Tag: Rotation

Transportation

  • Key idea: There are different forms of transportation – e.g. Producing a tally of the forms of transport used by children and staff, identifying more sustainable alternatives (UC6.5)

Title:  Miss Leoparda
Author: Natalia Shaloshvili
Translator: Lena Traer
Publisher:  ‎Enchanted Lion Books
Publication Date:  2024
ISBN:‎ 978-1592704125

“An ecologically minded book about a bus-loving, tree-loving, leopard”.

Emergent learning:

It might be assumed that sustainable transportation is too difficult a concept for young children to understand. But they can learn about different forms of transportation, and they can learn about sharing, and about waste, so from an emergent curriculum perspective, we provide children with the knowledge and experiences that they will be able to pull together later in their minds, to make the concept meaningful.

We can observe the progression young children make in their learning and development when we look at the increasingly sophisticated activities that they engage in during their free play.  Piaget called these activities ‘sensory motor schemes’, and there have been many books written about how adults can encourage and develop them further.  

Transportation has been identified as a particularly common scheme that children discover and find fascinating in their play. We provide more explore the idea of schemes further on our online page.

Activity recommendation:

One of the earliest Schemes that you will see children aged 2 to 4 spontaneously playing is “Containing” they often spend extended periods of time putting things into containers and then taking (dropping or pouring) them out again. If you give them the opportunity they will put themselves into containers too.  It’s a fascinating new accomplishment for them.  Another very early scheme involves following ‘Trajectories’ – This may involve throwing or dropping things, rolling things along the floor or drawing/painting lines.  When these two schemes come together in a child’s pre-verbal conception of ‘Transporting’, it involves them putting things into a container and transporting it across a trajectory.  They may be using a shopping bag, a baby stroller, a wheelbarrow or a toy truck, but once discovered, they find this combined scheme fascinating, and educators who observe the scheme can support the learning by giving them ever more varied resources to transport and to transport things in.  Most young children can be observed taking this strong interest in transporting at some point in their free play between the ages of three and five, and this provides us with an especially rich opportunity to talk about sustainable and efficient transport alternatives and about sharing public transport.

A child’s ‘Rotation’ scheme, often evident in their fascination with wheels provides another  way into the transportation topic.

Other book recommendations:

Energy Consumption and Reduction

  • Key idea: Energy is required in everyday life – e.g. Learning about energy sources and the importance of reducing electricity consumption (UC5.4).

Title:  How Does My Home Work
Author: Chris Butterworth
Illustrator: Lucia Gaggiotti
Publisher:  ‎ Candlewick
Publication Date:  2020
ISBN:‎ 978-1536215946

“Travel beyond the walls and under the floors of a house to find out more about the electricity, water, and natural gas that make your home work”.

Emergent learning:

Energy consumption and reduction is an important educational topic in the early years for both safety and for sustainability reasons.  In the period of a single lifetime, around the world, the use of electricity and electronics has grown from a marginal interest to completely dominate many of our everyday lives.   Yet it is sobering to recognize that about 8% (one in twelve or thirteen) of the worlds population still have no electricity at all in their homes.   Electricity has traditionally been produced from fossil fuels like coal and oil, and it is only recently that we have started to  invest in renewable alternatives.  Electrical energy remains a finite resource, and in the interest of sustainability we mustn’t take it for granted.   It really is shocking that so little attention is still paid to this subject in early childhood and primary education.

The most practical things we should encourage children to be aware of are the dangers: We can tell them that, just like water, electricity isn’t usually dangerous in small quantities. We don’t have to worry about a cup full of water, but we could drown in a bath, swimming pool, the sea or a lake. Electricity is similar, small batteries are usually safe but the electricity supplied by the cables in our household sockets can sometimes kill people.  Rechargeable batteries can start fires and button batteries can be lethal if swallowed.

Burning Coal, Oil and Gas to create Electricity creates pollution, and global warming so it is important to switch lamps and devises off when they are not being used, to remember to close the refrigerator door, wear clothes more than once, and value alternative means of entertainment.  We can also celebrate and encourage the introduction of alternative solar, wind and hydro electric sources with our children.

Activity recommendation:

Many suppliers provide Electrical Usage Monitors (there are large screen versions) and/or you can create a white board or paper chart showing your overall consumption – and you can set targets to reduce it. Always switch things off when they are not in use. Introduce a box of small battery’s in holders with the wires, lamps, buzzers, motors, wheels, and propellers for children to freely play with. The most practical and important thing that we should support children’s awareness of is the dangers of electricity – but just like water, electricity isn’t usually dangerous in small quantities. We don’t have to worry about a cup full of water, but we could drown in a bath, swimming pool, the sea or a lake. Electricity is similar, small batteries are usually safe but the electricity supplied by the cables in our household sockets sometimes kill people.  The exceptions to this may be rechargeable battery’s that can start fires, and button batteries that can be lethal if swallowed.

