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Methodist Preschool students design solutions to solve environmental problems

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(left to right) Solving the problem of dirty water with a robot, A little help from a teacher, Little innovators creating their prototype, Ideas are sketched first

Today’s preschoolers are growing up amidst pressing environmental challenges like climate change and pollution. Equipping them with the knowledge, skills and mindsets to navigate such a complex landscape is crucial for their future and the planet’s well-being.

Mr Roland Tan, Executive Director of Methodist Preschool Services (MPS) said, “We believe that teaching preschoolers about climate change is crucial because it instils early awareness and understanding of environmental issues, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the environment from a young age. Early education also empowers children to become informed advocates and changemakers for environmental protection and sustainability.”

To this end, MPS recently introduced a signature programme, Methodist Preschool Children Designathon (also known as MPS Designathon), a programme specially designed to help K2 children discover and learn about climate change and environment sustainability. This first-in-Singapore preschool Designathon combines elements of play in a structured process of hands-on learning for the K2 cohort in the network of six Methodist preschools.

Developed in partnership with Amsterdam-based Designathon Works, the curriculum is based on three themes—Plastic, Robots and Water. Educators from the MPS network attended comprehensive training conducted by Designathon facilitators to equip them to teach and guide their preschoolers through the Designathon process.

The process starts with an interactive lesson where age-appropriate knowledge and environmental challenges related to the selected theme of Plastic, Robots or Water are shared with the children. The children then work in small teams to ideate, visualise and sketch their solutions before presenting their budding ideas to the class. With their teachers’ guidance and support, they use recycled materials and simple technologies to create prototypes, which they share and present to classmates.

The MPS Designathon draws on the young ones’ boundless imagination and creativity to dream big and to think boldly, critically and out of the box to ideate and build solutions for a brighter future. Adrian Lim, MPS Director of Education Services, said, “We see our children as changemakers and hope they will grow up to be engaged citizens and future activists, scientists and inventors who can take action for a better world they want to live in.”

The programme also helps the children hone their social and communication skills through working in teams. The opportunity for each project group to present their sketch and built-up prototype also enhances their presentation skills and builds up self-confidence.

The MPS Designathon stacks on another key MPS curriculum initiative, the LEGO Build the Change Programme. Launched as part of MPS’ Extended Curriculum in 2023, it also supports efforts to equip kindergarteners with foundational knowledge about environmental challenges, inspire the changemaker within and imbue values of global citizenship. After gaining an understanding about the adverse impact of climate change on animal habitats, the K1 & K2 children are challenged to exercise their creativity using LEGO bricks to build innovative solutions to address the concerns. The programme concludes with the teams showcasing their LEGO creations during a show-and-tell session to peers and teachers.

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(left) Presenting sketches before prototype creation (right) MPS Designathon creators

Watch the videos from MPS Children Designathon programme (above)

Visit the MPS website at https://methodistpreschools.org/  to schedule a visit to an MPS centre.

For details of the MPS Methodist Church Members Promotion, go to https://methodistpreschools.org/methodist-church-members-promotion-2024.

Chan Yuey Sum is the Senior Manager (Marketing and Promotion) at Methodist Preschool Services Pte Ltd (MPSPL). / Photos courtesy of MPSPL

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