Students from 12 Santa Maria-Bonita School District elementary schools participated in the district’s Battle of the Books event on Friday, March 11, at the district office.
More than 100 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students tested their knowledge of 30 books on a required reading list. This year’s reading list included classics like The Black Stallion and The Chronicles of Narnia, as well as more recent best sellers like Bunnicula and The Kite Fighters.
During the event, students were organized into random teams and together they answered questions about the books. “Team building is important in the Battle of the Books,” said Bonita School fifth-grade teacher Kellie Ouellette, the coordinator of the Battle of the Books. “Some students may remember one book better than another book. Some students are really good at recalling dialog. Others are good at evoking specific scenes. The students must work together for their team to do well.”
School district and community volunteers acted as judges and assistants. Community groups and organizations such as Altrusa International of Golden Valley and Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria donated money to the Battle of the Books program for individual and team prizes. Students also had the ability to participate in book-related writing projects prior to the Battle of the Books to win awards.
Each student team participated in seven to eight competition rounds before the last two teams went head to head.
The top two district teams will advance to the county level Battle of the Books competition.
This article appears in Mar 17-24, 2016.
