To protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss is the aim of SDG 15.
YOU CAN
- Lie down under a big tree. Question: What do trees need to live? Why do we need trees?
- Read What Are Trees For? by Todd Harrington to encourage children to look closely at the wonder of trees.
- Recognise seasonal changes and show the children images from around the world that show how the loss of trees has led to floods or droughts.
- Introduce terminology such as ‘deforestation’, ‘terrestrial’, ‘ecosystem’ and ‘degradation’.
- Read together Look Inside the Woods by Minna Lacey. It’s a beautifully illustrated lift-the-flap book.
- Consider what happens to the inhabitants if the trees are lost.
- Unpick the term ‘degradation’ and discuss ways that the children can highlight this sustainable issue.
Learning links
Birth to 5 Matters (2021, p37) ‘Early years settings can be communities for social justice and sustainability.’
Extension activities
- Watch and discuss this short film from Forestry England: https://bit.ly/3Ay6rkC.
- Join the National Trust’s Plant a Tree initiative: https://bit.ly/3g06r3G; or mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree: https://bit.ly/3AC3X54.
- Invite the local newspaper to cover your tree planting.
- Go on a neighbourhood walk and look for evidence of trees being cut down or being planted.
Learning links
Birth to 5 Matters (2021, p36) ‘Digital communities (the online networks and social media that settings, families and children use) and children are active community-makers. They participate in and contribute to multiple communities.’
EYFS (DfE, p14) Understanding the World ‘Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.’
Extension activities
- Become familiar with your native indigenous trees and leaves. Go on a nature walk. Use this free resource from the Woodland Trust to help: https://bit.ly/32x3nZx.
- Make a tally chart to show which trees you found, or make a tree map and place named trees on it.
Learning links
EYFS (DfE, p14) Understandingthe World ‘Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.’
Extension activities
Learning links
EYFS (DfE, p15) Understanding the World ‘Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.’
Extension activities
- Explore trees’ detail by looking at their trunks and feeling the bark.
- Show the children how to do bark rubbings.
- Bring in a microscope and encourage the children to look at the wonders of each leaf.
- Use water paints to make your own cell-like images.
Learning links
Birth to 5 Matters (2021, p95) ‘Talk about patterns in the environment e.g. spots and stripes on clothing or bumps in the pavement.’
EYFS (DfE, p15) Expressive Arts and Design ‘Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools, and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form, and function.’
Extension activities
- Explore how this SDG links with SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and consider what jobs can be found in the forest.
- Invite your local park rangers or environmental officers into your setting to talk about their work. Or watch this short Forestry England video
Learning links
Birth to 5 Matters (2021, p6) ‘[We must recognise] the sector’s responsibilities under the United Nations Sustainability Goals and UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development.’
FURTHER READING
- ‘An Early Childhood for Sustainability resource that embeds the SDGs and STEM into pedagogical practice’ by Boyd, Neame, King and Mann (NFCE Publications), download free here
Diane Boyd is a senior lecturer, early years, at Liverpool John Moores University, d.j.boyd@ljmu.ac.uk.