Eco Literacy

Eco literacy begins in early life, when children spend time outdoors. It is a critical time for association with the world around them through their eyes, ears, hands, feet, nose, and skin. It involves an opening up of the senses- touching, feeling, hearing, smelling, and tasting. Young children connect and become explorers right where they are. They can look below their feet, in front, beside, behind, and above them. They can compare their footprint to the footprints of birds, deer, foxes, squirrels, chipmunks, and so many more creatures! They can stop, listen, record, and describe what they hear. Children can make charcoal material rubbings of human-made and nature-made materials. They can touch the bark of a tree, hold sand in their hand, pick up a rock. They can breath in the air, smelling a flower, a plant, or an animal. Connecting with non-human life forms is essential for creating relationships with the gifts of nature that give humans life. It starts with going outside and exploring right from where you are.