Active learning ideas
Environmental care in the NCCA curriculum starts with the child's immediate surroundings. For Junior Infants, this means learning to tidy their own workspace, recycling in the classroom, and keeping the school yard litter-free. This topic instills a sense of stewardship and responsibility for the world around them.
Activity 01
Set up three bins: Paper, Plastic, and General Waste. Children rotate through the station, sorting clean classroom waste into the correct bins and explaining their choices.
How can we keep our classroom and yard tidy?
Activity 02
Equipped with gloves and pickers (with supervision), the class does a 'litter hunt' in the yard. They then discuss where the litter might have come from and how to stop it.
Where does our rubbish go?
Activity 03
Children compare two plants: one that is cared for (watered, in the sun) and one that is neglected. They record their observations over a week to see the impact of care.
Why should we care for plants and animals?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Children often think that one small piece of litter doesn't matter.
Use a simulation where every child drops one small scrap of paper on the floor at once. The visual of the 'messy' room helps them realize the collective impact of individual actions.
Students might believe that 'recycling' means the item is gone forever.
Show pictures or videos of what recycled items become (e.g., plastic bottles becoming a fleece jacket). This collaborative investigation makes the 'cycle' part of recycling concrete.
Methods used in this brief
My School Community
Children identify the different people who work in the school and how they help the students. They learn about classroom rules, routines, and the importance of cooperation.
8 methodologies
Media Awareness
Children begin to explore different types of media, such as books, television, and tablets. They discuss how to use screens safely and understand the difference between real and pretend.
8 methodologies