Schoolchildren learn about climate change through poetry and verse

CHILDREN at a Middlesbrough school finished their term learning how climate change is affecting pupils in other countries and summing up their feelings in poems.

Youngsters at Breckon Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough met Rumana Yasmin, founder of Bok Bok Books, who told them how pupils in her homeland of Bangladesh were now taught in school rooms that float because so many have previously been swept away by flooding and lost.

Rumana is the publisher of Floating Words – an anthology of poetry by leading writers – and says the children, aged seven and eight-year-old, were fascinated by the poems and loved writing their own.

She said: “It was wonderful to go into the school and teach the children about different environments and how we can all grow up looking at ways we might look after the planet.

“I was amazed at how receptive they were to what we were talking about and how good some of the poetry was that they produced.

“The children also learned origami in order to make their own floating boats which was a real icebreaker. They really enjoyed it.”

Breckon Hill Year 3 teacher Katie Maloney, said: “The children were all from different classes and were intrigued by what they learned and how they learned it.

“It was great for them to hear different voices talking to them about this subject and looking at it from an interesting perspective.” 

Rumana, whose company is based in Middlesbrough, said: “I grew up in Bangladesh, but I am raising my two children in the north of England and reading is a big part of my life with them. 

“So I needed books to become the bridge between our worlds, and a place where they could see themselves, their cultures and interests represented. 

“I started Bok Bok Books to create those books. 

“I believe a better future for our children is possible through making connections to create, exchange stories and leave a positive message for them.

“Climate change can be a difficult subject for young children to relate to but poetry is a great way to get into the subject.

“Each child also got a plant pot with an acorn in it so they can watch it grow as a lasting reminder.”

Rumana was in Breckon Hill school as part of the The Poetry for Climate Change, Primary School Project launched by the North and East Yorkshire branch of CPRE, the countryside charity.

Jan Arger, chair of the branch, said: “We’re hoping to roll this project out to schools across the region – a simple class-learning situation but one which might stick in the minds of young children and give them an awareness of the world around them and the challenges it faces.

“It’s done in an affirmative and thoughtful way in order to inspire young children.”

• You can learn more about BokBok Books here: https://www.bokbokbooks.co.uk/shop and CPRE North and East Yorkshire here: https://www.cpreney.org.uk/.