November 2009 Vol. 1, Issue 10 (PDF - 16.2Mb) - Department of ...

66 Nov 09
Early Childhood
Environmental education
in early childhood
There
Environmental Education in Early Childhood
Victoria (EEECV) helps early childhood
professionals incorporate sustainable education
principles into their daily program. EEEC is
a not-for-profit organisation that promotes a
holistic approach to environmental education
and sustainable practices in early childhood
and the early years of primary school. Its
approach involves policy development,
housekeeping practices, play and learning
experiences, and strategies for working with
children, staff and parents.
EEEC provides a range of services including
professional development, access to the
latest in sustainable research, and advice on
implementing sustainable practices within
a workplace. Its resource centre in Preston
also sells play materials, children’s books and
professional sustainability texts and electronic
training resources.
Stephanie Ralton from EEEC has also been
working with the Centre for Education
and Research in Environmental Strategies
(CERES) to develop and facilitate early
childhood incursion programs on waste,
recycling, worms, compost, gardening, energy,
minibeasts and water.
She says the incursions provide a great
opportunity to talk to young children in
fun and interactive way that helps them
better understand their impact on the
environment.“We use lots of using props
and songs, and the children really enjoy it,”
she says. “For example, when we talk about
the water cycle we use a big tub of water to
simulate a dam and we talk about how the
water gets to the city, and we hook up a pipe.
“Then, we talk to the kids about what they
use water for and one at a time they come up
and use a prop, such as a cup or a showerhead,
and they watch as the water level drops until
eventually by the time the last child has a turn,
there is no water left. It is a hands-on way
for them to see how they can impact on the
environment, and it opens up discussion about
ways we can save water,” she says.
are two remaining EEEC sessions
for 2009:
Child-safe and Sustainable Cleaning in Children’s
Services, with Bridget Gardner, on Wednesday
4 November 1.30pm–4.00pm; and
Beyond the Water Tank: Taking sustainable
education to the next level, with Tracy Young,
on Friday 13 November 1.30pm–4.00pm.
Professional development opportunities
for 2010 include:
Forest Schools – Australian Perspective:
a visit to St Leonard’s Early Learning Centre
(Bangholme campus) to see the program in
action and discover how the forest schools
of Scotland and Denmark have influenced
their practice.
Linking the Early Years Learning Framework
and Education for Sustainability: What is
sustainability and education for sustainability,
why is it important in the early years, and
how can it be linked to the Framework and
incorporated into daily practice?
Early Years Science: Brush up on sustainabilitylinked
science concepts that are appropriate for
the early years and discover practical ways to
incorporate elements in the program through
hands-on investigation.
Wire and Recycled Materials: Explore creative
ways to use wire and recycled materials while
reflecting on the 4Rs – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle.
Gardening with Children: Investigate the
advantages of gardening for children, discover
where to start, what to do and how it can be
linked with the early years program.
For more information, visit www.eeec.org.au
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