Sadako’s Cranes for Peace
This resource from CND tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a girl from Hiroshima who developed leukaemia as a result of radiation from the nuclear bomb exploded above the city in August 1945. When she was hospitalised, she began to fold 1,000 paper cranes – symbols of luck and longevity – to express her hopes for peace and courage to fight her illness.
Sadako only managed to fold 644 cranes before she died aged 12, but her friends made the remaining 356 so she could be buried with 1,000. They went on to campaign to have a statue erected in memory of Sadako and all the other children killed in the bombing. Paper cranes have subsequently become a sign of peace across the world, with millions sent to Hiroshima ever year to be placed at the foot of the statue.
The themes and activities in this resource cover areas of English (especially Year 5 and Year 6 Literacy), Philosophy for Children, Art and Design, Citizenship and Religious Education. There are accompanying resources including video clips available on the CND Peace Education website.
Review of ‘Sadako’s Cranes for Peace’:
‘today I taught a lesson to 16 year 7 EAL students who speak very little English all about Sadako Sasaki and Hiroshima. The lesson culminated in the entire class making paper cranes and generally loving life’ – Secondary school teacher
Resource details
Publisher
Campaign for Nuclear DisarmamentItems available
- Booklet (free)
- Order hard copy from CND or download PDF from the website.
- No. of pages: 15
Order from
162 Holloway Road,
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