Eko-Przedszkolaki — edition II

Eko-Przedszkolaki brings environmental education to life through experience and play. Around 40 children took part in workshops at three Warsaw preschools inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

An educator wearing a beekeeper’s veil in a garden — Photograph from the Bespoke Foundation archive.

Discovering nature at preschool

The Eko-Przedszkolaki educational programme began in 2020. We brought our know-how into selected preschools, creating distinctive learning spaces for young children.

Children’s curiosity was our starting point, alongside the belief that caring for the world around us can become a natural part of everyday life. We wanted environmental education to mean discovery, questions and finding answers together.

Four themes, one shared purpose

The workshops focused on four areas closely connected to everyday life. Each offered a different way to talk about caring for what we share.

Natural sources of energy

Nature provides energy that we use every day. This theme helped children explore the connection between the natural world and the world people build.

Helping bees

Small creatures make a big difference. The bee workshop drew attention to their role in nature and why helping them matters.

Sorting waste

Environmentally responsible habits begin with simple choices. Waste sorting is a subject children can return to both at preschool and at home.

Clean water

Water connects the needs of people and nature. Talking about keeping it clean helps children become more aware of the resources we all share.

Eco-Ambassadors — knowledge, enthusiasm and a smile

We brought together a group of talented Ambassadors to lead the workshops. They arrived at the preschools with enthusiasm and a smile, ready to share their knowledge with young children.

The programme combined learning with play. We wanted workshop experiences to lead to further questions, conversations and small changes in behaviour, including beyond preschool.

Three Warsaw preschools inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach joined this workshop cycle. Together, we reached around 40 children.

Kasia

The forest holds no secrets for her. She loves long woodland walks, knows trees and can listen closely to them. She helps children become sensitive to nature and teaches them how to enjoy it.

Grzesiek

He is fascinated by the diversity of the forest’s small inhabitants: their sizes, shapes and colours. He searches meadows for new specimens for his collection. In other sessions, he also introduces young people to physics and technology.

Piotrek

Observing arachnids is his hobby. He enjoys leading activities, meeting people and spending time in nature. In his spare time, he plays the guitar.

Paulina

Animal tracks are her passion. She has an eye for woodland specimens and can share fascinating facts about them. She enjoys returning to the Białowieża Forest to admire its biodiversity.

Environmental awareness goes home

We asked parents about their impressions after the workshops. Among those surveyed:

100% wanted us to continue the workshops at their preschool;
40% said their children had encouraged them to change their habits;
nearly 80% felt the workshops had made their children more aware of environmental issues.

Their responses show how a conversation started at preschool can become part of everyday family life.

Eko-Przedszkolaki — educational film

Watch the project film for a glimpse of our workshops.

The film is in Polish.

Read about the spring 2022 edition of Eko-Przedszkolaki and discover more initiatives from the Bespoke Foundation.