Human Impact and Role

• Key idea: The impact of humans on biodiversity –  .g. Comparing the wild life populations of cities, rural and wilderness areas (UC2.5).
• Key idea: Human protection of nature is essential – e.g. Stewardship activities in support of local wildlife, providing bird tables, bat and bird boxes, bug hotels etc. (UC2.6)

Emergent learning:

Where wild flowers, hedgerow and trees are lost due to building and industrialisation we can involve the children in planting and growing and restoration projects. The children can also contribute to local food production through pre-school gardens and community allotments. In terms of animal wildlife, in England we often see Bluetits, and we have recommended the above book for parents and educators in Taiwan as well. But Bluetit’s don’t fly to Taiwan, although they do have Blue Magpie’s there, which in England we don’t, and in Taiwan they have Wren’s, Robin’s and Starlings, and many more birds that children can learn the names of such as Barbet’s and Bulbuls, Sparrows and Pigeons – and the children can put out their own seeds and water to support them.  In fact there are many activities that children can engage in to support the local wildlife, in addition to providing bird tables, they may make and/or install bat and bird boxes, and bug hotels.  In the process they will begin to learn about, and learn to care about, animal feeding habits, habitats, and migration patterns. If we encourage international preschool partnership projects the children can also learn from each other, and learn that all around the world people car and are working towards a more sustainable future. One example for Kenya.

Activity recommendation:

The impact of human settlement on the natural world is obvious as soon as we begin to compare the wildlife to be seen in the countryside to that in the inner cities. There is a wonderful free Smartphone App that has brought a great deal of joy to many families – it recognises bird songs, giving you the name of the bird, and further information that you can share with your children. It is called the Merlin Bird ID, produced by Cornell Labs – download it online, from Apple Store or Google Play.

Reference: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Other Book Recommendations: