U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit the Library of Congress for the final of four 2014 Let's Read! Let's Move! field trips in his neighborhood, which is part of a broader initiative to engage youth in summer learning and physical activity. Deputy Librarian of Congress Robert Dizard, Jr. will give welcoming remarks, and then Duncan will join Acting Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak, NFL Hall of Famer Quarterback Warren Moon and Chef Pati Jinich of PBS's "Pati's Mexican Table" in reading to the students and encouraging them to stay active and healthy.
Before the reading, students will go to the Great Hall Mezzanine Level to learn more about the Library of Congress through interactive kiosks and a special presentation. At noon, Secretary Duncan and guests will read Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock and John O'Brien and answer students' questions in the Thomas Jefferson Library. Following the reading, Acting Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak will encourage children to eat healthy and be active and kick off the Let's Move! activity with an interactive game. Let's Move activities will continue as Chef Pati Jinich, staff from the Library of Congress Young Readers Center, the USDA Power Panther and the YMCA join in to lead the children in more games and fun. These Let's Move! activities are inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative to combat childhood obesity by emphasizing healthy eating and an active lifestyle. John Cole, Jr., director of the Library's Center for the Book, will make a few closing remarks at the end of the event, and each youngster will receive his or her own copy of Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library.
"Summer learning, especially hands-on experience, both inside and outside the classroom, is an important part of building the foundation needed for success later in school, college and career," said Secretary Duncan. "To help all children start school on a level playing field, the administration is continuing to work to expand access to high-quality early learning programs and to ensure equal educational opportunity for all students. Let's Read! Let's Move! highlights the importance of preparing students in every way possible to be successful in school, by teaching them how a healthy, active lifestyle can positively affect their ability to learn."
The summer enrichment series is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service's United We Serve: Let's Read! Let's Move! initiative. The goal of these events is to keep children reading, moving and staying active over the summer months, as well as to highlight the importance of access to high-quality early learning programs in providing all children a strong start on the path to readiness for school.
The Department holds Let's Read! Let's Move! events in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington PHD (Physical, Healthy, Driven) program. Target Corp. will provide healthy snacks, and every child will be able to select a free new book to take home, courtesy of Target and its partnership with First Book. AmeriCorps members will also support the event.