they then participated in games and activities related to the books’ contents.
The 130 pupils were also given “golden tickets” that allowed them to take home a free book. This was to encourage them to take books they wouldn’t normally read and continue reading that series.
This was Audrey P.’s first year participating and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
“… I really like reading, and you get to read different books in Battle of the Books,” she said.
One fun activity for the Grade 3 student at St. Michael School was taking part in a digital escape room challenge on a laptop. Her team searched for four numbers that would open an actual treasure chest with suckers locked inside. She noted that she and her friends successfully cracked the code.
The free book the girl chose was “Snazzy Cat Capers: The Fast and the Furriest.”
This year’s event was the second time Eli D. had participated.
“It was awesome!” the Grade 5 student at St. Agnes said, giving a thumbs up. “… it was just a bit funner (than 2019) because I like the techy stuff (using laptops to answer the questions. We) did pretty good.”
One activity the pupil enjoyed was rearranging popsicle sticks containing a maze design and then solving the maze, while another activity he liked was attempting to balance several dice on a popsicle held in his mouth.
“It’s hard but fun,” Eli added.
It’s exciting to return to an in-person Battle of the Books event after several years of COVID-19 restrictions, said Stacey Moser, learning facilitator with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.
The pandemic forced the division to be creative and think of alternative ways to deliver this competition, considering students couldn’t gather in large groups at lunch, she continued. So, staff provided book-related digital escape room programs that families could do together.
“But they missed this. They missed the community. They missed being with the other students from the other schools, so we’re excited to bring them back … ,” said Moser. “It’s that missing piece of the puzzle.”
During the main Battle of the Books event, student teams used laptops to answer 15 questions displayed on a giant screen in the Mae Wilson Theatre.
The division began using the laptops pre-pandemic after bringing in a new trivia-learning platform called Kahoots, said Moser. While the devices allow the kids to remain engaged, they can still develop that desired community connection.
Another change this year is the addition of book-related games and activity locations throughout the Cultural Centre, Moser continued. The kids were tired of the trivia competition and wanted to collaborate with their peers at learning stations.
“… it’s a little crazy and a little chaotic, but I think it’s fun,” she said. “You see lots of smiles on their faces.”
The division is doing something different because the pandemic taught staff to be flexible, Moser added with a laugh. Staff will later ask students whether they want to return to the traditional trivia contest or keep the book-related activities and then plan accordingly for 2024.
