Today, Manchester’s Gifted and Talented 5th-grade students took part in the first annual Battle of the Books event at Manchester Township Middle School.
Upon arrival, students were welcomed into the conference room with music and immediately jumped in, playing the creative board games they had designed themselves, each inspired by one of the six books they read in preparation for the event.
At 10:00 a.m., students had the exciting opportunity to meet virtually with author Dan Gutman, whose book Wait, What? Muhammad Ali Was a Chicken?! was among their selections. He delivered an engaging presentation followed by a Q&A session, giving students a chance to connect directly with a published author.
Following the author's visit, the competition began. Each participating school represented its team in a three-round battle featuring a variety of question formats based on the books. The event, lasting approximately 30 minutes, concluded with awards before students returned to school in time to report back about their exciting morning over lunch.
Preparation for this event began back in November, when students committed to reading six books, taking detailed notes, and reviewing key content. In addition, they collaborated to create team names and individually designed original board games based on their readings. The Battle of the Books not only celebrated their hard work and dedication but also fostered creativity, teamwork, and a love of reading.
A big thank you to Mrs. Robyn Palmer for coordinating such an incredible culminating event for our students! Your leadership and dedication to the elementary gifted and talented program truly make their experience special. Also, a special thank you to the MTEF for sponsoring this student event.
Congratulations to Ridgeway Elementary School's winning team: The Battle Boyz!