Every April, World Book Day inspires students, educators, and families across the globe to rediscover the joy of reading — and this year is no exception. On April 23, 2025, World Book Day invites readers to “Read Your Way,” encouraging people of all ages to engage with stories in whatever ways suit them best. Whether that means listening to audiobooks, diving into graphic novels, or re-reading childhood favorites, World Book Day celebrates the power of literacy and the lifelong impact of reading for pleasure.
At Ozobot, we believe in the power of storytelling — and we also believe learning should be engaging, personalized, and fun. That’s why we love bringing books to life with the help of our favorite ELA lessons featuring Ozobot. These lessons integrate foundational reading and writing skills with hands-on creativity and basic coding, allowing students to explore literature in a whole new way.
In celebration of World Book Day, we’re highlighting a few of our favorite Ozobot ELA lessons available in Ozobot Classroom. These activities combine reading comprehension with STEM, art, and critical thinking — making them perfect for cross-curricular learning.
Kicking It with Ozobots: Pele’s Inspirational Soccer Journey
Grades: 1-5
Coding Method: Color Codes
In this action-packed lesson, students dive into Pele: King of Soccer, a biography of the legendary Brazilian athlete. After learning about Pele’s inspiring life and accomplishments, students bring his story to life by coding Ozobot to make a goal — just like Pele did so many times on the soccer field. This ELA lesson featuring Ozobot not only reinforces reading comprehension and sequencing but also promotes teamwork and problem-solving.
Grades: 1-3
Coding Method: Color Codes
There’s no better way to celebrate the magic of rhyme and rhythm than with Dr. Seuss! In this imaginative ELA lesson featuring Ozobot, students explore wordplay, story structure, and character development as they read a Seuss classic. Then, they code their bots to move through a sequence of events and reactions using Color Codes. It’s a whimsical, engaging way to blend literacy skills with beginner coding.
Balloons Over Broadway — But Better!
Grades: 1-5
Coding Method: Color Codes
Inspired by “Balloons Over Broadway,” this creative ELA lesson invites students to design their own Macy’s style parade balloons using Makerspace materials. After reading the book and discussing its historical and artistic themes, students code Ozobots to lead their balloon floats through a classroom parade route. This lesson is a favorite around Thanksgiving — but it’s great for any time you want to integrate storytelling, art, and engineering!
Grades: K-2
Coding Method: Color Codes
In this seasonal ELA lesson featuring Ozobot, students practice story sequencing with “The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything.” Students will read the Halloween-themed story, identify key events, and create a Color Code path to help Ozobot retell the tale. This hands-on activity reinforces both story comprehension and early coding skills — and it’s a spooky-good time!
Grades: K-4
Coding Method: Color Codes
What happens when a cautious squirrel steps out of his comfort zone? In this beloved ELA lesson featuring “Scaredy Squirrel” by Melanie Watt, students use details from the book to solve problems and direct Ozobot along a custom-coded path. It’s an excellent activity for teaching cause-and-effect, character analysis, and critical thinking — all with a dash of humor.
Why ELA Lessons Featuring Ozobot Work
Reading helps students understand the world and themselves, and when paired with hands-on coding, it also nurtures 21st-century skills like computational thinking, collaboration, and creativity. Ozobot ELA lessons are designed to do just that, offering educators powerful ways to enrich literacy instruction with technology and play.
These activities support multiple learning styles and help students retain information by making reading interactive. Whether sequencing story events, exploring character reactions, or visualizing narratives, students can physically watch their understanding unfold as Ozobot moves across the page.
Celebrate World Book Day Your Way
This World Book Day, we encourage you to “Read Your Way” — and to teach your way, too. Whether you’re exploring biographies, fiction, or poetry, there’s an ELA lesson featuring Ozobot to complement your curriculum and engage your students in meaningful, memorable ways.
Explore even more ELA lessons in Ozobot Classroom and share your World Book Day activities with us on social media by tagging.
Happy reading and happy coding!
