Kool Beginnings Curriculum – The World & The Environment

The early years are crucial for developing attitudes towards the environment and a commitment to caring for the Earth. Each Kool Kidz service is unique, with its own ecology, history, culture, and community. Therefore, the Kool Beginnings Curriculum (KBC) ‘The World & The Environment’ block will vary in each setting and is shaped by place-based teaching methods.

This block covers how children interact with their natural, digital, and human-made surroundings, fostering ecological awareness (Eco-literacy). As children become Eco-literate, they gain understanding, knowledge, and respect for ecological principles, systems, and the impact of human activities on the environment.

Through the block, children explore the connections between of ecological components, such as ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources and environmental action. This awareness extends to recognising the importance of sustainability, environmental conservation, and adopting practices that minimise negative effects on the natural world. Being ecologically-aware involves a commitment to responsible and environmentally friendly behaviours, promoting ecological balance, and making choices that contribute to the well-being of the immediate environment and the wider world.

To foster connections with the environment, children require the guidance of ecologically-aware adults engaging in intentional teaching practices. This guidance supports children to comprehend the implications of their actions, and those of others, on their immediate and global environment. As children act on their understandings and create change, they become active citizens within the wider community.

The KBC block ‘The World and the Environment’ aims not only to nurture understanding of immediate surroundings but also to develop an appreciation for broader ecological systems, shaping children’s attitudes, values, knowledge, dispositions, and skills for positive environmental actions. Encouraging exploration, inquiry, and active participation, we empower children to become informed, engaged, reflective, and considerate global citizens.