This is the 6th year that our centre PCF Sparkletots @ Braddell Heights Branch Blk 246 has participated in the Start Small Dream Big project. This year’s theme ‘Eco-champs: Low cost, No cost’ aims to foster environmental consciousness and responsibility among children. Through this project itself, children will be able to cultivate a sense of care and empathy towards nature and preservation. The approach of this project ensures that it remains inclusive and accessible to all families, regardless of their economic background.
On 22nd April 2024, the children celebrated Earth Day by talking about the importance and ways they can help contribute to save the earth. The children discussed about the impacts of global warming and the future of planet earth. There were many interactive activities lined up for the children such as water relay race, paper machete art of a globe, sorting recycled materials into the recycling bin and spotting for trash during their neighbourhood walk.
Our SSDB launch held on Friday, 10th May 2024, was integrated together with Parent’s Day. The purpose of intergrating both events was to involve parents and allow them to have a better insight to the aim of the project. The children, parents, Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng and Executive Principal Ms Rachel gathered at BLK 235 for the event. The launch began with an introduction by K2 English Teacher, Nurul Huda who explained the goals and objectives of the SSDB project. Afterwards, there were performances prepared by the N2 to K2 children. Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah and Executive Principal Ms Rachel launched the project by turning on the lights and completing the missing puzzle piece on the globe. Parents were invited to the interactive activities of exploring the 5 upcycling stations, pledge and the wonder board. They get to bring home the crafts they made.
On 15th May 2024, the K1 and K2 children went on a fieldtrip to NEWater Visitor Centre. They explored the water plant through a guided tour. It was a very insightful tour as the children had the opportunity to learn about the 5 types of water purification processes as they walk through the factory. The trip ended with the K2 children being involved in a raingarden workshop whereby they used a recycled PEP bottle to make their own raingarden. They had a meaningful experience learning how to obtain clean water through the experiment.
The June Holiday program was conducted within a period of one month from 27th May to 21st June 2024. During the holidays, the children learnt how they could play a part as an eco-champ to help with sustainibility through the ‘Low Cost, No Cost’ strategy. The topics that the children learned and explored about would be ‘Energy Conservation, 3RS (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle), Water Conservation and Pollution’. This would be the 3rd year of collaborating with N Parks whereby they provided us with a variation of learning resources such as activity books, story books and a paper binocular which can be used for outdoor activities.
The SSDB Finale event was conducted on 28th June 2024. The event was conducted virtually through zoom. There were pre-recorded performance skits, song performance ‘Save The Planet’ and interactive sharing session of the home task led by our SSDB child ambassadors.
In conclusion, the SSDB project themed ‘Eco-champs: Low Cost, No Cost’ proved to us that it is possible to cultivate positive sustainability habits, build a sense of responsibility and environmental cosciousness in the children whilst doing it at LOW cost, NO cost!
