ERIC Number: EJ845822
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0814-0626
EISSN: N/A
Educating for Sustainability in the Early Years: Creating Cultural Change in a Child Care Setting
Davis, Julie
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v21 p47-55 2005
The early childhood education field has been slow to take up the challenge of sustainability. However, Brisbane's Campus Kindergarten is one early education centre that is making serious efforts in this regard. In 1997, Campus Kindergarten initiated its "Sustainable Planet Project" involving a variety of curriculum and pedagogical activities that have led to enhanced play spaces, reduced waste, lowered water consumption and improved biodiversity. Such changes are not curriculum "add-ons". A study of curriculum decision-making processes shows that a culture of sustainability permeates the centre. This has been by a process of slowly evolving changes that have led to a reculturation of many social and environmental practices. This study also shows that very young children, in the presence of passionate and committed teachers, are quite capable of engaging in education for sustainability and in "making a difference". (Contains 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Sustainable Development, Child Care Centers, Environmental Education, Ecology, Conservation (Environment), Foreign Countries, Participant Observation, Content Analysis, Parent Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Interviews, Electronic Mail
Australian Association for Environmental Education, Inc.. P.O. Box 560, Bellingen, NSW 2454 Australia. Tel: +61-2-6655-1865; Fax: +61-2-6655-1596; e-mail: admin@aaee.org.au; Website: http://www.aaee.org.au/publications/ajee.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Adult Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A