Over 10,000 children from 49 primary schools have signed up to the The Great Green Read to boost their literacy skills whilst helping to save the planet.
Every child taking part has been gifted a free copy of Protect the Planet by Dr. Jess French and illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra and over the next half term they'll be taking on challenges inspired by the book. There's reading comprehension exercises for in the classroom and eco-projects that take learning to the great outdoors; from planting school reading trees for future generations, to building hedgehog houses and monitoring local air quality.
Children and schools who give it their all will be in with a chance of winning a whole host of prizes from a stack of books the height of their teacher, to bee-friendly seeds and kits to make the most spectacular woodland den.
All the children who take part in the Great Green Read will be invited to an author event with Dr Jess French, the co-creator of the book that will have inspired much of their school work. At the end of the project children will be given the opportunity to put questions to Ed Miliband MP to find out what steps the grownups are taking to protect the planet.
“The next half term is going to be great! I can’t wait to see local children shape what their school can do to help the environment, all while improving their literacy skills. Children will learn about how they can use their literacy skills to make a difference and they will even have the opportunity to write to and meet their local MP!”
Phil Sheppard, Senior Project Officer for Doncaster Stories