Plan ahead for the make-a-character contest. It should be a year-long event with a special celebration at the end of the school year. Approach teachers at the end of the school year to brainstorm ideas that are appropriate for your school, that you can implement the following school year. Teachers of English, reading, art and drama should all be involved in this contest planning.
Allow students to make up their own characters by drawing pictures of those characters and writing stories to go along with them. When the stories are completed, ask the rest of the students to vote for the character they like best. The student who receives the most votes wins a special award, such as books or gift cards to book stores. Present this award on contest day.
Toward the end of the year, students should give a report on their favorite character from an already-published book. Ask the student from each class or grade who gives the best report to give their oral report to the entire school on the day of the contest, in costume.
Prepare snacks that can go along with different characters in books. For example, create cardboard cutouts of Sam I am from "Green Eggs and Ham." Serve green deviled eggs and ham.