Electrical safety advice for children:
https://electriciancourses4u.co.uk/useful-resources/childrens-electrical-safety/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-posters-promoting-button-battery-safety

Electronic technology is ubiquitous and even the youngest children can begin learning about electricity:
https://www.ase.org.uk/system/files/Yewman.pdf

Other Book recommendations:

Recommendation reason:

Reducing Waste through Giving and Sharing

Title: The Doorbell Rang
Author: Pat Hutchins
Illustrator:
Publisher:  Greenwillow
Publication Date:  2086
ISBN:  ‎ ‎ 978-0688052522

A fun book about sharing and friendship that also supports emergent numeracy.

Emergent learning:

The economic benefits of sharing are obvious, and if we are no longer using something it costs us nothing to give it to someone who will use it.  There are also many social and emotional learning benefits that can be gained through children sharing, they learn to build and maintain friendships, they develop patience and empathy, how to cooperate, and how to manage their emotions. 

Preschools often organise toy and book sharing libraries and the best of these projects involve the children at every stage of their planning and execution.  Extensions of this involve the sharing of outgrown school uniforms, children’s clothing, and car sharing in the transportation to and from the preschool.  All of these things can operate at any level, between individual families or whole communities.

Activity recommendation:

When we are working with children in fund raising for good causes, as adults it is important for us to recognize that there can sometimes be a downside to giving simple charity: At its worse it can encourage false notions of superiority in the donors, and of dependence for recipients.  One of the best ways to avoid that is to encourage exchange, to provide practical rather than financial support, or to provide groups or individuals with reduced interest or interest free loans that support their own efforts. This way we can empower individuals and groups to become more self reliant and sustainable. Examples include the development of mutual aid projects, community gardens, and micro-finance initiatives.
The OMEP-UK Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Citizenship Award: A Call for Partnerships – John Siraj-Blatchford – OMEP
Global Partnership Strategy for early c…od, 2021-2030 – UNESCO Digital Library

Other Book Recommendations: 

Recommendation reason:

Reducing Waste through Repairing

Title: The House Full of Stuff
Author: Emily Rand
Illustrator: Emily Rand
Publisher:  Tate Publishing
Publication Date:  2019
ISBN:  ‎ 978-1849766623

A boy befriends a neighbour who loves collecting useful junk that he uses to fix and mend things with.

Emergent learning:

Sustainable consumption requires the use and purchase of products and services that minimise the impact on the environment.  As we make these decisions as adults we can share our successes and frustrations with our children so that they become critical sustainable consumers themselves in the future. To do this we need to share and review product information.

One of the things we are up against is ‘planned obsolescence’.  As informed consumers we can exert our purchase power to discourage manufacturers  building in  early obsolescence,  and we can campaign for more sustainable alternatives.  Products are sometimes deliberately designed to have a limited lifespan to encourage us to make repeat purchases, but this can only increase a producers profits if we continue to buy the products.   Examples include the design of products that make repairs difficult or impossible,  the release of software updates that reduce the speed or functionality of older devices, and the ‘smart chips’ introduced into ink cartridges to prevent their use after a certain period or page count.

Activity recommendation:

In our preschools and at home we can share the task of making repairs – to our story books , toys and resources with the children, and we can draw their attention to the work of caretakers and other maintenance staff who care for our shared buildings, furnishings and fittings.

Popular TV series such as The Repair Shop have encouraged the development of a wide range of community repair ‘cafes’ networks and services where volunteers take pride in bringing things back to life.  Community repair projects are increasingly creating welcoming spaces to bring people together, share skills and do something positive and practical together that feels really worthwhile and good!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08l581p

Other Book Recommendations: 

Recommendation reason:

Reducing Waste through Reusing

  • Key idea: There are better ways to deal with things that you no longer need – e.g. Involve the children in Recycling, Upcycling, Reuse, Repair, Giving and Sharing activities.
  • Key idea: Sustainable waste practices aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible – e.g. Teach children to reuse things instead of always trying to buy new items.  Second-hand swop shops for books, coats, boots, toys.  Donating outgrown clothes to others or to charities. (UC6.7)

Title: The Tale of a Toothbrush: A Story of Plastic in our Oceans
Author: M. Leonard
Illustrator: Daniel Rieley
Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: 2020
ISBN:  978-1406391817

What happens to all our toothbrushes when they’re no longer needed? What can we do about it? What happens to other forms of Plastic Pollution?

