Are you looking for a different way to encourage your pupils to read for pleasure? Would you like a way to ensure pupils engage with what they read? The Ancient World Reading Challenge provides a structured and competitive approach to reading for pupils in KS2 - KS5!
Below, you will see 12 badges. In order to earn a badge, pupils must read a book which somehow correlates to this number. For example, to earn Badge One a pupil could read a story about the cyclops and his one eye; to earn Badge Two they could read a story about the famous twins Romulus and Remus etc.
Once they have read a book, they must produce a creative response.
Clicking on each badge will take you to a page with ideas for each of these numbers, and Book suggestions for KS2 - KS5.
This challenge is designed to nurture a love of reading while connecting students to the fascinating world of ancient civilisations. We understand that every classroom and student is unique, which is why we've created a flexible framework that accommodates different reading levels, interests, and participation styles. Whether your pupils participate individually or collaboratively as a class, choose from our suggested reading lists or select their own books, everyone can find their own meaningful path through this literary adventure.
For specific details about the variety of ways pupils can participate, including group options, creative responses, and timing flexibility, please see the FAQ section below.
Participating schools will be sent certificates for each of their pupils, and will be able to claim free books for their pupils and schools thanks to our partnership with the Birmingham Hub of the National Literacy Trust!
Please reach us at bham.classicsforall@contacts.bham.ac.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question
The Ancient World Reading Challenge is designed to be flexible to suit different teaching approaches and student needs. Below are five ways you can implement the challenge in your classroom:
Students work independently to complete badges at their own pace. Depending on how many badges they complete, they can earn:
Transform the individual journey into a collaborative adventure:
Depending on how many badges they complete, they can earn:
Break the challenge into smaller, more focused reading adventures centred around specific classical themes:
Turn reading into an engaging journey through antiquity, where students collect passport stamps!
Do you have another way you would like to participate in this challenge? Just let us know!
A few reasons - to make sure that the pupils have read the books, to ensure that they understood what it was about, and also to see if they're able to identify how the story they have read relates to the Badge number. Also, it is a way for them to engage with and think critically about what they have read.
The method for tracking badges will depend on which approach you've chosen for the Reading Challenge:
We provide a downloadable tracking chart that students can use to record their progress. Once a book and creative response are completed, mark it on the chart. You don't need to submit evidence for every single badge—a selection of creative responses along with the completed tracking chart is sufficient.
We offer a specially designed group tracking template that shows which student is responsible for which badges. This helps groups monitor their collective progress and ensures all 12 badges are covered. The group can maintain their "Classical Compendium" of creative responses either physically or digitally.
Our themed tracking charts visually organize badges by theme, making it easy to track progress through each mini-challenge. When submitting evidence, you can send the completed chart along with representative samples from each theme.
We provide a customizable Reading Passport template that students can personalize. This passport serves as both a tracking tool and a creative keepsake of their reading journey. Students can record completions, reflections, and create their own stamps directly in the passport.
Students are welcome to create their own tracking systems, such as a personalised Word document or digital portfolio. Whatever works best for your classroom is fine with us!
For all approaches, when you're ready to claim certificates, simply email us at bham.classicsforall@contacts.bham.ac.uk with your school name and challenge approach in the subject line. You can send either the completed tracking document or a selection of evidence—you don't need to submit every creative response for every badge.
Available resources include a downloadable Badge tracker chart for individuals and groups, suggested themes, customisable Reading Passport, passport 'location' suggestions.
To receive these resources, please email us at bham.classicsforall@contacts.bham.ac.uk
We're continually developing new supporting materials based on teacher feedback, so don't hesitate to let us know if there's something specific that would be helpful for your school.
We would recommend starting it at the beginning of the academic year, but it is up to you and your pupils! You could always tell students about it in the summer term and get them to work towards it over their holidays...
There isn't one. Pupils can take as long as they want/ need to complete the challenge. We would recommend trying to do it within one academic year.
Anybody! The challenge is open to state schools and children who are home educated. We have provided examples of books for students in KS2 - KS5.
Nothing, it is completely free.
There are a couple of reasons for this decision.
First, 12 is an important number in Greek and Roman mythology - the 12 Olympian Gods! The Twelve Labours of Heracles!
Secondly, we needed a number which would be simultaneously challenging and achievable for pupils.
No, pupils can approach the challenge in any order. If a pupil is participating (e.g. reading one book), then they can choose any badge number.
Primarily, we mean books relating to Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Near East, and Roman Britain.
These could be books set in antiquity, or some sort of retelling/ adaptation (e.g. the Percy Jackson series). If students would like to read books about a different ancient civilisation, they could do this for one badges, but please get in contact to check.
No, absolutely not. I have provided suggestions but pupils are very welcome to read something else. They simply have to be able to explain how it relates to the number/ the ancient world.
No, this is meant to encourage a love of reading, so pupils can choose what they like. They can read fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, poems, plays etc.. As long as they are suitable and a reasonable level of difficulty/ length, then pupils can read whatever they like.
No, if you have a pupil who has an advanced reading level and would like to try more challenging books, that is fine. Alternatively, you may have a student who struggles with their reading, and would do better with a slightly younger reading level.
As long as the teacher (and/ or parents) feels the book is appropriate for the pupil, that is fine.
No, each badge has to correlate to a different book. You could read books related to the same topic however. For example, you could read Homer's Odyssey and the Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. Or a pupil could read three different books in the Percy Jackson series.