What is environmental education in kindergarten?

Kamukoti is a cozy and high-quality daycare which offers strong pedagogy and incorporates the English language. Since 2021 we have been focusing especially on children’s environmental education. Let’s see what that means for us at Kamukoti.

Let’s start from the background: at the national level, children’s environmental education has emerged in recent years. The National Core Curriculum For Early Childhood Education And Care published by the National Board of Education in 2018 specifically emphasizes the environmental education as one of the most important parts (along with the technology education for example). The principles of the early childhood education plan guides the operation of early childhood education throughout Finland. Each kindergarten’s own early childhood education plan is based on the principles of the national early childhood education plan.

In the national core curriculum there has been stated such as:

“The goal of environmental education is to strengthen children’s relationships with nature and responsible action in the environment, as well as to guide them towards a sustainable lifestyle. Environmental education has three dimensions: learning in the environment, learning about the environment and learning for the environment.”

BUT WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN DAYCARE AT AN EVERYDAY LEVEL?

Environmental education is a broad concept that includes the variety of learning and the strengthening of children’s relationship with nature. Children are, of course, at the center of early childhood education, e.g., in the daily life of the daycare. We are not only talking to them about environmental education, but also living a common, nice and fun daily life from the children’s perspective at daycare. Because of our nature orientation, our everyday life includes many fun trips, wondering together about nature and various inspiring things to do on nature topics.

The inspiring things to do includes, for example, practicing our own urban gardening. At Kamu, we have set up our own garden and take care of it according to the annual cycle. Furthermore, we carry out many small studies on plants and their growth.

WONDERING, EXPERIENCING, LEARNING – IT IS CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN DAYCARE

Animals, plants, and weather phenomena interest all children. Children don’t need to go to a big forest to experience nature, because even a ladybug or a boulder will inspire them to wonder.

At Kamu, we actively explore the surrounding nature and learn together to identify different animals and plant species.

Finland’s wonderful seasons bring their own nuances to following the nature: Following up the signs of spring is always exciting and joyful in daycare, as well as getting enthusiastic about the colorful autumn leaves, the spring flowers and the snowy forest.

***What is hiding over there?***

We have obtained the permission to tidy up and fence the small forest nearby Kamukoti, so that it can be used safely as a playground especially for the older children in the dayacre. Natural materials such as stumps, tree trunks, leaf piles, and rocks create perfect conditions for playing. Children receive both healthy contact with nature and versatile motor skills.
*Maybe a little animal is hiding there!*

CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ALSO EMPHASIZES A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

Besides nature experiences, learning and a good relationship with nature, the purpose of environmental education is also to promote the forming of a sustainable lifestyle and to practice the needed skills.

In the principles of the early childhood education plan the following is listed as the practical skills:

litter-free camping
learning reasonableness and frugality
eating responsibility
energy saving
waste reduction through, for example, recycling, repairing and re-use of goods.

At Kamu, we make recycling issues visible to children and learn about recycling together in practice. For example, children are involved in sorting out waste and collecting rubbish from nature.

COMING SOON: THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

In the autumn of 2022, we will start working on our own sustainable development program for the daycare. One root theme will be chosen for each year, around which different activities are conducted - together with children, of course.

For example, for one year we can focus on energy and its conservation, water, recycling or even nearby nature. As children learn from an early age to influence and plan according to their age level, they will grow to believe and trust in their own opportunities for influence. One of the key themes in environmental education is identifying one’s own opportunities for influence and learning the action tools.

We will tell you more about the sustainable development program in the autumn!

PS. You can find a lot of information about our nature chores from Kamu’s Facebook page.