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Entitled ‘Creating a Mini Garden of Love’, Little Footprints Preschool’s Start Small Dream Big Project aims to teach children how to demonstrate appreciation and support for community workers while simultaneously learning about the environment and sustainability.
As community workers were already part of the children’s curriculum in a previous semester, the educators at the preschool thought it would be best to select a topic that the students were already familiar with and explore more deeply.
Firstly, they were asked to identify community helpers within their community and understand more about their occupations beyond superficial interactions. The students were asked questions that provoked their curiosity and learnt just what an integral role these helpers played to help keep their community up and going.
Through this first step, the children are also introduced to an available support system outside of home: community spaces, such as town councils and community clubs. This will enhance their sense of belonging within their own community.
Image of students using donated egg trays to germinate seeds.
Secondly, both the children and their parents contributed to the creation of the mini edible garden by contributing used pots, plastic containers, plastic bottles, soil and seeds. Much creativity needs to be utilised when planting seeds in such containers as the odd shapes of some of them present their own challenges.
Thanks to such recyclables, Little Footprints Preschool reaped an abundance of onions, chili peppers, watercress, and spinach for the community workers.
Image of students writing handwritten messages to show gratitude to the community workers.
On how SSDB has positively impacted their school, “It’s really heartening to see how excited and eager the children and their parents were to give back to these hardworking community workers – the charitable spirit really shines through.”