Emergent learning:

When an item is ‘Reused’ it often doesn’t change its original form or use – as is the case of items that are upcycled or recycled.  Reuse aims to extend an unwanted products life. Often this entails finding an alternative user for items such as scrap paper, packaging, furniture or clothing. 

Disposal is the opposite of reuse, and children can learn to recognise, and even campaign against the use of disposable products such as gift wrappings, plastic cups and cutlery, paper towels and dishcloths. Many of the alternatives such as Furoshiki Wrapping Cloths, the use of your own chop sticks or multi-use drink containers are recognised as increasingly fashionable, and they make a personal statement of good taste and values.

Activity recommendation:

Children can be involved in reusing kitchen cans and jars for storage, cutting up old fabrics for cleaning, or using coffee grounds as fertilizer. Another valuable activity is to involve them in surveying your waste. Randomly emptying and sorting out the contents of your waste bin to see what might be reduced, reused, and recycled.   An old toothbrush might, in the process, find a new life as a dolls hairbrush, for shoe cleaning or even as a paint brush.

Other Book recommendations: 

Recommendation reason:

Where our food comes from

  • Key idea: The food we eat comes from plants and animals. – e.g. Identifying different sources and production methods of food (UC2.4). 
  • Key idea: Different weather conditions can affect people’s daily lives – e.g. identifying the effects of extreme weather on the availability of food items (UC5.3).

Title:  Where Does My Food Come From?
Author: Annabel Karmel
Illustrator: Alex Willmore
Publisher:  ‎ Welbeck Children’s Books
Publication Date: 2022
ISBN: 978-1783128594

This is a fully illustrated non-fiction picture book that shows young children how their favourite foods are grown and made and provides child-friendly recipes for each food.

Emergent learning:

There are two key ideas here: Firstly, the food we eat comes from plants and animals. Second, different weather conditions affect people’s daily lives through the food that we eat. It is important that we involve children in the preparation of food, and that we talk with them about the choices that we make, and about the economic and health reasons for these choices. WE can also talk about where ingredients come from and about transportation costs.  Our recommended story book this week includes child-friendly recipe ideas for different foods and we can encourage the children to prepare some simple dishes on their own which will also support them in learning more about the ingredients and where they come from.

Activity recommendation:

Much can be done on this theme on visits to a supermarket or grocers and taking photos and note of what is displayed at different times of the year.  Large global wall or floor maps can be used to sort picture cards of foods (cut with the children from magazines or advertisements).   In most cultures around the world there are harvest celebrations at different times of the year and local and World news report regularly on thew quality of harvests. If our children are to grow up to value nature, then it is important that we should take advantage of these opportunities to talk to them about the importance and our dependency upon harvests from an early age.

We have also found that food production and cookery activities often offer particular appeal to children who are demonstrating an interest in ‘Rotations’ in their play – they love to stir…

Other Book recommendations:

We all depend on Nature

  • Key idea: We need nature – e.g. learning how the natural environment provides resources for food, clothes, houses, etc. (UC2.3)

Title:  Pelle’s New Suit
Author: Elsa Beskow
Illustrator: Elsa Beskow
Publisher:  ‎ Floris Books
Publication Date: 2021
ISBN: 978-1782507659

Pelle shears his lamb and learns about bartering, traditional wool crafts, and how woolen clothes are made in the process of gaining a new suit.

Emergent learning:

Emergent learning involves the children learning through ‘doing’, so here we can involve them in using natural ingredients to make food and natural materials to make items of clothing and model buildings.   The topic provides a good excuse to tell (or have the children tell you) the popular story of the ‘Three Little Piggies’, but then to draw upon their own collections of stones, sticks and straw, stacking them up (as model houses) to test them for strength and stability.  We can make the connections with clothing and natural materials  through simple weaving and threading activities, and we can make natural dye’s with them.  Our next recommended story book includes child-friendly recipe ideas for different foods.

Activity recommendation:

We can also create thread with the children, a little raw fleece can be collected from a fence or hedgerow on a country walk (or purchased). We can show them how a drop spindle works, and how traditional spinning wheels did the job better.

See also: https://www.instructables.com/spinning-yarn/
https://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-make-a-drop-spindle/
https://youtu.be/3h3DePzT1Bo?si=ckdqX5i1SdJilGWL

Book recommendation:

Recommendation reason:

Ecological Interdependence

  • Key idea: Ecosystems are animals and plants in interaction with each other. –  e.g. identifying animals that eat other animals, and some that eat plants.

Title: Yum Yum: A book about food chains
Author: Mick Manning
Illustrator: Brita Grantrom
Publisher:  Franklin Watts Ltd
Publication Date: 2014
ISBN: 978-1445128986

This is a book about eating. It’s also about being part of a chain – the food chain in which every living thing plays a part.

