27: Honoring the Journey

 A Tiny Poem for the World 

The world’s so big

and we’re all so small.

Sometimes it feels like we can’t do anything at all.

But the world can be better

In spite of its flaws.

The world can be better

And you’ll be the cause.

-Kid President

How do you teach sustainability to a kindergartener? 

This was one of the most pressing questions that I asked myself before starting our unit under Sharing the Planet. 

 

My reflection led me back to an adventure that I had in 2019 when I took a 10-day hike in the Annapurna region of Nepal. It was a gruelling hike with big distance to cover but I learned from our guide that the mindset to have is simple: take it slowly, but always keep moving — one step at a time.

And those small steps led me to the basecamp of one of the highest (and most dangerous to climb) mountains in the world. It was a breathtaking sight to behold, but the truth is, it was the journey that changed me. The view was just the icing on the cake.

The road to learning and practicing sustainability doesn’t happen overnight. It’s easy to understand the concepts of reusing, reducing, and recycling, but shifting our mindset and practices to make a dent in saving the world is sometimes a mountain that we need to climb. 

But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, right? At least that’s what Lao Tzu said. So in kindergarten, we took the first step and honored the journey -- and what an amazing adventure it was.

The small steps that we took brought us to our very own exhibit -- one that we are all proud of. We looked at trash from a different perspective and saw their potential for something greater.

And we were able to share what we made with the people we love.

This journey might not have taken us very far in distance, but in Kinder 2, we have surely grown in leaps and bounds and conquered the mountain in our own little ways:

-we use scrap paper more than clean paper in class

-we turn off the lights when we don't need them

-we close the markers after using them

-we segregate our recyclable trash in class

-we reuse and recycle materials

-we share old toys with our friends and teachers

-we don't play with and waste water in the bathroom

-we use our creativity and always think outside the trash!

Small but definitely, sustainable actions.

Kid President said that the world is so big, but I beg to disagree to some extent. The world will never be too big for anyone who dares to dream and is willing to go the distance -- regardless of how small they are. 

Here's to the end of another beautiful chapter in Kinder 2.

Have a wonderful Spring Break, everyone!

Your Kindergarten teacher, 

Pam