Real‑life examples of fun reading activities using technology

Quick, real‑world examples of fun reading activities using technology

Let’s start with concrete, ready‑to‑use ideas. Here are some examples of fun reading activities using technology that work well at home or in the classroom:

Kids record dramatic read‑alouds on a tablet. They turn vocabulary words into short videos. They go on a digital scavenger hunt through an online article. They co‑write fanfiction in Google Docs. They read along with an audiobook while the text highlights on screen. These are not hypothetical; they are the best examples I see teachers and parents using successfully right now.

Each of the sections below shows a specific example of a tech‑based reading activity, how to set it up, and how to adapt it for different ages.

1. Interactive read‑alouds with ebooks and audiobooks

One of the simplest examples of fun reading activities using technology is turning a regular read‑aloud into an interactive digital experience.

Kids listen to an audiobook while following along with the digital text on a tablet or laptop. Many platforms highlight each word as it’s read aloud, which supports tracking and fluency. Tools like Epic!, Sora/OverDrive, and many public library apps offer this feature.

Here’s how to turn it into an activity rather than passive listening:

• Pause at cliffhangers and have kids predict what will happen next using a voice note or a quick typed comment.
• Ask them to tap and define tricky words using the built‑in dictionary, then screenshot their favorite new word and explain it in their own words.
• Have them record a 30‑second “book commercial” at the end, recommending (or not recommending) the story.

This example works beautifully for reluctant readers because the audio support lowers the barrier, while the interactive bits keep their brain engaged.

For research on audiobooks and literacy, you can explore resources from Reading Rockets (https://www.readingrockets.org) and the U.S. Department of Education (https://ies.ed.gov/). They summarize studies showing that listening to text can support vocabulary and comprehension, especially when paired with print.

2. Digital reading scavenger hunts

If you want examples of tech activities that get kids moving, a digital reading scavenger hunt is a great fit.

You choose a short article, webpage, or online story. Kids read it on a device and hunt for specific items:

• A simile or metaphor
• A fact they didn’t know before
• A question they still have after reading
• A word they can’t pronounce yet

They snap screenshots or copy/paste snippets into a shared slide deck or digital notebook, adding a quick note about what they found.

To make this even more fun, add QR codes around the room that link to different passages or kid‑friendly news sites like Newsela or Smithsonian Tween Tribune (https://www.tweentribune.com/). Students scan, read, and collect their findings.

This is one of the best examples of fun reading activities using technology because it blends close reading with a sense of mission. It also encourages kids to navigate digital text—a skill highlighted in many national and state standards.

3. Student‑created read‑aloud videos and podcasts

Kids love turning into the “teacher.” One standout example of fun reading activities using technology is having students record themselves reading and talking about books.

You can:

• Use basic recording apps on phones or tablets to create mini podcasts where kids retell a story, explain a character’s choice, or compare the book to the movie.
• Try simple video tools so kids can record dramatic read‑alouds of picture books or favorite scenes. They can add simple props or drawings in the background.

A step‑by‑step version of this activity:

1. Kids pick a short text (poem, page from a novel, or an article).
2. They practice reading it out loud a few times.
3. They record, listen back, and choose their best version.
4. They add a short explanation: “This part matters because…”

For shy or struggling readers, you can let them record sentence by sentence and edit it together. The magic here is that they hear their own fluency improving over time.

If you want some guidance on oral reading fluency and why it matters, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has accessible summaries of reading research at https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/reading.

4. Digital annotation and sticky‑note thinking

Older elementary and middle school students can handle more sophisticated tools. A powerful example of a tech‑based reading activity is teaching them to annotate digital text.

Using tools like Google Docs, Microsoft OneNote, or browser extensions, kids can:

• Highlight confusing parts in yellow and add a question.
• Highlight important ideas in blue and write a quick summary.
• Use the comment feature to react: “This surprised me because…”

You can share the same document with a small group so they see one another’s comments in real time. Suddenly, reading becomes a conversation, not a solo task.

Some teachers turn this into a weekly routine: students complete a digital article with three color‑coded highlights and three comments. These online annotations become real examples of how their thinking changes as they read.

For teachers who want to align this with best practices, Harvard’s Project Zero (https://pz.harvard.edu) offers thinking routines that adapt well to digital annotation.

5. Vocabulary videos, memes, and GIF reactions

Kids remember words better when they can play with them. Another of the best examples of fun reading activities using technology is turning vocabulary into short digital creations.

After reading a chapter or article, have kids choose 3–5 words they don’t fully know yet. Then they:

• Create a 30‑second video acting out the word.
• Make a digital meme that uses the word correctly with a funny image.
• Respond to a scene from the text with a GIF reaction and a one‑sentence explanation.

For example, after reading a spooky story, a student might choose the word “ominous,” pair it with a stormy sky GIF, and caption it: “The clouds looked ominous as the hero stepped outside.”

These artifacts become real examples of fun reading activities using technology that you can save in a class folder or digital portfolio. Over time, kids build a visual dictionary that is much more memorable than a standard word list.

6. Interactive story apps and choose‑your‑path adventures

Many kids are used to games where their choices shape what happens next. You can harness that with interactive reading apps and tools that let students create their own branching stories.

Here’s an example of how this looks in practice:

• Students read a short story in an app where they can tap to choose the character’s next action.
• After playing through once, they map the choices on a simple chart.
• Then they use a digital tool (like Google Slides with linked buttons or a simple story‑creation platform) to write their own choose‑your‑path story.

Younger kids might create a story about a lost puppy with two choices on each page. Older kids can design more complex adventures with multiple endings.

This kind of activity supports comprehension because students have to think about cause and effect, sequence, and character motivation. It’s one of the best examples of fun reading activities using technology that also sneaks in narrative writing.

7. Online book clubs and digital discussion boards

Reading becomes more meaningful when kids can talk about it. A modern example of fun reading activities using technology is the online book club.

Even in a single classroom, you can:

• Set up a private discussion board (Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, or a learning management system).
• Post a weekly question about a shared text.
• Have students respond with short posts, emojis, and replies to classmates.

To keep things lively, mix formats:

• One week, they post a “playlist” for a character with links to songs.
• Another week, they upload a photo that represents the setting (taken themselves or from a copyright‑friendly site) and explain the connection.

This gives you real examples of their thinking in writing, which you can use for informal assessment.

For guidance on building discussion‑rich reading environments, the International Literacy Association (https://www.literacyworldwide.org) offers position statements and articles that can help you design these spaces thoughtfully.

8. Reading with smart speakers and voice assistants

As more homes and classrooms use smart speakers, they’ve become another tool in the reading toolbox. One very current example of fun reading activities using technology is pairing kids with a voice assistant.

Possible activities:

• Ask the smart speaker to read a kid‑friendly news story or short nonfiction piece.
• Have kids pause and rephrase what they heard into their own words, recording their summary on a phone or tablet.
• Practice questioning skills by having kids ask follow‑up questions about the topic and then checking the answers in a written article.

You can also use voice assistants for pronunciation help. If a child stumbles over a word, they can ask the device to pronounce it, then repeat it back.

Of course, digital safety and privacy matter. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers parent‑focused guidance on kids and connected devices at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov, which is worth reviewing as you design these activities.

9. AR and QR‑code “reading trails”

Augmented reality (AR) and QR codes sound fancy, but you can keep them very simple. One of the more creative examples of fun reading activities using technology is a “reading trail” around your home, school, or library.

Here’s one way to set it up:

• Print short passages, riddles, or clues from a story and post them in different locations.
• Add a QR code next to each passage that links to a related video, image, or short article.
• Kids use a phone or tablet to scan, read, and move to the next clue.

For instance, if you’re reading a novel set in space, one QR code might link to a NASA kids’ page (https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html) explaining gravity in kid‑friendly language. Kids read the passage, scan the code, learn more, and then answer a quick question before moving on.

This activity combines physical movement, curiosity, and multiple text types—fiction, nonfiction, images, and sometimes video.

10. Collaborative fanfiction and character diaries

If you have kids who love a particular series—graphic novels, fantasy sagas, superhero movies—lean into it. A very engaging example of tech‑supported reading is collaborative fanfiction.

After reading a shared book, students:

• Open a shared Google Doc or similar tool.
• Choose a favorite character.
• Write “missing scenes” or character diaries in that character’s voice.

They can add comments on each other’s entries, suggesting lines that fit the character better or pointing to parts of the original text as evidence. This nudges them back into the book to check details, which strengthens comprehension.

Because this feels like play, it’s one of the best examples of fun reading activities using technology for kids who already love stories but resist formal writing assignments.

Tips for choosing the right tech‑based reading activity

With all these examples of fun reading activities using technology, it can feel hard to choose. A few guiding questions can help:

• What is your real goal right now—fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, or motivation?
• How much time do you actually have today?
• What devices and internet access are reliably available?

If your goal is fluency and confidence, start with recorded read‑alouds or audiobooks with text. If you want deeper comprehension, try digital annotation or online book club discussions. If motivation is the main issue, go for scavenger hunts, AR trails, or creative vocabulary videos.

You don’t need fancy equipment. Most of the examples of fun reading activities using technology described here can be done with a single shared device and free or low‑cost tools.

FAQ: examples of fun reading activities using technology

Q: What are some simple examples of fun reading activities using technology for younger kids (K–2)?
For early readers, keep it short and playful. Examples include listening to a picture book on a library app while turning the physical pages, recording themselves reading a favorite page for a family member, or doing a digital scavenger hunt for letters or sight words in an online story. Interactive story apps where they tap to hear words or sound effects are another strong example of tech‑supported reading.

Q: Can you give an example of a tech‑based reading activity that works in a low‑tech classroom?
Yes. One easy option is to project a short article or story on a screen and have students come up and add digital highlights and comments as the class reads together. Even with a single computer and projector, you can create shared annotations, predictions, and questions. That single document becomes a living record of how the class understood the text.

Q: How often should I use these examples of fun reading activities using technology?
Think of technology as a spice, not the main dish. Many teachers find a rhythm of using tech‑based reading activities two or three times a week, mixed with plenty of print reading, handwriting, and face‑to‑face discussion. The goal is to choose the best examples that fit your purpose, not to use every tool every day.

Q: Are there any concerns about screen time with these activities?
Reasonable concern is healthy. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, summarized via NIH (https://www.nih.gov), suggest focusing less on strict time limits and more on quality of screen use. Reading, creating, and discussing stories online tends to be more beneficial than passive scrolling. You can balance things by pairing digital reading with offline follow‑ups like drawing scenes, acting out chapters, or building models from the story.

Q: Where can I find more examples of research‑based reading strategies that use technology?
You can explore the What Works Clearinghouse from the U.S. Department of Education (https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/) for research summaries, and Reading Rockets (https://www.readingrockets.org) for practical classroom and home strategies. Both offer real examples of activities and tools that support reading development.

The bottom line: when you choose thoughtfully, these examples of fun reading activities using technology don’t replace books—they help kids step into them more fully. Start with one idea that feels doable this week, watch how your readers respond, and build from there.