Our Connection to Our World
Children have an inherent curiosity about the world in which they live. As educators, we recognise this quality and draw upon it for our exploration and inquiry. Through engaging with the big ideas of identity, interdependence and sustainability, children have been looking at the natural and built environment to develop a greater awareness of and appreciation for the world around them.
In order for the children to develop their understanding of these concepts we encourage them to analyse their personal connections to their spaces and engage in authentic experiences. We listen to and take the ideas and wonderings of the children and use these to shape our learning.
We assist the children in taking their everyday knowledge of these areas to deepen their understanding of the scientific concepts associated with it.
Before we began remote leaning, we asked the children to reflect on what it meant to connect with the world around them.
We connect with nature by respecting animals and habitats and planting more plants ~ Mia
When we cut down a tree, we plant a seed. This is called a sustainable forest ~ Ada
We can connect with the world by not polluting it ~ Flynn
We can protect and connect with nature ~ Hattie
People connect with nature because if they did not they would not have any food or water ~ Owen
People connect with nature by recycling ~ Mia
We are nature ~ Oliva and Frances
We asked the children to share their connections to their local neighbourhood.
I love my neighbourhood because there’s a park at the end of my street and I can go there sometimes and have a run around. I like to exercise. Huon
I like my neighbourhood because the person next door always gives me strawberries from his garden. Elliot
I love to rollerblade around my neighbourhood because there’s an apartment building with an area you can skate around in. There’s not many places where I can learn to turn with roller-bladses but I can here. Eevee
In my neighbourhood there’s a donut shop close to my house and I go there often with my dad and mum and my little sister. Hatty
Remote learning provided us with a perfect opportunity for children to stop and reflect on the part they play in our world. We engaged the children in a variety of provocations and experiences that encouraged them to observe and reflect on places and spaces that they have a personal connection to. Remote learning has allowed the children the time and space to analyse their own experiences with the world and has encouraged them to identify what is important to them and why.
“To connect with other people in our neighbourhood we’re painting rocks to leave at the park for other children to find.” Olive
The children’s responses revealed their close connection to the natural and the built environment. We show our connection to the world in a variety of ways with an emphasis on the human factor – how we identify ourselves with our surroundings. We realise how much we depend on each other to connect, protect and communicate ways we can share our knowledge and experiences with each other.
Our next step will be for the children to share their experiences, connections and ideas with the community to show their understanding of how each of us can make a difference in everyone’s lives.