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Frequently Asked Questions
This section addresses common questions asked by anyone planning to create and distribute literacy kits.
- Q: How far in advance should I plan my literacy kit project?
- A: Four to six weeks should be enough time to run through the steps described in the section of this guide entitled “How to Organize a Literacy Kit Event”.
- Q: What is the cost of a literacy kit?
- A: The cost of a literacy kit can be calculated both in terms of the cost of materials and in terms of time and energy expended to plan and execute the event. Here is the cost breakdown:
- Materials Cost: the cost of the kit depends on the quality and quantity of books and materials you purchase. Most literacy kits, inclusive of the book, container and supplies necessary to create a prop or game range from $10—$12 each.
- Time/Effort Cost: event Planning and Preparation can often take anywhere from 1 to 2 days to complete. Event execution often lasts around half a day and post event duties (e.g. clean-up) can require up to half a day.
- Q: Where can I purchase books?
- A: By becoming a Scholastic Literacy Partner, you can become eligible for deep discounts on a wide range of quality children’s paperback and board books. First Book distributes new books for free to children in need via eligible organizations. Consider hosting a virtual or community book drive to collect the books needed for literacy kits, or ask a partner if they would like to donate books to be included in the kits. Make it easy to find and purchase the books you need by creating a wish list on Amazon.
- Q: Where can I find arts and crafts supplies?
- A: Approach local or national retailers; many will be willing to provide a discount if supplies are purchased in bulk. You may also choose to solicit in-kind donations from corporate partners for this purpose.
- Q: What are most common literacy kit arts and craft supplies?
- A: If you already have a book and project in mind, it is most helpful to create a list of supplies necessary for that particular project. However, if your volunteers are engaging in a free-form session or if you are otherwise interested in which supplies to purchase, the most common supplies are: copy paper, construction paper, tape, scissors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, pencil sharpeners, sharpies and glue sticks.
- Q: What types of containers are typically used for literacy kits?
- A: There are two types of containers United Ways use most often for literacy kits: containers for repeated use and containers for individual children. Containers for repeated use should be made of more durable material like cardboard. Containers for individual children can be less durable and can be as simple as a fabric of drawstring bag.
- Q: Does each literacy kit need to contain the same book title?
- A: Sessions often run faster and more smoothly if the same book title is used for every kit, but it is also possible to use different books. If the books come from a donation, for example, and are not all alike, volunteers can create individualized literacy kits in a freeform session, using their imagination to create each kit. In this format, volunteers should also provide their own general instructions for using each kit.
- Q: Are literacy kits always distributed to children in primary school?
- A: Literacy kits are a great way to encourage children to start reading. For this reason, literacy kits are most useful with children in primary school. However, some United Ways do create literacy kits for students in the middle grades and even as a fundraising strategy, where popular book titles are included in a kit that is also filled with gifts, prizes and in-kind donations that match the book’s theme.
- Q: Can I make my own guide in this style?
- A: Creating your own activity guides in the Literacy Kit 2.0 style is easy using the template available here.
- Q: What resources do other United Ways use to promote their Literacy Kits?
- A: See how other United Ways describe and promote literacy kit volunteer opportunities below.
