Observing Environment Day with a difference in Pre- primary

Environment Day is celebrated across the world to give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable development. By promoting a day dedicated to the environment we attempt to introspect for a better understanding within the community towards this vital worry. Today, young individuals and our students are agents of change and have the ability to change mindsets and traditions. Therefore as teachers, we believe it is imperative that we instil a responsibility amongst our little minds.

At the kindergarten level we used the occasion to involve the children in varied activities like baking coolies and introducing them to the different kinds of spices that add flavour to our food. We were attempting to take small steps to introduce the children to the varied bounties of resources that our environment provides us with. Thereby also the thought that these must he preserved.

The children were introduced to the Spice- producing state on the western coast, Kerala. A variety of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, red chilies, nutmeg, bay leaves and turmeric, in both whole and powder form were shown to them for texture, colour, etc. The taste of some were savoured in the cookies baked!

There was much excitement during the baking activity and each of the children was ready to lend a hand! They dug the dough, rolled out the rounds and even cut the shapes of preference. They watched in glee as their teachers turned the dough into crunchy cookies in the mobile oven.

The children were curious about the ingredients and their origins. They also learnt to measure them so that the right balance was achieved. The teachers took the opportunity to reinforce the components of nutrients and to which nutrient family each ingredient belongs.

The Pre-School teachers also enacted a small skit on the importance of using cloth/paper bags. The skit was called Say No to Plastic Bags and was performed by Pooja, Bharti, Deepti and Bhawna. A dustbin demonstration displayed the need to dispose waste smartly.

As teachers we believe it is important to educate children about the perils of plastic bags, as, spontaneously, they in turn will take the message home and to their neighbourhoods to help educate the community on the concern.