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Primary 1–3 bag gifting

Learning type: Classroom activity
Category: Reading culture
Programme: Bookbug, Read Write Count
Language: English
Age group: 3-5, 6-8
Topics: Bookbug Bags, Read, Write, Count

All primary 1–3 pupils receive a free book bag to take home as part of the Bookbug Primary 1 Family bag and Read, Write, Count gifting campaigns funded by the Scottish Government. Gifting is a key part of these campaigns. 

Why is bag gifting important? 

Gifting is an incredibly important aspect of the Read, Write, Count bags and Bookbug Primary 1 Family bag. How you gift the bags will help to build excitement and enthusiasm about them before children take the bags home. 83% of parents/carers believe that Bookbug and Read, Write, Count have started their child on a journey to becoming a lifelong reader.

Bookbug and Read, Write, Count are succeeding in creating opportunities in families' lives to have positive experiences with books and reading in just the initial gifting alone.

When to gift your bags

The bags will arrive at your school between September and early November and we recommend that you gift the bags to children during Book Week Scotland. Book Week Scotland is a national celebration of books and reading and is the ideal time to gift your bags. Gifting the bags during Book Week Scotland will draw pupils' and parents' attention to this national celebration and encourage them to participate in the week's events, laying the groundwork for further engagement in reading.

In school, Book Week Scotland can provide a platform for lots of activities celebrating books, and there are competitions, games and author events to participate in. 

What to do and when: a timeline for bag gifting

Primary 1 Family Bag and The Bookbug Picture Book Prize

7 September

The shortlisted books for The Book Bug Picture Book Prize are announced! Visit our Bookbug Picture Book Prize learning activities to find CfE-linked classroom ideas for using the books, and make sure you register your class for the national vote.

October to November

Your school should receive the P1 bags. Make sure you:

  • Send a letter home to families letting them know about the P1 bag. You can find our template below.

  • Read and discuss the books

  • Use our online resources to support learning across the curriculum

  • Give out the bags! Invite parents and families to a bag gifting and show them how they can use their bags at home.

November to January

Cast your votes for The Bookbug Picture Book Prize! Register and submit your votes online at any time before 27 January 2023.

27 January

Voting closes.

2 March

The winner is announced! Watch our film announcing the winner and celebrate with your class.

Ongoing

The children in your class own these bags, meaning the books are a great resource to revisit and re-explore throughout the year.

Read, Write, Count P2 and P3 Bag

September to October

Videos and resources based around this year's bags are on the website. On the Read, Write Count section of our website you can listen to the books being read aloud, use our lesson plans to plan delivery and plan a gifting event.

October to November

Your school should receive your P2 and P3 bags. For any questions on how to receive your bags, find your local Read, Write, Count contact. Please make sure you:

  • Count the bags when they arrive at your school and contact your local authority distributor if you don’t have the correct number

  • Use our online Read, Write, Count resources to support learning across the curriculum

14 to 20 November

We recommend you hold a gifting event to create excitement about the books and introduce them to the families. The 14–20 November is Book Week Scotland – a national celebration full of events that families can participant in.

Ongoing

The children in your class own these bags, meaning the books are a great resource to revisit and re-explore throughout the year.

Involving families

Sending a letter home is a simple way to inform parents and carers about the bags and give advice and tips on how to use them. We have provided a basic template letter you can use and adapt, for example, adding in tips about reading together.

My son was in P1 at the time and he was so excited that myself and his gran were invited into the school for a special gifting session.

Try the bags in class before gifting

Read the books, play the games and do the activities together in class before sending the bags home. This can help to build the children's excitement and help them to encourage their parents and carers when the bags go home. You can find Curriculum for Excellence linked resources to support using the Primary 1 Bookbug Family bag and the Read Write Count in class. 

Involve older pupils

One way to create some excitement in school around gifting the bags is to involve pupils from other year groups. Castleton Primary School in Glasgow arranged for their primary 7 pupils to read the books in the Bookbug Primary 1 Family bag to the primary 1 children. The older pupils then asked their reading partner what activities, based on the book, they would like to do. Both year groups really enjoyed their time together, sharing stories and activities, and learnt a great deal in the process. You can explore our Paired Reading toolkit for more ideas and advice on how to support pupils reading together.

For more tips on bag gifting, watch our P1–3 bag gifting webinar.

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