Anna Almanza, kindergarten teacher and supervisor of the student council at the WSV
‘With young children, sustainability begins with love for their surroundings’
I teach kindergarten and am also involved in the student council with children from grades 6, 7, and 8. For me, sustainability begins with making children aware of the world around them, even if that world is still small. We explore what is happening outside, in the schoolyard, and integrate themes such as the seasons and food & drink into our lessons. In a playful and exploratory way, the children decide what they want to know and learn about a theme. By making them owners of their own learning process, not only does their curiosity grow, but also their sense of connection to their environment.
Becoming aware and taking action together
In the classroom, it’s not only about the world around us, but also about how we treat one another. Every child should feel seen, and diversity in books and videos plays an important role in this. I ask questions that make children think, such as: “What did your hands do and what did your nose do?” We often get surprising answers, which helps them become more aware of their surroundings and of their own actions.
Collaboration and inspiration
It can sometimes be challenging to scale up initiatives within the school, but the sustainable teachers’ network of Esprit Scholen offers a great deal of inspiration and support. It feels like we’re doing this together and provides space to exchange ideas. This year, for example, I was invited to help think about sustainability during the Esprit Day.
My dream is for sustainability to be widely embraced within the school. That children, parents, and teachers are all involved. That every theme has a clear connection to sustainability, and that care for people, animals, and nature is always central. In this way, everything is connected.