The document discusses how teaching children self-care skills and environmental conservation is important in Montessori education. It provides tips for establishing a self-care station for children with mirrors, cleaning tools, and organizing clothes. Children can learn skills like handwashing, cleaning, gardening, and using reusable materials. The goal is to help children understand cleanliness and caring for themselves and the planet.

1. •Conserving Environment in
EPL
Session 3

2. • Lately, the Earth’s environment has faced several drastic changes,
thus putting our planet on the brink of irreversible climate change. Of
course, the reasons for this are the mistakes that we have committed.
All the mismanagements, emissions, and other atrocities have
increased the Earth’s temperature, melting ice caps, and increased
water levels. Therefore, to stop the progression of this imminent
disaster, it is necessary to teach the children to interact with the
environment so that they grow to play a protective role in the
conversation about the Earth’s climate.

3. Why is Teaching Montessori
Children Regarding Environmental
Protection Important?
Teaching children about environmental protection and
conservation at the Montessori level helps them
understand the importance of recycling and waste
reduction. The necessary supervision at the Montessori
level also allows them to understand the practices
concerning protecting essential environmental assets.

4. Helping Children
Conserve the
Environment

5. Safe-Cleaning Products
Children can learn about the preparation of a natural
disinfectant and an all-purpose house cleaner by mixing:
Baking soda
Vinegar, and
Water, salt
Micro cloth

6. Child-Size
Cleaning Tools
Allowing the children to use child-sized
cleaning tools will help them understand
the importance of cleaning after
themselves. These tools include:
Broom
Dustpan
Mop, and
Washcloth, etc

7. Importance of Conserving the Home
Environment
The following objects and activities can help teach
the children about the importance of conserving
the environment of their homes:
● Wet cloth for wiping and cleaning
● A small mop for floor moping
● Vacuuming
● Learning how to hang laundry for drying
● Folding towels
● Washing socks
● Putting toys away and rearranging them in their
spaces
● Cleaning and taking care of the pets
● Dishwashing
● Shoe polishing
● Watering the plants

8. Children
Conserving the
Environment

9. Water Conservation
Water is one of the most precious natural
resources. And children can waste it if not
properly supervised. Thus, the Montessori
environment is the perfect place for them to
teach them ways to save water.
Some tips that they can be taught in this regard
are taking short showers, drinking tap water
instead of bottled water, turning the water off
while brushing, etc.

10. Encouraging them to Use a Reusable
Bag
Reusable bags are usually made of cotton or canvas and serve as a safe
alternative to conventional paper and plastic bags.
It is important to teach the children to use reusable bags while
shopping to teach them about plastics' role in polluting the
environment. It will also discourage them from using paper or plastic
bags.
Parents and teachers can encourage children to use reusable bags by
allowing them to decorate them using markers, paint, pens, stencils,
rubber stamps, etc.

11. Reusing Materials for Arts and Crafts
Used shoe boxes, cardboard boxes, or plastic
boxes can be used to teach the children about
organizing their stuff, such as fabric, extra
buttons, and ribbons in one place. In this
regard, the adults can teach children to make
their flower pots by making holes in the bottom
of a milk jug.
Children can cut the jug in half below its handle
and use various small materials for decorating
this “flower pot.” The adults can help children
sell them by making such materials and then
share the profit with different environmental
charities.

12. This activity is appropriate for the pre-schoolers
who like to get themselves dirty. In this regard,
parents (or teachers) can help the children by
assisting them in choosing fruits and seeds.
These activities help them get exercise and make
them bond with the environment.
The air surrounding their environment will also
provide them with healthy nourishment. Also,
the children familiar with fruit and vegetable
gardens learn to grow the connection between
food and environment, personal health, and
overall community well-being. Planting activities
also inculcate a sense of care and compassion
for the planet.
Planting Gardens

13. Why Teachers Don't Teach
Climate Change

14. Images reveal large amounts of
data, so remember: use an image
instead of a long text. Your
audience will appreciate it
A picture always
reinforces
the concept

15. The following 2019-graph shows why teachers do not teach climate
change concepts to the students, starting from the preschool level up.

16. Self-Care
Activities

17. 1. The main idea behind teaching the children about self-care
activities is very crucial. This helps them understand the
importance of cleanliness and take care of themselves as they
grow. For adults, establishing a little self-care station consisting
only of a mirror hung at the child level for toddlers and
preschoolers may not be a big deal. However, for their children, it
holds a very significant value.

18. What is the Importance of Teaching
Children the Concept of Self-
Cleaning?
1. Self-cleaning allows children to learn the concept of looking after
themselves independently. This is because they make the children
realize that they can look after themselves without asking for help
from an adult. In addition, self-care stations allow the children to
gain skills in washing, to brush, and dressing themselves.

19. Necessary Tips for Establishing a
Self-Care Station
1. Before establishing a self-care station, the parents and teachers of
the toddlers can look at the following:
2. The adults should decide whether their child is more interested in
clothing or the bathroom sink. Here, the adults should focus on
educating their child about self-care according to his interest.
3. By placing a mirror at the child’s eye level, their adults convey that
they are providing their children with the environment that will
help them meet their needs. In addition, by placing the mirror at
their height, the children feel welcome as they can use their
“personal” mirror at any time.

20. • Installation of hooks and shelves to hang personal belongings can
also teach the concept of self-care to the children.
• At the places where things cannot be moved lower, adults can
offer stools to the children. For example, placing a stool to a light
switch up high can make a child habitual in turning off the light
every time he leaves the room.

21. The Personal Basin
1. The adults should allow the children to
use a large bowl as their basin to teach
them how to clean their hands. Then, the
child’s supervisor can pour water from a
jug by which the children can wash their
hands.
2. The water dispenser is also a solution to
allow children to clean their hands and
themselves. By opening the tap of the
dispenser themselves, children can brush
their teeth.

22. The Steps of Handwashing
Proper handwashing establishes a protective barrier in front of
germs and our health. Since children use their hands frequently in
touching and exploring things, it is essential to teach them the
correct handwashing technique.

23. The following are the seven simple steps of handwashing:
1. Wetting the hands with clean water.
2. Applying soap such that it covers all the areas of the hand.
3. Rub the hands thoroughly and briskly, such that the soap lather
covers all the fingers, nails, fingertips, and surfaces of the hand.
4. Scrubbing the hands for at least 20 seconds.
5. Rinsing the hands and rinse under the running water.
6. Dry hands and wrists with a clean towel (or allow them to air dry).
7. Use a towel to turn off the tap.

24. Dressing Stations
According to the Montessori
approach, the children should be
assisted in the tasks that they
cannot perform themselves. And
dressing comes under this
category. So, to help them in this
case, you can implement the
following ideas:

25. Points to remember
Having a low-hanging rack and shelf allows children to select their
clothing from limited options. Clothes included in this category are
socks, pajamas, and underwear.
A small basket lets them place their laundry before changing them
with clean clothes. In addition, having a basket with a handle will
help the child carry his dirty clothes to the laundry area.

26. What to Expect From Self-Care
Activities of a Child?
The adults should understand that their children might not be able to
perform the self-care acts meticulously like them. However, their
constant supervision and assistance can prove quite helpful n this
regard. For example, they can invite their children to engage in a self-
care activity where they can re-arrange their wardrobe.

27. Essentials of a Self-Care Station
A child self-care station can include the following items:
1. Hairbrush
2. Mirror
3. Toothbrush
4. Toothpaste
5. Tissue to help with nose-wiping
6. A small towel
7. Soap and water for cleaning the hands and the face. The adults
can break the bar soaps for easier handling.