As our centre is located near Waterway Park, we wanted to increase our children’s awareness about the importance of caring for nature. To kick off this project, children went on an exploratory journey at Waterway Park.
Children collected natural resources such as leaves and twigs to create their 3-dimensional nature craft.
After the walk, children reflected on how they can help to care for the park. They also shared on their experiences and their artwork.
“My headband is pretty!”
-Dareen Low (K2)
“I want to make a bullet train.”
-Yunus Bin Shahrain (K2)
SSDB Launch
Nature Walk and Leaf Art
Date: 06 April 2018
Time: 9:00-11:30am
Venue: Waterway Park
Objective:
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Children will be more aware on the importance of taking care of the environment.
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Children will create 2 and 3 dimensional crafts using leaves.
Litter Picking (Nursery)
To show care for the environment, the children were given a glove to wear to pick up litters that they saw along the way. Teacher Celeste showed the children what were litters, and how they could put the litters in the plastic bag provided.
The children picked up litters such as candy wrappers, leaves and snack wrappers that they saw.
Leaf collage (Kindergarten 1)
The children showed appreciation and inventiveness as they use dried leaves for their art work. The children showed care for plants by not plucking leaves. The children were all engaged during the event. They used different patterns to showcase the different shapes and sizes of leaves.
After the event the children were asked to paint and decorate their paper. Some children used orange, red, and yellow colours and made it looked like Autumn. 
Leaf Printing (Kindergarten 2)
After the walk, the children were taught to make leaf printing on clay. They were given white clay that was brought along during the walk. Teacher Ida demonstrated to the children on how to do the craft.
The children were very engaged on doing their leaf printing on the clay.
“First, find the leaf.”-Dareen Low
“I will roll the clay into a ball.”-Summer Yeo
“Press the leaf on the clay.”-Lim Pei Zhen
After the event, the children outlined the painted print and hang their leaf printing on the tree branch that was brought back from the trip.
Earth Day
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Date: 20 April 2018
Time: 9:00-11:30am
Venue: K2 Classroom
Objectives:
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Children will understand what Earth Day is about by watching the Earth Day video.
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Children will take part in taking care of the Earth by making an Earth Day plant using recycled plastic bottles.
After watching the video on Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, the children painted their plastic bottles.
“We must try to reuse the bottle if not it will hurt the Earth”- Lim Jing Yang
Once their paintings on the bottles dried, the children placed some cotton balls at the base of their bottles. Later, they carefully dropped in a few green bean seed and poured some water to soak the cotton balls.
After a few days, their green bean plant started growing.
“We must put water and take care of our plants so that it can grow tall!”- Weng Xinyu
Heart for Nature
A walk with the Pioneers
Date: 10 July 2018
Time: 10:00-12:00pm
Venue: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Objectives:
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Children will experience a guided walk with the Pioneers to Hinhede Nature Park.
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Children will participate in a craftwork guided by the Nparks representatives.
During the walk, the Pioneer volunteers shared with us on their knowledge of the living and non-living things around the park. We were very fortunate to have Uncle Teck Chye and Uncle Wong to bring us around the park.
Back at the seminar room, Ms Siew Hong and her team taught the children how to make a monkey pencil holder using recyclables like toilet roll core and cardboards. 
We ended the trip with a group photo with our Pioneer volunteers of Nparks.
“Thank you for teaching us a lot of things about plants and animals”- Erika Song
Reflect with a Heart Our thoughts and views
Date: 28 August 2018
Time: 9:00-10:30am
Venue: K2 classroom
Objectives:
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Children reflect on their SSDB experience.
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Children share their thoughts and views about what they like best about this project.
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Children will share and discuss on how they can take care of the environment.
The children shared and discussed on 2 topics:
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What do you like best about the project?
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How can you do your part to take care of the environment?
Goh Yu Tong shared that she observed some ‘rubbish’ in the waters at the waterway park over the weekend.
She documented. “My mummy wants to help to clean the water. She picks up the rubbish in the water.”
Some children shared that they liked the field trip to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve the most.
“I remember Uncle Wong. Next time I want to bring my brother Dylan to see Uncle Wong there. Uncle Wong can show Dylan the plants and animals there.”- Axel Pan
Teacher’s Reflections
Overall, the SSDB 2018 project went very well. The children were engaged on the different activities planned by the class teachers. They were very inventive as they create their own craftwork with their peers. They persevered through the walk along the Waterway Park and the Hinhede Park at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. As they walk, they were able to share and discuss on ways they could help to maintain the clean and green environment.
I believe that the children understand the importance of their role in caring for the environment as they were very reflective and was also able to share the importance of keeping the environment safe for the animals living in it.
It was a great opportunity for us to have the Pioneer volunteers of Nparks during our trip to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve as it allows the children to gain knowledge as well as have a sense of appreciation towards the environment.
All in all, the SSDB 2018 was a success. With smiles and laughter all around, I’m glad that the children enjoyed, learned and increase their sense of wonder and curiosity as much as we did throughout this journey.
Teacher Ida
K2 Teacher