Emergent learning:

Food webs, and the water and carbon cycles are of critical importance to ecology and environmental sustainability.  Following our ‘emergent’ learning perspective, here again, our aim will not be to teach young children these cyclical theoretical models, but to give them the knowledge and experiences that will make them meaningful to them when they are introduced to the topics in school.  They can observe and learn about what different animals eat and most especially they can be directly involved in composting, and our adult support of a balanced and ecologically thriving soils.

‘Interdependence’ is one of most important ideas in sustainability education and we can support children’s understanding of this through continually stressing the enormous contribution that species that might otherwise considered quite humble, like the fabulous Earthworm, makes every day to the sustainability of our natural world. 

Activity recommendation:

‘Rotation’ is a cognitive scheme, and theme that is often observed to be a strong feature and of particular interest to young children in their free play.  Children’s attention is therefore easily drawn to the fascinating wheels and circles that abound in the natural and built world. 

Parachute play provides a fun opportunity to support collaboration and co-operation. The children need work together, they need to spread out around the chute and all participate for it to work. Parachutes suitable for use with babies and older preschoolers are available from most educational suppliers, and there are lots of ideas for developing the play online.
TES Free printable booklet

Other Book recommendations:

Solar, Wind and Water Energy

  • Key idea: Fossil fuels and renewable energy – e.g. identifying fossil fuels and alternative renewable energy supplies from wind and water (UC1.6)
  • Key idea: There are different sources of renewable energy existing naturally (such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, marine and bio-energy) as an effective alternative to fossil fuels – e.g. Identifying, painting, drawing and modelling renewable energy technologies (UC6.2).

Title: Let’s Change the World: Clean Energy
Author: Megan Anderson
Illustrator: Genna Campton
Publisher: Bright Light Books
Publication Date: 2022
ISBN: 978-1760509484

Clean Energy explores the ways in which we use energy, and invites readers to think about alternative energy sources that don’t pollute our planet.

Emergent learning:

Renewable energy supplies may be observed AND CELEBRATED in the local environment and there are many opportunities for children to gain familiarity with them through their play.  What is important here is to be celebrating the wonderful alternatives that have been discovered that are clean, and will never run out.  The polluting nature of vehicle exhaust and chimneys are self evident and an appropriate focus for attention in the early years.  There is less need for us at this stage to dwell on the diminishing supplies of more traditional ‘fossil’ fuels, or of their specific contribution to ‘carbon emissions’.

Activity recommendation:

Paper Windmills held by a wire and bead at the end of a sticks are often supplied as seaside toys, and their construction from pre-cut/prepared materials provides an engaging craft activity.  Toy water Turbines are also available from educational toy suppliers or they can be improvised for use in water play by fixing recycled bottle tops around a wheel.  Solar powered small battery chargers are now fairly inexpensive and useful illustrations of the bigger panels that may be observed on buildings or energy sites.  Educational suppliers also provide model wind/water turbines that light up small LED lamps when they spin.

Other Book Recommendations: 

The Importance of Clean Air

  • Key idea: The plants and animal life need clean air to help them grow – e.g. Observing reduced variety and damage to leaves in different locations (UC1.3).

Title: Every Breath We Take
Author: Maya Ajmera
Illustrator: Dominique Browning
Publisher: Harlesbridge Pubs
Publication Date: 2016
ISBN: 978-1580896160

This book underscores the importance of clean air to all life on earth. It also reminds us that sometimes the air can be dirty, and it can be cleaned up.

Emergent learning:

There are two key ideas for us here: First, all the plants and animals of the world need clean air to help them grow. Second, human activity affects air quality.

Children learn about their natural environment, and they learn about the properties of various materials through their freedom to play, and this is why most preschools provide a sand pit, soil for planting, and natural materials and collections of blocks, beads and fabrics. Preschools also often have a water play area so that children begin to learn about the behaviour of fluids, about capacity and volume.

We can also encourage “Air Play”: Children probably wouldn’t learn very much about air at all, if we didn’t draw their attention to it. It’s invisible. But it’s the stuff inside bubbles, and it can hold a kite in the air – and if we go for a run holding an umbrella or a cardboard ‘sail’ in front of us, we can feel how it holds us back and begin to appreciate the streamlined shapes of cars, and boats and ‘airplanes’.

Activity recommendation:

Young children can also learn to be concerned about air pollution when we draw their attention to chimneys, and if we take them out wiping soot off roadside street signs, the source can usually be observed quite clearly in vehicle exhausts. A survey of nearby streets simply involved using standard ‘wipes’ and a display of findings.

https://www.facebook.com/CatskillMountainkeeper/videos/story-time-every-breath-we-take/559468208300466

Other Book recommendations: