Environmental and Sustainability Education in Early Childhood - Creating a Community of Learners

With the recent world wide emphasis on living sustainably, a need to instil these values in young children has become more urgent. This can occur through environmental and sustainability education within the early childhood curriculum. Teachers can nurture children s interest in the natural world by role modelling care and respect for the natural environment. This book explains how teachers at a childcare and a kindergarten implemented environmental and sustainability education as an integral part of the curriculum. The journey began with a two week environmental programme and progressed into a curriculum based on children s environmental interests supported by the project approach. A community of learners comprising teachers, children and parents was formed, resulting in environmental knowledge creation. A step by step approach with practical ideas for early childhood teachers wanting to implement environmental and sustainability education into their own centre curriculum is offered.