Category Archives: Social Studies

Composting with Children

The magic of watching food leftovers turn into soil is the
perfect way to encourage curiosity amongst your little ones
about the outside world.

What you need:

• Leftover food waste
• A compost container
• A drill

What you do:

1. Take a bin or large container and drill some
holes into the side of it.
2. After lunches and snacks, help the
children to separate out their food waste
from their non-biodegradable containers
and other bits. This helps to teach the
children some self-care but also the difference
between food waste and other
types of waste.
3. Get the children to carry the waste out
to the compost bin. If you want to speed
up the process then you can also add
some soil. It should work better in the
warmer summer months.
4. It might take a while for the compost to
develop, but it should be a good lesson
in patience for the children too. Once it’s
ready you can use the compost to plant
some plants, flowers or vegetables with
the children to bring the lesson full cycle.

Making Memories

Collect some photos in your home and prepare a little memory
box to help your wee ones understand their place in the world.

What you need:

• Photos from family members
• A box or wall display

 

What to do:

1. Start by asking family members to send
photographs of the children’s relatives,
favourite things, and other close attachment
objects such as pets.
2. Create a memory box with the photographs
in, which you can share with your
little ones throughout the day.
3. Got a bit more time on your hands? Why
not create a family tree display which
children can use to start recognising
other families too?
4. The photographs can help comfort younger
children and give them some understanding
of their place in the world. As
they grow, the pictures can be useful to
give them an understanding of the differences
between their own home environment
and that of their little friends.