Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading incentive for the 4th and 5th grade students of South Fayette Intermediate School. This is a PTA sponsored extra-curricular reading program which runs approximately three months. It is designed to encourage reading of some of the best classic and contemporary children’s literature. The Battle of the Books also helps to foster positive character development in the areas of teamwork, cooperation, and responsibility.
This is a student-driven activity. Participants form their teams of five members and find an adult team manager (parent or teacher). All teams are assigned the same 10 books to read over the course of 15 weeks. The culminating event is the actual “Battle of the Books,” a quiz-show like competition, which will take place on Friday, March 7, 2025 in the Intermediate School gym. Teams and managers must arrive between 6:00-6:15pm with the Battle beginning at 6:30pm. On the night of the event, teams sit in circles and answer questions based on the books they have read. A moderator will ask a question and repeat the question as it is projected on a screen. Each team will have 30 seconds to decide upon their answer, write that answer, and write the author’s last name on a piece of paper. Team managers will record each team’s score, and the scorekeepers will tally the results. The team with the most points at the end of three rounds of questions will be declared the first place winner. There will also be 2nd and 3rd place winners. No team scores will be announced.
Although it is a student-driven activity, the role of the manager is important. The manager’s overall job is to keep the team on track while preparing for the Battle of the Books by helping to set goals. Managers are permitted to read some or all of the books in order to help students prepare, but they aren’t required to do so. They are permitted to use online resources to help the team prepare. The South Fayette Public Library also offers resources to prepare for the Battle. The managers also help team members decorate their team poster and t-shirts. (Reminder: t-shirt designs and posters must be approved by the principal first!) The South Fayette PTA will provide the shirts for all teams, but it is the responsibility of each individual team to design and decorate their shirts.
2024-2025 will be the tenth year for the Battle of the Books in the South Fayette Township School District, and with the support of parents and staff, it will be very successful!
It’s a friendly reading competition among fourth & fifth graders.
It’s a fun trivia contest about 10 selected books.
It’s great way to have fun with friends!
Battle of the Book is a team event.
Each team will have 5 students.
Each team will have an adult manager (ask a teacher or a parent).
Teams can be made up of friends and classmates, but they must all be 4th or 5th graders from South Fayette.
Teams will come up with a name, decorate a poster and t-shirts, and of course, read!
Everyone on a team agrees to read at least two books.
Prizes for the top three teams!