This Earth Day, the National Literacy Trust and Siemens have joined forces to raise awareness of the environment and engage children in Manchester on the topic of climate change.
The partnership involves book gifting to primary schools across the city, an online author event with Martin Dorey and the launch of an exciting challenge, supported by Walker Books, to help children develop literacy skills to research, plan and advocate for the future.
As part of the project, 650 exclusively pre-released copies of Martin Dorey’s new book Kids Fight Climate Change (Walker Books) will be donated to 50 primary schools across Manchester.
The project is supported by the Read Manchester campaign from the National Literacy Trust and Manchester City Council which aims to increase reading for pleasure across the city.
Schools can access supporting classroom resources and activities to facilitate conversations and learning about the environment and are invited to join a virtual assembly at 10am on 22 April, Earth Day, with best-selling author and international environmental superstar Martin Dorey.
Inspired by the book, Martin Dorey will be setting an exciting challenge for pupils in which they will pledge their own two minute challenge in their local communities to help protect the planet this Earth Day and be a #2MinuteSuperhero.
Schools and families can also re-watch the event afterwards, as a recording will be available on the National Literacy Trust’s Words for Life website, where the #2MinuteSuperhero challenge and activities can also be found. Families and schools can take part at home, in the classroom and on social media.
Siemens and the National Literacy Trust have a shared mission to elevate and support children and young people’s learning and literacy. Siemens offers curriculum lesson plans, interactive resources, insights into STEM careers and information about challenges and events on its website, and the National Literacy Trust support schools, communities and families in areas with the greatest literacy problems to change life stories.
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Siemens on this project to inspire change through reading. In light of lockdown easing and how our reduced activity across the world has had a positive impact on our environment, Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to open the conversation about this essential topic. The project will give children a platform to explore ways we can live more sustainably, and the problems and solutions that they see in the world around them.
“Just one book can motivate a child to choose a certain path, encourage them to make important decisions and give them the lifelong literacy benefits that reading for pleasure brings. Our research showed that 3 in 5 children and young people said that reading during lockdown made them feel better and that reading encouraged half of children to dream about the future, which shows how important books are for supporting both wellbeing and outlook on the future.”
Angela Noon, Chief Financial Officer, Siemens Plc, said: “We’re excited to be working with the National Literacy Trust to develop understanding and encourage change from the younger generation this Earth Day, in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 this November.
We are aligned with the National Literacy Trust’s commitment to supporting children and young people’s learning and are passionate about nurturing engineering talent to help build a better tomorrow. We hope this exciting event with Martin Dorey, the #2MinuteSuperhero challenge and the new books pupils in Manchester will receive inspires them to become more aware of their environment and our shared responsibility and they get a lot out of this great project which they can take into their lives.”
To find out more and to download the classroom resources please visit:
literacytrust.org.uk/earth-day
