Enrich your students’ learning with this fantastic STEM reading challenge as our We Wonder series returns to Protect Our Nature.
Partnering with Turner & Townsend for a sixth consecutive year, our fun and informative We Wonder series returns!
Aim of the reading challenge
The We Wonder: Protect Our Nature STEM reading challenge is free to enter and aimed at students across the UK aged 7 to 14 years (KS2 and KS3, or P4 to S3).
Following the framework of read, imagine, grow, students will be tasked with learning about the natural world around us and designing a local green space which people can enjoy and where nature can thrive.
Exploring a range of information and ideas, this challenge not only encourages reading for pleasure and reading diversely, it supports disciplinary literacy by increased engagement with non-fiction texts.
Running the reading challenge in school
Resources for this challenge are available to download at the bottom of this page.
They include:
- Teacher guidelines with a step by step guide to delivering the challenge in the classroom alongside topical information on our natural world including the importance of habitat, diversity and protection in our green spaces.
- A fun quiz and answers to test student knowledge
- A welcome video (found below on this page) from our funders and competition judges introduces the challenge directly to your class and suggests ideas for what to include in the designs.
- A suggested reading list covering both age groups with a broad array of titles that support the requirements of the challenge.
- A design template for students to bring their design ideas to life
- A certificate to award your pupils for the participation and engagement
- You will need to have as a minimum, free membership of the National Literacy Trust to be able to access the resources.
Read. Imagine. Grow!
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Entering the competition
Once you have completed the reading challenge, you will be able to submit your students' designs.
There will be a category winner for both age groups 7 to 11 and 11 to 14. The prize for the winner in each category will be a book token and a box of books for the school.
In addition, Turner & Townsend are looking to award highly commended prizes consisting of a box of books for a number of schools that enter the competition.
The We Wonder: Protect Our Nature reading challenge will close on Friday 27 March 2026.
Judging is done by Turner & Townsend staff and winners will be announced at the end of May 2026.
Terms and conditions for entering the competition
Take part
The reading challenge is now live with the full set of classroom ready resources for download. Register your interest below, and check back soon for the submission form for entries.
About Turner & Townsend
Turner & Townsend is a construction-based company, which means they help to build all kinds of things, like skyscrapers, museums, airports and railways.
Some of their most famous projects in the UK are the Shard in London, the V&A in Dundee, Heathrow Airport and HS2 highspeed railway line. Turner & Townsend also works all over the world, and with 112 offices in 45 countries.
Sustainability is very important to Turner & Townsend, and when they are organising a building project they make sure they are doing their best to protect the environment. They have recently launched a target to be net-zero by 2030, which means that they aim to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses they produce as much as possible and invest in projects that actively help the environment.
If you have any queries about our Reading Champions Reading Challenge series then don’t hesitate to contact us at competitions@literacytrust.org.uk.
National Literacy Trust Reading Champions is supported by ALCS.
Find out more about the National Reading Champions Quiz and Challenges.
Explore useful teaching resources developed by ALCS to support understanding and communication about copyright with guides for children, young people and teachers.
Watch this ALCS animation as a great starting point to helping your students understand copyright in a fun and interactive way. Karl Nova uses his voice and talent to bring the importance of copyright for writers and artists to life in this video from ALCS.