Background information

Content information for educators (also suitable for parents): Getting children outside and connecting with nature is important for our environment. They learn respect and care for all living things and nature play can assist children to understand the world around them. If our youngest learners understand and value nature then they are more likely to feel empowered and take action to protect it. Outdoor time is also vitally important for children's personal development. There is an emerging body of local and international research linking childhood contact with nature to a wide range of benefits in human health and well being. Children will develop fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, risk assessment and critical thinking skills, and language and communication skills readily when active in nature.

For more information read the Benefits of Connecting to Nature Factsheet.

Nature Play WA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vAulkMldMM)

Nature Play WA Inc is an incorporated not-for-profit association established to increase the time Western Australian children spend in unstructured play outdoors and in nature.

About Earth Hour: Earth Hour is a WWF-Australia initiative, and is the world’s largest community-driven climate change campaign. At the centre of Earth Hour is switching off lights to show a commitment to taking action. Thousands of educators use Earth Hour’s education program to enrich their curriculum and provide pathways for young people to create change in their world.

Download the Earth Hour starter kit for your service: Earth Hour for Schools

Definitions:

Nature - is everything that exists in the world that has not been introduced by people, including plants, animals, landscapes and weather.
Biodiversity - the diversity of all living things that form the web of life.
Ecosystems - How living things interact with each other.
Wild Space - a place where the impact of humans is minimised.

New words for children to learn:

Nature
Biodiversity
Ecosystem
Environment
Senses

Organising photos for Earth Hour Schools Day

Preparation:

Ask parents/caregivers to provide children with a printed photo of them enjoying their favourite place in nature. This could be anywhere, from the garden to the park to the beach to a grand adventure the child has been on. If a photo of the child in that place is unavailable then a photo of the favourite place is good too. Educators can also bring a photo of their favourite place to share with children.

Earth Hour Schools Day is more than simply turning the lights off, it's about helping children to connect to and respect nature so they protect it. By encouraging children to think about the places they love and share these places, you can also encourage them to think about how they can protect these places.

As Earth Hour is a special event that encourages community involvement, invite caregivers and other educators to contribute photos for a photo board/collage.

Activities for children aged - 0 to 2

Collect all the images of the children's favourite places. Share these images with children, talking about how these places make us feel and why they are special.

For example, look at any pictures with people in them and talk about whether the people in these pictures look happy or sad. Continue by talking about how we like to spend time in places that make us feel happy: who likes going outside? How does it make you feel?

In addition, you can ask children to point out details in the photos (for example flowers, trees, animals, clouds, sunshine, shadows, etc). Can you find any of these details in the yard at your centre? Take a walk outside with the children and see if you can spot any of these things.

Create a photo board or collage with all these images that can be displayed in your room.

Provocations:

I wonder where our favourite places outside are?
I wonder how being outside makes us feel?
I wonder if being in our favourite place makes us happy or sad?
I wonder how being in our favourite place makes us feel?
I wonder what things we will see in our favourite places?
I wonder if we have any of these things in our yard?

Possible lines of development:

Encourage more activities out in nature: what program activities could you do outside or in nearby nature rather than inside (stories, rest times, meals or snacks, art, messy play, etc)?
Encourage children to bring their favourite natural items/objects they find to share and explore together.
Incorporate natural materials in creative play, music, art, etc.
Explore colours and sounds in nature.
Explore natural materials with mirrors or a light box.

Activities for children aged - 3 to 5

Part 1.

Collect all the images of the children's favourite places. Share these images with children, talking about how these places make us feel and why they are special. Where possible, ask children to talk about their own image and why it is special to them.

Continue the discussion by asking children to share how spending time in these places makes them feel: does spending time in their favourite place make them feel happy or sad, calm or angry? Have a look at the images and where there are pictures of people, talk about how the people look: for example, do they look happy or sad, angry or calm?

Explain to children that because they make us feel good, these places are very special and we need to look after them. We can look after them by taking care of the plants and animals that live there and by putting our rubbish in the bin. We can also look after these places by using less electricity. Why? Using electricity creates pollution in the air that can hurt the places we love.

Part 2.

Use these flashcards to share some of the ways that we use electricity in our everyday lives: Appliance Flashcards. Use the prompts on the flashcards to stimulate discussion with children.

Once complete, explain to children that they will be doing something special for all the special places that they love on Earth Hour Schools Day by switching off things that use electricity in your centre.

Part 3.

Have children create a poster about the place they love to show everyone the place they want to care for. Share your posters for Earth Hour Schools Day.

Plan your Earth Hour Schools Day to take place outside. Again talk to children about switching off before you head outside. Once outside you could lead children in the following activity: Nature Detective.

Provocations:

I wonder where our favourite places are?
I wonder how we feel when we come to this place?
I wonder how long the trees and plants in the area have been here?
I wonder what things we will see in our favourite places?
I wonder what’s not so good about our local park/reserve/beach/etc?
I wonder if there is something we could do to change what’s not so good to make it great?
I wonder why we need to look after our favourite places?
I wonder how we can look after our favourite places?

Possible lines of development:

Explore any history or interesting stories of your local 'favourite place'.
Explore your favourite local places using this activity: Earth Hour - Out and About in 'Our Place'.
Explore other activities about electricity or light: Earth Hour - Light, Hot and cold, Rug up in Winter, Wind Energy, Sunshine.
When organising this event, encourage families to explore it with their children (picnic, planting, night walk, scavenger hunt, games, etc.)
Consider what program activities you could do outside or in nearby nature rather than inside (stories, rest times, meals or snacks, art, messy play, running or physical activities, games, etc.)
Encourage children to bring interesting natural items they find to explore together.
Consider trying some of Cool Australia's Nature of Mindfulness activities outside in nature.

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenges and persisting when difficulties arises
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

How can you make Earth Hour a movement rather than a moment? Discuss with your centre how you can include regular excursions to nearby nature in your policies, procedures and program.
Get involved with a local Friends Group or consider participating in looking after an area of nearby nature through activities such as planting, weeding or cleaning up.
Consider an ongoing nature program (bush, forest or beach program).
Provide families with tips or suggestions on activities, events or places to go to enjoy the outdoors with their children, particularly those in your local area; via your newsletter, noticeboards or blogs.
Explore many ways to get the children involved and familiar with their local community in order to foster a sense of belonging. Involve the local community in your program, and get out and get involved in your local community. It’s a great way to promote the amazing work you do with children, and the important contributions children can make to their community.
You can be nature ambassadors/protectors or carers. Join forces with others who might be interested to help – your local council, service clubs or schools. You can help promote your local 'favourite place' and encourage others to get out in their local area and enjoy it too. The children could be involved in promoting community events by making posters, speaking to people about upcoming events (such as planting days or clean up days) and participating in fun activities like picnics, night walks or scavenger hunts. Encourage families to get involved and enjoy time outside with their children.

Earth Hour - Switching Off for the Places We Love

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