Playing Our Part in Protecting the Planet Education News from Alleyn's | www.alleyns.org.uk Ann-Katrin Bott, MFL Teacher and Eco Coordinator at Alleyn’s School, tells us how we can encourage our children to observe and protect the environment.
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o you remember the first time your child found an insect in the garden or sank their feet into the sand on the beach? We sometimes forget that looking at the world through our children’s eyes can be fascinating and exciting, so when it comes to talking to them about the environment, if we are mindful of their perspective, it is easy to engage and help them understand how and why we should look after it. Care for our children extends to care for the environment they inhabit. Nurturing this connection early and helping children develop a consciousness about nature and the preciousness of the planet will translate into long-term commitment. We can foster these values in an age-appropriate way and help our children carry them forward. Here are some ideas to share:
Food & Recycling At the supermarket, you could talk about plastic bags and why it might be better to take a reusable bag with you. What does single-use plastic mean? You could trace the journey of plastic packaging you see from the shelf to landfill or ocean and how that affects ecology. This will help them understand the importance of recycling. Discuss other ways we can reduce plastic for example by choosing more sustainable packaging. Could we reduce food waste by making sure we eat what we have instead of buying more? Be creative and think of new recipes to try from what’s left in the fridge or cupboard.
Different Ways Of Travelling You can explore different modes of travel and the benefits of each. How does a car impact the environment, the air and the traffic on the road? Would it be better to walk, cycle or scoot shorter journeys instead? How can we help reduce pollution and help us feel fitter too? Encourage your child to think about these questions and offer a solution.
Watching & Reading 20 | SE21 - November 2021
There are some great series to engage your child with global issues. BBC’s Planet Earth has incredible images and scenery and will help your child look at the planet with wonder and a sense of responsibility. There are also plenty of books such as The Watcher by Jeanette Winter about Jane Goodall’s life and The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry about the Amazon rainforest. All this will help your child gain an awareness of the ecological and environmental diversity.
Get Involved & Help Your Local Community Bring environmental issues into focus by researching and getting involved in local initiatives such as plastic-free or conservation groups. Schoolage children can also be encouraged to join clubs and Eco committees at their school, or they could start one!
Useful Resources 1) Planet Earth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mywy 2) National Geographic Kids www.natgeokids.co.uk 3) Dulwich Society, Garden and Conservation Opportunities https://www.dulwichsociety.com/garden-group 4) The Extraordinary Life of Greta Thunberg by Devika Jina (Author), Petra Braun (Illustrator)
