In teaching for the environment, children need to be given many opportunities in which they can do more than talk about environmental issues. They need to be provided with the skills of knowing how to act in order to look after their environment, and to do this, children need to be able to recognise broad environmental issues not just littering but global issues affecting people now and in the future. Educating for the environment allows children to take responsibility for their actions and feel they too can make a difference in caring for the environment. Start with their ideas Begin by encouraging children to talk about what they know about the environment. For example, ask the children to imagine themselves in the future, when they are grandparents.
Young children can draw pictures of what they are imagining.
Older children can write a diary entry. As children discuss particular issues, such as deforestation or global warming, record their ideas as a class concept map on butcher's paper. Record all the children's ideas and develop a growing list of their understandings. What is important is recording all the perspectives and ideas the children have about the environment. The children's ideas should form the beginnings of an exciting environmental education program.