{"id":4932,"date":"2023-01-31T03:04:32","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T03:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourlearningjourney.sg\/?p=4932"},"modified":"2023-03-29T02:45:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T02:45:25","slug":"3-ways-to-teach-kids-the-importance-of-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourlearningjourney.sg\/index.php\/2023\/01\/31\/3-ways-to-teach-kids-the-importance-of-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"3 ways to teach kids the importance of sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Serene Leong<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. But how do we nurture that curiosity into kindness for our planet?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important for children to be taught from an early age how to care for the environment and the animals that live in it. It helps them to understand that the earth is our home, and we need to be good stewards to ensure a sustainable future for us and the next generation. It also helps them to learn that their actions have the power to create change \u2013 whether for good or bad \u2013 and a small action can make a great ripple effect.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Teaching children to care for our environment not only inculcates responsible habits but is also a great way to have lessons outdoors. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Two of our schools conducted their own creative and fun activities for the children to learn the importance of sustainability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Read to them about what is happening in the world<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    A parent sharing about upcycling at The Ascension Kindergarten\u2019s assembly session <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Parents can take the opportunity when spending time with their children outdoors to teach them how to appreciate nature, or even share pictures and newspaper articles about climate change and how it affects us.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At The Ascension Kindergarten<\/a>, one of our parents, Sophia Huang, a children\u2019s author and upcycling enthusiast, read her book \u201cMr Roll Finds New Life<\/a>\u201d to the children at an assembly session in Term 3 last year. She shared about upcycling and the fun games she created out of recyclable materials! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The children learnt about how plastics are harmful to the environment and started to be interested in upcycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Senior Teacher Ms Patricia Eduarte said: \u201cThey realised, \u2018Oh no, this plastic bag may be mistaken for a jellyfish and sea turtles may eat them, or this straw may get stuck in the sea turtle\u2019s nose.’ They understood how plastics can hurt the animals and they were really concerned about it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To reinforce the lesson, the teachers gave the children an upcycling assignment at home \u2013 they were asked to create something with their parents using recyclable materials like plastic bags and to bring the item to school for a show and tell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To our teachers’ surprise, one child used plastic bags to create a dress and another child made a jump rope! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Look at my dress made out of plastic bags!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Organise physical activities <\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      To get children excited and involved in sustainability, teachers can also organise fun activities and games for the whole class to participate in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In Term 4, the children\u2019s interest in ocean animals continued and they decided to incorporate it into the school\u2019s \u201cFun and Fit Day\u201d sports event to bring the theme of \u201cSaving the Ocean\u201d to life! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Our Nursery children saved the \u201cseals\u201d by pulling them cross the ocean <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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      Excited and ready to start the games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      During the event, our younger children took part in relay games where they had to save the \u201csea creatures\u201d from pollutants such as plastic bags and cups, ghost nets and oil spills.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      They also learnt how to move like different animals such as the starfish, octopus, crab and dolphin! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Jumping like a dolphin!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Our older children did their part to save the planet by upcycling recyclable material into props for the obstacle course which they participated in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      On your mark, steady, go! Upcycle hockey game with hockey sticks made from toilet roll and hockey pucks made from bottle caps. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Patricia said: \u201cWhen they learn about sea animals in the classroom, they learn the facts. But when we played the games, the children got to learn outside the classroom.  They were able to do move around physically and socialise with their friends. They learnt how to cheer for each other and work together in a group.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cThere were some children who are very shy but on that day you could see that they enjoyed themselves and they were very fast and took initiative to participate. We did not expect to see this side of them!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Our children painted and upcycled cardboard to create a “wheel” they could move in (Left)
      “I can toss and aim. I can do it!” (Right) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Although the \u201cFun and Fit Day\u201d was held on separate days for each level, the buzz of excitement was in the air throughout the whole month as the children and teachers prepared for the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      At the end of the day, our children each brought home an apple that served as a reminder to stay healthy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      An apple a day keeps the doctor away!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cIt was a fun and meaningful event for all our children and teachers. We were proud to see the tenacity and teamwork in the children. We saw how they overcame the challenges in their way and achieved their goals together,\u201d vice principal Ms Janice Bay said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cMost importantly, we saw how they were grateful and appreciative of the world we live in through their little actions as they learnt to do their part to be good stewards of the world that God has made.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Start an edible garden project<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Another simple way to encourage care and responsibility to the planet is to start an edible garden project at school or at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Visitors and residents in Bukit Batok who walk past Little Seeds Preschool (Sonshine) <\/a>may have noticed different types of fruits and vegetables such as kang kong<\/em>, pandan and ginger leaves growing in our lush garden. This is the result of a project that has blossomed in the last 6 months, our Edible Garden<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Several curious uncles and aunties have even stopped to admire the garden as they go about their morning walks, and even gave us a piece of advice or two on how to make the vegetables grow! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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