Introducing socio-environmental concepts to preschoolers: the case of the ‘local-global’ connection

Abstract

With the sustainability of our future under constant threat, it is important for children to realize as soon as possible that local decisions may have global effects. This idea of the ‘local-global’ connection has been integrated in a learning environment (LE) aiming at supporting preschoolers in enhancing their conceptual understanding about nature, along with their socio-environmental awareness. The LE was designed in the context of early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS), and implemented in a case study with 30 children. The results, that will be thoroughly discussed, suggest that the learning environment seems to work quite well regarding the socio-environmental target-idea.