The road to sustainability : introducing sustainability to children in Icelandic primary schools

Abstract

This essay ,that follows a course book called Our Earth meant to introduce children in Icelandic primary schools to sustainability, focuses on the importance of including education for sustainability into the curricula, problems teachers have faced when doing so in the recent past and how introducing sustainability to young children can be done. With the course book “Our Earth” my goal is to influence students to make informed decision, to be aware of problems we are facing, what these problems mean to us and others around the world, for them to understand equality and to know their rights while incorporating subjects such as Geography, biology, ecology, citizenship education and ethics, mother tongue and foreign languages. If book is used as a whole it offers diverse and fun education but teacher can also determine to use different assignment to subjects he or she finds suiting. The course book was written for children in the 5-7th grade but can easily be adapted to younger children. The course book focuses mainly on educating children on global issues and equality as well as containing assignments to motivate them to do something about the problems we are facing and begin their life as sustainable thinkers.