Sustainability Education Lessons
Sustainability Education Lessons
A website hosting 3 outdoor sustainability lessons for kindergarten science classrooms.
A website hosting 3 outdoor sustainability lessons for kindergarten science classrooms.
Duration: August 2024 - May 2025
Duration: August 2024 - May 2025
Role: Solo Designer (Capstone Thesis)
Role: Solo Designer (Capstone Thesis)
Key Skills: Instructional Design, UI Design, InDesign
Key Skills: Instructional Design, UI Design, InDesign
Context
There is a lack of sustainability education in early childhood education.
There is a lack of sustainability education in early childhood education.
Without early sustainability education, children may not understand their role in environmental issues, leading to a lasting knowledge gap.
Without early sustainability education, children may not understand their role in environmental issues, leading to a lasting knowledge gap.
Design Goals
01)
01)
Foster curiosity and biophilia.
Foster curiosity and biophilia.
02)
02)
Make learning engaging and age-appropriate.
Make learning engaging and age-appropriate.
03)
03)
Keep activities simple and familiar for teachers.
Keep activities simple and familiar for teachers.
Current Problem Gaps
Lack of adequate environmental sustainability education for young children.
Lack of adequate environmental sustainability education for young children.
Lack of adequate environmental sustainability education for young children.
Limited time, materials, and support for teachers.
Limited time, materials, and support for teachers.
Limited time, materials, and support for teachers.
Minimal hands-on or outdoor learning in many classrooms.
Minimal hands-on or outdoor learning in many classrooms.
Minimal hands-on or outdoor learning in many classrooms.
Research
What gaps exist in current early childhood education around sustainability?
What gaps exist in current early childhood education around sustainability?
Lack of teacher training and resources.
Lack of teacher training and resources.
Sustainability is not framed as core learning.
Sustainability is not framed as core learning.
What are kindergarteners developmentally capable of understanding?
What are kindergarteners developmentally capable of understanding?
Simple cause-and-effect relationships.
Simple cause-and-effect relationships.
They are capable of forming early habits around caring for nature and reducing waste.
They are capable of forming early habits around caring for nature and reducing waste.
How do young children best engage with and retain environmental concepts?
How do young children best engage with and retain environmental concepts?
Young learners retain concepts more deeply when they can see, touch, smell, and physically interact with learning materials.
Young learners retain concepts more deeply when they can see, touch, smell, and physically interact with learning materials.
The Design
I designed a lesson packet and a website hosting a collection of 3 outdoor lessons for kindergarten science classrooms, focusing on biodiversity, horticulture, and stewardship.
I designed a lesson packet and a website hosting a collection of 3 outdoor lessons for kindergarten science classrooms, focusing on biodiversity, horticulture, and stewardship.
Lesson 1
Building the Plant World - Biodiversity
Building the Plant World - Biodiversity
Students will explore the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems by building mini terrariums with outdoor materials, gaining hands-on experience in how plants create self-sustaining environments.
Students will explore the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems by building mini terrariums with outdoor materials, gaining hands-on experience in how plants create self-sustaining environments.
Lesson 2
Food on the Move - Horticulture
Food on the Move - Horticulture
Students will learn about horticulture and where their food comes from through a role-playing activity where they move through the steps produce goes through from the farm to their plates.
Students will learn about horticulture and where their food comes from through a role-playing activity where they move through the steps produce goes through from the farm to their plates.
Lesson 3
Caring Starts with Noticing - Stewardship
Caring Starts with Noticing - Stewardship
Students will explore their surroundings through a nature bingo game to learn about environmental stewardship and how their actions can help or harm the natural world.
Students will explore their surroundings through a nature bingo game to learn about environmental stewardship and how their actions can help or harm the natural world.
Takeaways
This project strengthened my ability to lead end-to-end design work and taught me how to develop lessons that meet the needs of teachers and young students.
This project strengthened my ability to lead end-to-end design work and taught me how to develop lessons that meet the needs of teachers and young students.
At a time where education and reform is more important than ever, we must focus on empowering future generations with the knowledge and mindsets to create positive change.
At a time where education and reform is more important than ever, we must focus on empowering future generations with the knowledge and mindsets to create positive change.
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch