Making the KU Difference
Through sustainability
Amy Barthet
Early Childhood Teacher , KU John J Carroll Preschool
Amy , the teacher at KU John J Carroll Preschool was nominated for this award because she “ brought the bush ” into KU John J Carroll Preschool , situated in Surry Hills , an inner city suburb of Sydney . What started as a dramatic play experience morphed into a collaborative project between staff , children and families , and culminated in well-researched and planned bush walks .
The project challenged thinking and practices around children ’ s ability to take on managed risks , find physical strength , be involved in planning , and having resilience and self-belief – qualities that will sustain them in eventual independence .
Excursions provide opportunities for children to enjoy
authentic , concrete learning encounters that support their developing interests and understandings of the world . Well planned and implemented diverse learning experiences and outings that promote opportunities for children to engage with and participate in the wider community life , are integral to an early childhood educational program .
Amy ’ s planned outdoor experiences offered opportunities for inner city children to explore , discover and learn , make connections with nature and understand the sustainability cycle in the bush .
This excursion brought to life principles of the Early Years Learning Framework of ‘ learning through worthwhile and challenging experiences and interactions that foster high-level thinking skill ’ ( EYLF , 2009 ).
This dramatic play and real life bush experience offered a wonderful opportunity to reflect and apply the learning experience and knowledge gained into different areas within the curriculum .
Sustainability in practice : Creative reusing
At KU Rushcutters Bay , the “ Reuse Bag ” initiative encourages children and their families to be looking for “ stuff ” that they are no longer using at home . They bring it in as resources for collage and construction . Educators offer some suggestions but encourage the children to be as creative as possible , welcoming all contributions . The excitement comes from never knowing what will come in next , sorting it out and deciding how they want to use it .
Children also collect sticks , leaves and flowers from the garden . These provide a multitude of possibilities .
Instead of using glue to create end-products to take home , the children create “ assemblages ” that are photographed then the materials dismantled to be used over and over again .
117th Annual Report 2012 11