Are you locked down (or simply choosing to self-isolate) and looking for meaningful activities to do with your kids? With schools closing and families going into self isolation in the hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19, the pandemic has left parents responsible for homeschooling their children. We are compiling some fun and interactive home-based activities that revolve around environmental topics for parents, grandparents and older siblings to conduct with younger children at home.
Moving Eco-Education from schools to homes
Our Eco-Education programs for Indonesian schools are unfortunately on hold due to the extended closure of schools. Nevertheless, we are choosing to see this situation as an opportunity rather than a problem; an opportunity to bring education for sustainability from school to home. All around the world we are being asked to stay home, and for families that means parents take the role of educators. Why not make the most out of this quarantine to bond with your children while teaching them about the environment?
With the lack of a comprehensive database of eco-activities available in Indonesia and the lack of environmental education in local schools’ curriculum, we have been developing a list of fun yet educational activities for families to keep children learning from home, discovering new things and ultimately getting them inspired to live sustainably. Here is a sneak peek on the first 6 of them that we have also adapted to English for you to enjoy with your kids.
Conservation of Indonesia’s Biodiversity
Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, yet massive tracts of rainforests the size of 76 football fields are cut down every hour. The enormous ecosystem disruption is accompanied by increased flooding and forest fires while driving endemic species like orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos to the verge of extinction. Through the following activities, we hope to teach Indonesian children about endangered species and how to protect them, the difference between healthy and unhealthy ecosystems, and other environmental problems along with the solutions.
1. Eco-Poster
Piecing together and colouring a poster that shows two sides of an environment: One side showing a healthy and balanced ecosystem, and the other side showing a damaged ecosystem. See detailed English guidelines here.
2. Who am I?
A guessing game where parents stick a note with the name of an endangered animal on the child’s forehead. The child then has to guess the name of the animal by asking yes or no questions based upon the various features of the rare animals. See detailed English guidelines here.
3. Birds nest
In 2018 we received a grant from World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums through our partner Zoo Ostrava, to develop a program for endangered songbird species awareness. This activity includes making an origami of birds and their nests, to teach children about the importance of nests for birds. See detailed English guidelines here.
Plastic pollution awareness
Did you know that in Indonesia, every minute, six tons of plastic waste is being dumped into its oceans? Making the country the second-largest plastic polluter. Waste separation and composting are unfamiliar concepts for the majority of Indonesian families, and plastic waste is being burned in inhabited areas without knowing the negative effects of the practice. These damaging environmental and human health practices prove that there has been a lack of plastic pollution awareness in the current school system. The following activities aim to encourage kids not to litter and to avoid single-use plastics, and to educate them about waste management.
1. Microplastics in our food chain
Making a food chain poster using collage of single-use plastic waste that can be found around the house. See detailed English guidelines here.
2. Bio decomposition experiment
An experiment to show the difference of the decomposition process of organic and non-organic waste. See detailed English guidelines here.
3. Toy from up-cycled PET bottle
Making a simple yet educational toy using an up-cycled PET bottle and other single use plastic materials. See detailed English guidelines here.
What you can do to support Eco-Education in Indonesia?
In the spirit of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we have pledged to publish 50 top-notch Eco-Activities for Indonesian families to inspire the younger generation to care about nature. However, to be able to follow through with this new program, we need your help.
USD 100 will entitle you to become a sponsor of one Eco-Activity. Nevertheless any amount will be greatly appreciated and any little contribution will go a long way in supporting our effort in bringing environmental education to thousands of Indonesian families.
See our new fundraising campaign here.
Our mission at Green-Books.org is to educate millions of Indonesian children about the environment and inspire them to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. Help us achieve our goals by sharing online and making donations here.
