THE VIRTUAL LITCAMP ZAMBIA – “KINDNESS TO NATURE” SESSION – 2020
reachallThe session focused on the Strength of “Kindness” under the theme of “Thank you, nature!”
The strength of “KINDNESS” needs to be shown to people and also Mother Nature.
The LitWorld signature strength of “KINDNESS” was this time channeled to appreciation of Mother Nature due to various benefits nature provides to our communities, nations and our global village. The aim was to build up an understanding about nature & her value, and kindness towards nature among literacy learners. This strengthens the care for nature among children and they will continue doing that when they grow up. We are surrounded by nature. It helps and protects us and all living creatures (that we depend on) on Earth.
The following were the two aspects focused on:
(a) The health of Earth/ nature is crucial for our lives.
(b) Promote children’s interest in nature and care for nature.
The session was introduced through a Check-In question: “Why is nature important to our lives?” and this led to detailed and thrilling discussions that were rich in ideas from the literacy learners. In this activity, learners’ appreciation of nature was shown by thinking of ways to care for it.
During this engagement process, learners went outside and spent time with nature and were asked to think about what they saw, heard, smelt and felt. They were also asked to think about how nature cares for them and they gave various interesting examples.
The learners went outside to interact with nature to enhance its value and the need to appreciate nature. Some said they saw birds, some smelt plants, some felt good when the wind was blowing, and others touched the sand and let it slowly slip through their fingers to feel its soothing effect.
Learners after bringing out the benefits of nature or/ and how nature cared for them proceeded to discussing what they appreciate and enjoy about nature. Learners were then asked to discuss what they could do in return to care for nature after appreciating its value.
TO-DO LIST
Learners were then requested to each come up with a To-Do List of the things that they can do to care for nature in appreciation to nature’s care for them and all living things on Earth.
The following were instructions given to the learners:
(a) Take a piece of paper and some colored pens.
(b) Make a To-Do List of things you can do to care for nature.
(c) Decorate your list with things/ colors you saw in nature today/ in the past.
(d) Put your list up somewhere you can see it every day. You can also introduce it to your friends
THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE
The literacy learners in appreciation to Mother Nature’s care and provisions of life needs to them like water, air, land, food, light, plants, etc did tree planting and watering at Zambezi Sawmills Community School (Livingstone, Zambia). They were encouraged and inspired to continue thanking Mother Nature in their families and life as a lifestyle.
REFLECTION
Learners were then led to reflect through the following questions to appreciate nature deeply and to get more involved in the care for nature:
(a) What would happen if some aspects of nature disappeared one day? Think about what role trees, rivers, types of animals (birds, flies, etc) play in the environment around you.
(b) What are some long –term habits we can form to better protect nature?
OVERVIEW OF SESSION
In this session learners were taught to show kindness to nature by caring for it through sustainable management and usage. This is a serious need in Zambia among children, youths and elderly people.
In Zambia, nature is not really appreciated by communities as can be noticed from negative community blueprints in high deforestation, land degradation, pollutions (air, water & land) and poaching/ indiscriminate killing of other living things.
This session is an effective and sustainable way of the fight against deforestation, pollution (air, water and land), land degradation, indiscriminate killing of other living things, etc.
We would like to encourage parents and guardians to conduct similar but simple sessions to build the value and appreciation of Mother Nature in our children. For any guidance on how to sensitize our children in this regard feel free to get in touch with us.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The 2020 (highly educative) Virtual LitCamp Curriculum was developed by LitWorld. For more information kindly visit litworld.org
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