EARTH DAY EVENTS: SUSTAINABILITY IDEAS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Abstract

As environmental issues become more relevant, more attention is paid to sustainability. Sweden's long-term experience shows that including sustainability topics in preschool education programs allows children to feel like they are masters of their planet, responsible for its future. The article shares the experience of how environmental issues were discussed in a group of four-year-old children during the month-long educational activities dedicated to Earth Day. With the help of the teacher, the children explained which human activities in nature are appropriate and which are not. They looked for evidence of such activities in the environment and shared their experiences. In Lithuanian, the spring months are named after birds. Children got to know rook, dove and cuckoo. They looked for signs of spring in the school yard. While performing a creative task, children shared their thoughts on how they can contribute to protecting the nature of the planet. In other activities, children learned about our planet, its continents and oceans. After planting vegetable and flower seeds, they watched how the plants grew and developed. The peppered "continents" allowed the children to imagine that our planet is green and beautiful when many animals breed on it. So we have to preserve it as green and we are all responsible for its future. By researching and performing practical activities, children improved initiative and perseverance, knowledge of the environment, research, and problem solving skills. Keywords: educational activities, problem solving skills, preschool education, education for sustainability