7 Creative Book Report Ideas For First-Grade Students

Instead of giving your first graders a boring quiz or test, why not assess how much they comprehend a book by assigning a book report?

While there are lots of ideas that you can come up with for projects, we’ve done the work of putting together some of the best book report ideas for first grade students. 

Not only are these book report ideas for first grade fun and creative, but they require little preparation.

Assisting adults won’t feel like they are the ones doing all the work. 

What’s more, these first grade book project ideas engage students in a meaningful way since they are hands-on activities. 

Some also integrate art, sparking creativity.

Even your most reluctant first graders will be excited to show what they know! 

So during your literacy unit, incorporate one or more of these book report ideas for first grade students.

Book Report Ideas For First Grade

Following you will find the best creative book report and project ideas for 1st-grade students. 

Complete a One-Page Book Report.

This is a simple first-grade book report idea that incorporates story elements. 

Students will complete a one-page report that includes the setting, characters, problem, and solution.

Also include a space for students to draw an illustration that represents an important idea from the book. 

Provide students with the one-page book report outline, or have them record the information in their readers’ notebooks.

Summarize the Book.

For this simple book report idea, students will write a summary that tells why they chose the particular book.

Additionally, they will write 2-4 sentences that share the main idea of the story.  

Create a Brown Paper Bag Puppet.

This is arguably one of the most popular book report ideas for first grade students. It integrates arts and crafts which in turn stretches creativity. 

Since the main learning objective of this activity is character analysis, first graders will choose a favorite character from the book. 

They will then transform that character into a brown paper bag puppet. (See step-by-step instructions for making a brown paper bag puppet.)

After creating the puppet, students will draft a short script (3-5 lines ideally) that includes any significant phrases the character said in the book OR any phrases that the character would say (a great way to seamlessly incorporate the literacy skill of inferencing).

Finally, one by one, students will perform their puppets in front of the class.

Each will recite his or her script while moving the puppet with a hand. 

Compose An Acrostic Poem.

First graders tend to be somewhat familiar with acrostic poems, so these types of poems make for good book reports.

To do the activity, students will choose a significant word from their book and then compose an acrostic poem using the word. 

Examples of words they may want to select include the author’s name, a character’s name, a setting, a symbol, a special phrase, etc. 

Consider completing an acrostic poem as a whole class before having students do their own. 

Write About the 5 Ws.

For easy book report ideas for first grade students, try this project. 

Using a nonfiction book, students will answer the 5 Ws and H. If needed, provide academic support by giving students full questions.

Examples:

  • Who? (e.g. Who is the main character?)
  • What? (What is the main idea of the story?)
  • When? (When does the story take place?)
  • Where? (Where does the story take place?)
  • Why? (Why do you think the author wrote this book?)
  • How? (How does this book keep the reader entertained? OR How is the book similar to another book that you read recently?)

Consider completing this activity as a whole class (modeling to students using an anchor chart) before sending them to complete their own 5Ws + H book report. 

State Facts and Opinions.

It’s never too early to teach students about facts and opinions.

Using a fiction or nonfiction book, students will write three facts and three opinions about the book after reading it. 

It is often helpful to first review with students examples of facts and opinions.

Also, to support first graders, provide them with fact and opinion sentence starters such as…

Facts Sentence Starters

  • I know that…
  • It is clear that…
  • I can see that the book has…
  • It is certain that… 

Opinion Sentence Starters

  • I think…
  • I believe…
  • In my opinion,…
  • What I feel…

Place Five Items In a Bag.

This is a very powerful reading project idea that promotes critical thinking. 

Because this activity is a bit challenging for first graders, it fits well towards the end of the school year and/or with advanced learners.

After reading a book, encourage your first graders to brainstorm five artifacts that could represent the most important ideas from the book.

The idea is not for families to have to purchase anything but to collect five artifacts from around their homes or the classroom that would serve the purpose. 

Students may also use drawings or other types of images as artifacts.  

Once they have brainstormed the five artifacts, provide each student with a small brown paper bag. 

Students will place their artifacts in their individual bags. 

Then, taking turns, they will present their bags in front of the class. 

They will pull out one item at a time, explaining to classmates why that particular artifact was chosen to represent their book. 

Final Thoughts On Book Report Ideas For First Grade

Assessment doesn’t have to be boring.

Tap into students’ varied learning styles plus add some variety to your teaching routine by utilizing these fun book report ideas for first grade students.

These activities are sure to motivate even the most resistant students to put forth their best efforts.