Reading activities
11 resources. Free options are listed first.
- FreeAges 5–16
NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
An annual reading challenge for NSW students from Kindergarten to Year 10. Home-schooled children can take part once they are registered with NESA or hold an exemption, and parents must register the homeschool with the Challenge by its mid-year deadline; check the current rules for dates.
Visit online.education.nsw.gov.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 4–16
Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge (home-based readers)
Victoria's annual reading challenge, which home-schooled children and children whose school is not participating can join as home-based readers. A parent or guardian registers each child and verifies the books read at the end of the challenge.
Visit vic.gov.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 0–15
Queensland Premier's Reading Challenge
An annual Queensland reading challenge open to state and non-state school students and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as young children in early childhood services. Reading targets vary by year level and the reading period runs for part of each year.
Visit readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 5–15
South Australian Premier's Reading Challenge
A South Australian challenge in which students aim to read 12 books between the start of Term 1 and a cut-off in Term 3. The SA Department for Education lists it as available to children approved for home education; contact the program team to arrange access.
Visit education.sa.gov.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 8+
Project Gutenberg
A volunteer-run library of tens of thousands of free ebooks, mostly older works whose US copyright has expired, including many classic children's novels. Books can be read online or downloaded without registration; copyright status can differ outside the US.
Visit gutenberg.org ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges All ages
LibriVox
Free audiobooks of public domain texts recorded by volunteers, which can be streamed or downloaded. Useful for listening along with a printed or Project Gutenberg copy; some older texts contain outdated language and attitudes.
Visit librivox.org ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 10+
Trove (National Library of Australia)
A free National Library of Australia search service covering digitised Australian newspapers, books, photographs, maps and other items from hundreds of collecting institutions. Historic newspapers are useful for local history and primary-source research.
Visit trove.nla.gov.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 4–10
Storyline Online
Free videos of picture books read aloud by actors, each with a suggested grade level and downloadable activity guide. Run by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in the US.
Visit storylineonline.net ↗ (opens in a new tab) - FreeAges 8–14
Kids News
A free Australian news site written for children, with new articles each school day, audio versions, glossaries and classroom activities. Funded by News Corp Australia as a literacy initiative; it does not link out to other news sites.
Visit kidsnews.com.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - PaidAges 3–12
Story Box Library
An Australian subscription service of stories read aloud on video, mostly by Australian storytellers, with accompanying activities and some Auslan stories. Many public libraries provide free at-home access to their members, so check with your local library before subscribing.
Visit storyboxlibrary.com.au ↗ (opens in a new tab) - PaidAges 2–13
ABC Reading Eggs
A subscription online reading program with phonics lessons, games and an e-book library, split into programs by age, plus a related maths program (Mathseeds). A free trial is offered and a selection of printable worksheets is free on the site.
Visit readingeggs.com.au ↗ (opens in a new tab)