Interconnection and Earth Day
Apr 01, 2023
This April, our Preschool Curriculum begins to ponder the question, “How are we connected?”
As Earth Day approaches, choose activities that focus on interconnection. After all, Earth Day is a global celebration of our communal responsibility to care for our planet. Here are some ways to recognize Earth Day according to customs around the world and questions to bring interconnection into focus.
Australia
Accompany a nature walk with storytelling. Ask, “What parts of our bodies connect to the Earth? How? Why do we tell stories? How do stories bring people together?”
Denmark
Set up drums to face the four corners of the world and play them. Ask, “What do you think of when you hear drums? Do drum beats remind you of anything? If the vibrations from these drums continued all the way around the world, where would they end? Would they cross or intersect other vibrations?”
India
Encourage students to wear as much green as they can. Count up how much green each student is wearing and compare. Ask, “What is green in nature? What does green symbolize? Green is a natural color; why do we wear it? Even humans can have green eyes; who in our class has green eyes? Blue? Brown?”
Switzerland
Play a recycling game. Sort items into categories of recycling or into trash, recycling, and compost, and toss them into the corresponding bin from a predetermined distance. Ask, “Why is recycling important? How do we take care of the Earth? How can we take even better care of the Earth? Why do we want to take care of the Earth?”
Take time this month to review or pull in lessons centered around the environment. The following lessons introduce global problems and inspire solutions:
The Ocean Lesson 19, Puppet Show: Water Conservation
The Universe Lesson 20, Thank You Earth!
The Savanna Lesson 19, The Recycling Women of Gambia
The Rainforest Lesson 15, Deforestation Addition and Subtraction
The Rainforest Lesson 17, Don’t Let Them Disappear
The Desert Lesson 17, Desertification
