Education for Sustainability
UNESCO says “As early childhood education is about laying a sound intellectual, psychological, emotional, social and physical foundation, it has an enormous potential in fostering values, attitudes and skills that support sustainable development.”
Sustainable Futures for Children
Waite Campus Childrens Centre is committed to exploring and implementing ways to save water and energy, reduce waste, expand children’s environmental education and foster sustainable lifestyles.
The approach to education for sustainability (EfS) for young children is an experiential one providing opportunities for child-initiated experiences that support children to learn through discovery, using very day teachable moments. Children are actively involved in growing and monitoring plants, recycling, water and energy saving.
Waite Campus Childrens Centre is carbon friendly and has offset their carbon usage for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 through the purchase of renewable energy credits from Climate Friendly.
In 2011 Waite Campus Childrens Centre was a focus site for AUSSI SA. Through this process we have looked at our guiding principles and developed a Site Environement Management Plan (SEMP) which details our action plan for 2012-2013.
WCCC SEMP
Education for Sustainability Curriculum
Education for Sustainability (EfS) is integrated throughout the curriculum. Educators use intentional teaching both at planned group times and during play experiences across the day to explore and enhance children's understandings.
Here are some examples:
Exploring Interconnectedness with 3-5 year olds
Using Teachable Moments for EfS with 2-3 years olds
Intentional Teaching and EfS with under 2's
Awards
In 2011 Waite Campus Childrens Centre received a commendation award from SA Water for water saving strategies and 'Most Outstanding Site' for Education for Sustainability award from NRM Education.
Waite Campus Childrens Centre is proud to be the winner of the gold award in the Schools and Communities section of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Native and Sustainable Gardens 2011.
You can read the story of how we achieved this.
