by Harry Waters
Reading has always been a gateway to new worlds and ideas, which makes it an ideal tool for promoting sustainability and inspiring change. Through the written wrd, we can spark a greater understanding of our world and empower students to make informed, eco-friendly choices.
While books can provide profound narratives, alternative views, and deep dives into complex issues, reaching teenagers and learners who may be new to environmental topics often requires starting with smaller, more accessible formats. Blogs, articles, and even engaging social media posts serve as an entry point to deeper conversations. These shorter forms of reading can highlight key environmental themes, showcase real-life stories of activism, and offer practical eco-friendly tips. By beginning with relatable and digestible content, we can create a bridge that leads students from curiosity to comprehensive understanding.
DELTA Publishing has a series of Readers dedicated to sustainability and changemaking. Let’s looks at three of the impactful titles that bring sustainability themes to life and inspire meaningful classroom discussions: 1. Waste Not, Want Not, 2. Clean Water, Dirty Business, and 3. Caught in the Fire. Each title presents unique perspectives on urgent environmental issues, encouraging readers to think critically and take action.
In addition, we’ll see how Activities for a Greener Mindset, from DELTA’s Ideas in Action Series can supplement both the topic and required skills. This resource incorporates articles, blog-style readings, and short stories to provide teachers with ready-to-use activities that engage students and develop their eco-literacy. Together, these resources demonstrate that reading in all its forms can be a powerful catalyst for fostering awareness and responsibility toward our planet.
Reliable Readers
The right book can transport students into new perspectives, allowing them to engage with complex environmental issues in an accessible and personal way. Through relatable characters and real-world challenges, stories can ignite curiosity, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.
The following stories address specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inspire readers to consider their own actions and choices, making them valuable additions to any classroom focused on eco-conscious learning.
Waste Not, Want Not
Waste Not, Want Not delves into the power of community and collective action, showing how climate activists can create positive change when they collaborate and support one another. The story follows two teenagers determined to address a local food waste issue that mirrors the larger global crisis of overproduction and waste. Beyond the environmental themes, the book sensitively introduces the topics of friendship and recovery after domestic violence, illustrating how personal strength and solidarity can emerge from hardship. With the support of their families, the young changemakers demonstrate that even small, grassroots efforts can make a significant impact, inspiring students to see themselves as agents of change in their own communities.
Sustainable Development Goals: 12, 13
Clean Water, Dirty Business
Clean Water, Dirty Business is set in the beautiful but challenged environment of Fiji and focuses on the importance of integrity, environmental activism, and resilience. The story follows a young protagonist who, despite struggling academically, showcases his exceptional engineering skills to help clean up plastic waste from the island’s beaches. His talents come to the fore during a critical moment when a major water company arrives and falsely claims that the local tap water is unsafe, pressuring the community to buy bottled water. This act of deception puts the local population at risk, highlighting themes of corporate greed and environmental exploitation.
The main characters include local Fijian students, the community, and a corrupt CEO who leads the water company. In a striking turn of events, the CEO’s own daughter rises as a voice for climate justice, challenging her father’s unethical actions and supporting the local movement. The book not only addresses themes of justice being served but also celebrates the protagonist’s journey of self-acceptance, showing that intelligence is not defined solely by academic success.
Clean Water, Dirty Business serves as an educational tool, teaching students to question authority, seek the truth, and stand up for what is right, even when it is daunting. It also underscores the real-world importance of transparency and ethical practices, showing how communities can come together to prevent exploitation and hold powerful entities accountable.
The book also introduces readers to a real life changemaker Boyen Slat, who founded The Ocean Clean Up in an effort to clear the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Sustainable Development Goals: 6, 13, 14
Caught in the Fire
Caught in the Fire explores the themes of friendship, preparedness, and common sense in the face of environmental emergencies. Unlike many stories focused on climate change mitigation, this book emphasises climate adaptation, showing students how to act during a crisis and the importance of those who risk their lives for the safety of others.
The story is centred around a teenage boy, his younger sibling, and their parents in Australia. The mother’s role as a volunteer firefighter adds significant depth to the narrative, highlighting the bravery of community members who step up to protect others. Initially, the father is somewhat dismissive of the fires, but his perspective shifts dramatically as events unfold, underlining the value of listening to warnings and taking action.
The book also introduces the boy’s group of teenage friends and features a heartwarming moment when they rescue a koala during the chaos, a scene that emphasises kindness and the power of youth voices to inspire adults.
The plot begins on a regular school day, with plans to meet after classes, but the situation takes a serious turn when a fire erupts. The community bands together, relocating to a safe area where resilience and teamwork come to the forefront. Through these events, students learn about practical safety measures, the importance of being prepared, and the influence young people can have on decisions.
Caught in the Fire provides relevant lessons for today’s students, reminding them that natural disasters like wildfires are real-world challenges that communities face. It’s an engaging way to discuss climate adaptation, raise awareness of emergency preparedness, and spark conversations about community support and environmental responsibility.
Sustainable Development Goals: 13, 15
Beyond the Books
Books like Waste Not, Want Not, Clean Water, Dirty Business, and Caught in the Fire offer rich stories and in-depth perspectives – shorter forms of reading play an equally important role in fostering sustainability awareness. Articles, blog posts, and short stories, both fiction and non-fiction, can captivate students’ interest and serve as quick yet powerful teaching tools.
Now let’s turn our focus to Activities for a Greener Mindset, a resource designed to help teachers incorporate a range of reading materials into their lessons. This book offers a variety of articles, blogs, and story-based activities that align with sustainability themes. Each lesson contains connections to both primary and secondary Sustainable Development Goals, making it easy for teachers to engage students with meaningful, adaptable content.
One of the standout lessons in Activities for a Greener Mindset is based around a blog post featuring an interview with activist and Force of Nature founder, Clover Hogan. This lesson not only engages students in reading comprehension but also invites them to delve deeper into the themes of youth activism and environmental responsibility. Through this activity, students learn how young people can be powerful change-makers, driving discussions about sustainability and inspiring collective action.
The lesson includes vocabulary-building exercises, comprehension questions, and group discussions that help students internalise the message and reflect on their role in fostering positive environmental change. By analysing the real-world challenges Hogan addresses and her approach to overcoming eco-anxiety, students gain practical insights into resilience and empowerment. Activities prompt learners to share their own thoughts on how they can contribute to a more sustainable world, making the lesson both interactive and impactful.
The aim of this post is to engage students in someone relatable, hear her story and use that advice to turn their eco-anxiety into action. It encourages both critical thinking and problem-solving skills to a very modern issue.
This thoughtful approach highlights the importance of equipping students with the tools to not only understand global challenges but also develop the confidence to take meaningful steps toward addressing them. It aligns with the book’s focus on integrating language learning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging students to see themselves as proactive contributors to a sustainable future.
What now?
Every learner is at a different stage in both their reading journey and their understanding of sustainability. Recognising these differences is key to fostering a genuine and lasting interest in environmental awareness. By tailoring reading materials to meet students’ individual needs and interests. Be that through comprehensive stories, articles, or bite-sized blog posts, teachers can help nurture a passion for learning and sustainability.
The journey towards building a sustainable mindset should be flexible and adaptive, encouraging students to explore topics that resonate with them. By incorporating varied types of reading into the classroom, teachers can guide students to see the world through a more conscious lens, empowering them to become active participants in creating a more sustainable future.
