Book Week Costumes for Teachers

Dress up for Book Week and you still have a full day of teaching to get through. You will stand, walk, bend, sit on tiny chairs and supervise the playground. Pick a costume that copes with all of that, and the day goes much better.

Costumes that survive a teaching day

Think about your day before you think about the character. Where will you be at 8:30, at lunch duty and at the end of the day? A costume that looks great in the mirror can be a nuisance by mid-morning.

• Choose soft, breathable layers you can add or remove.
• Keep everything light. Heavy hats, capes and props get tiring fast.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Most characters can be finished with plain flat shoes.
• Avoid anything that drags on the floor or catches on chair backs and door handles.
• Try the whole outfit at home first. Walk about, sit down, reach up to a whiteboard.

Able to move, sit and supervise

You need to see clearly, hear children and get to them quickly. Check each piece against that.

• Masks and full head pieces can limit your view and muffle your voice. Face paint, a hat or a headband is often easier. If you use face paint, do a small skin test first.
• Long skirts and wide sleeves can get in the way at the art table or on the stairs. Shorten, pin or roll them.
• Choose pockets. A whistle, keys, a pen and a tissue all need somewhere to go.
• Keep props small and easy to put down. A book is a good prop, and you will have plenty already.
• If you are on playground duty, think about weather. A costume that works with a coat is a real advantage.

Check labels on anything you buy, especially for fit and care. Give yourself room to move rather than a tight fit.

Class themed ideas

A theme makes the day feel shared. Children love seeing a whole staff room or year group join in. It also makes planning easier, because everyone is working towards the same idea.

• Fairy tale day: a knight, a queen, a woodcutter, a wolf or a fairy godmother. Most of these are simple to build from what you own.
• Colour or word day: pick a colour or a word and let everyone find a character that fits.
• Author day: dress as characters from one author your school enjoys.
• Team costumes: a year group can dress as a set, such as the animals from a favourite story, or a group of characters who belong together.
• Classic characters: a detective, a pirate, a wizard or a explorer are easy to recognise and easy to wear.

Ask the children for ideas. They will often suggest something you would not have thought of, and they enjoy being asked.

Matching your class read aloud

The easiest costume to explain is the one from the book you are reading right now. Children connect at once, and the costume becomes part of the lesson.

• Pick a character who appears often, so the costume gets used.
• Read a chapter or a page in costume. Keep the voice you already use for that character.
• Use a simple clue at first and let the class guess who you are.
• If your class read is a picture book, look closely at the illustrations. The main colours and one or two key items are usually enough.
• Not every character suits an adult in a classroom. A narrator, a teacher, a librarian or a background character can be just as fun.

You do not need every detail. One or two clear signs, such as a hat, a scarf, a badge or a prop, will tell the class who you are.

Easy to change out of

Some days you will want to be back in ordinary clothes before the end of school, for a meeting, a parents' evening or the drive home. Plan for that from the start.

• Wear your costume over a plain base layer, such as leggings and a fitted top, so you can remove pieces quickly.
• Choose costumes that open at the front, or that pull on and off over your normal clothes.
• Use clips and simple ties rather than lots of small fastenings.
• Keep the accessories separate. A hat, wig, cape or belt can come off in seconds.
• Bring a bag for everything you take off, and a wipe or towel if you have used face paint.
• Keep a spare set of ordinary clothes at school in case you need them.

Have fun with it. Children remember a teacher who joined in, and a costume you can comfortably wear all day is one you will actually enjoy.