Environmental Literacy: Teaching Children About Sustainability
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Environmental literacy is crucial for children, as it makes them more aware of climate issues. It empowers them to become responsible citizens who protect the planet and improves their physical well-being through hands-on learning. This can make for a much more eco-conscious planet with more people in the know-how about sustainable practices.
With global initiatives like UNESCO’s mandate for 50% of curricula to include sustainable development by 2030, teaching children about the planet is no longer an option as it is a necessity for their future. Many countries are looking to become Net Zero by 2030, so making children aware of this early can be very important. Continue reading to learn more about how to teach children about sustainability and the benefits of it.
Effective Sustainability Teaching Techniques
Hands-On Gardening
Getting children into the garden is one of the best ways to teach them about sustainability. It allows them to form a stronger bond with nature, as they get to see the full growth of green life that they’ve planted themselves. You can show them where resources like food and water come from, giving them a greater sense of appreciation for their environment.
They can start growing their own food, which can allow children to learn responsibility and the impact of their actions on the ecosystem. This can promote eco-friendly habits and give them a new perspective that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
The 5 R’s
Teaching children the 5 R’s can help them foster daily habits that can make them a more eco-conscious individual. These stand for Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle, helping them waste less by identifying the items that are most commonly wasted at home or in school.
Refuse: Don’t use items that aren’t needed like plastic straws or unnecessary packaging.
Reduce: Cut back on the amount of trash you create, such as going paperless or using both sides of a piece of paper.
Reuse: Find new ways to use items so they don't get thrown away.
Repurpose: Turn unused items into something new, such as artwork out of broken furniture.
Recycle: Properly sorting materials so they can be processed into new products.
Interactive Composting
When you get children actively involved with composting, it gives them a sense of ownership over their project. When they help with the growth of something, it makes them learn more about it which they will take with them forever. Composting is a very good sustainable practice for children to get into, as it turns food waste into soil which helps to promote circles of life.
They can also get their DIY gloves on and make bird feeders and this can encourage them to become more responsible for local ecosystems. This connects children directly to nature and makes them want to play their part in an eco-friendly world.
Storytelling
Storytelling through picture books and animation can turn overwhelming learning into easily digestible content about environmental issues like deforestation and biodiversity loss. This is especially beneficial for really young children who aren’t yet ready to do physical learning. There’s plenty of children’s TV shows that aim to teach about the importance of sustainability and protecting the planet.
These media tools help children become more empathetic towards the climate crisis and can inspire them to do the same in their lives, as they grow and develop.
Scientific Observation
Encouraging children to keep nature journals, document weather patterns and observe life cycles will give them more attention to detail when it comes to eco-friendly practices. Children develop a deeper understanding of ecological processes when they’re writing things down or drawing what’s around them, which can help develop higher levels of curiosity about the environment.
You can get children to build their own insect garden using recycled materials like wooden pallets, bricks, pinecones and twigs. They can then look at how bugs use this area to develop a better understanding of natural life and how to preserve it.
Green Improvements
Involving children in green improvements transforms their space into a practical classroom where sustainability becomes a hands-on experience. One of the most effective areas for this is a conservatory, which can be upgraded to demonstrate the science of heat retention and natural light. You can let your child monitor the temperature differences between the conservatory and the rest of the house, they learn the value of energy efficiency.
You can also do a conservatory conversion to turn this space into an indoor garden that promotes the healthy and natural growth of plants. Watching a seed grow into a plant within this controlled environment reinforces the idea that sustainable living is about creating a place for all plants to thrive. This can make them more eco-conscious as they age into adulthood, improving the world around them as they grow along with it.
