The early years of a child make up the crucial formative phase of his/her life. In Eshkol Valley Kindergarten, we believe that beyond academics, children’s socio-emotional experiences and knowledge provide the core foundation of a child’s holistic development. Henceforth, the school participated in the SSDB initiative, aiming to provide opportunities for children to create connections to the world they live in and developing a sense of awareness and responsibility to the community.
Setting the foundation
Prior to embarking on the project, children were learning about sea creatures as part of the thematic curriculum in school. Questions were asked to encourage discussion and critical thinking about the upcoming project, such as:
-
What have we learnt so far?
-
How are man’s actions affecting the sea creatures?
-
Why are the sea creatures dying?
-
What can be done to save them?
What shall be our project title?
After classroom discussions, the K2 children were invited to brainstorm the titles they would like to have for their project.
Some initial ideas brainstormed.
Eventually with the teacher’s assistance, the majority decided on Sea of Life. This simple brainstorming activity aims to provide the K2 children with the sense of ownership over the project that they are embarking on.
The Launch
On April 6, we launched our project, Sea of Life, with a poster done in collaboration with the rest of the school levels from Nursery 1 to Kindergarten 1, using recycled materials for crafts to decorate.
Which beneficiary organisation shall we pick?
Following class discussions, the K1 and K2 classes began to know more about the different organizations that help marine life all around the world, such as WWF and ACRES. The children discussed about the differences of these organisations in the process of deciding which organisation to pick as the beneficiary of the charity project. Eventually, ACRES was picked as the majority of the children would like to focus on the local community who is closer to to home.
Reflections and Making a Difference
Thereafter, the children were invited to reflect and think about what they can do to make a difference. Some questions ask include
-
What are some things you can do to save the animals?
-
How do you think we can reduce or reuse these plastics?
The children were then invited to use their reflections and create an awareness poster each for display.
Charity Craft Sale
In May, the whole school was involved in a charity sale with the crafts that children made. Children were also involved in creating the necessary posters and banners in relevance for the sale, providing opportunities to develop children’s sense of responsibility, independence and self-esteem.
Parents also showed their utmost support by purchasing the crafts that their children has made.
Let’s invite ACRES to our school!
Net proceeds raised were used to invite ACRES to our school for a talk, creating that sense of community and allowing children to further understand what ACRES is all about. The children also managed to ask the presenter questions they have about what ACRES does.
Let’s keep our beaches clean**!**
Having learnt about man’s part in contributing to water pollution which is a cause of dying marine life, the K1 children were involved in a beach clean-up in August, making a trip to the East Coast Park armed with gloves and used bags to pick litter found on the beach, and to dispose of them appropriately.
This activity provided children with the opportunity to make connections to what they have been learning about in the classroom context and make a real difference in reality, thereby also empowering children with the ‘everyone can do something’ attitude, no matter how small or young one may be.
Truly, there was an obvious air of exhilaration and accomplishment throughout the entire activity.
Finale- Charity Carnival
As a finale to the project, all levels were involved and a charity carnival was hosted, involving various stakeholders including parents, ACRES, church volunteers, Ria from Wild Singapore, Kindred Garden and of course children.
Everyone Can Do Something!
Recyclables were picked up from Kindred Garden weeks in advance, which were used to make the game booths. Letters and information were sent out to parents to involve them in helping to create the materials required for the games using the recyclables collected, such as the Nursery 2 children parents who helped with decorating the life size board game cards with the cardboards.
ACRES was also invited to set up a merchandise booth and the church of which our school is in had a volunteer who offered to do balloon sculpturing for the children!
Ria from Wild Singapore has also kindly loaned us display posters that provided information about the marine life in the shores of Singapore.
And last but not least, the children worked hard in helping the teachers to paint and decorate the game booths for their classes. It was a truly engaging and meaningful process that involved all stakeholders and the meaningful use of recycled materials in this charity carnival.
On the day of the carnival, parents were invited to purchase tickets and attend the carnival with their children.
The children had so much fun at the game booths! At the carnival, we had great support from the parents with a huge turnout and raised a total amount of $924.50!
Reflections
This entire project has truly been humbling, showing us how children can be empowered with decision making, providing opportunities for us all to give back to the community and most importantly, to realise truly that indeed no one can do everything, but everyone can do something!
