Caring for Our Community Garden – Growing Through Daily Responsibilities (On-Going)

At MY World @ Simei, we believe that children are capable contributors who learn best through authentic experiences that connect them with their community. Through a collaboration with Simei Joyful Garden as part of the "City in Nature" movement under Singapore's Green Plan 2030, children from Playgroup (PG) to Kindergarten 2 (K2) participated in a meaningful community gardening initiative that supports the SSDB focus on Environmental Stewardship, Community Partnership, and Active Citizenship.

Caring for the garden became an embedded daily practice rather than a one-off project, allowing children to experience sustainability as an ongoing responsibility. Through purposeful routines such as watering plants, cleaning the garden, and observing changes in nature, children developed a sense of ownership, responsibility, and respect for the environment while caring for a shared community space. As children observed changes in the plants, they began asking questions such as why some plants grew faster than others and how weather affected growth. Teachers documented these inquiries and supported children in investigating possible explanations through observations, discussions, and simple investigations, allowing children's questions to shape subsequent learning experiences.

Building on children's curiosity, teachers intentionally scaffolded their learning by encouraging them to observe, ask questions, make predictions, and reflect on how their daily actions contributed to the well-being of the garden. Through meaningful conversations, children recognised that every individual has a role to play in protecting the environment and creating sustainable communities. These experiences nurtured children's understanding of environmental stewardship and empowered them to become active participants in caring for the world around them.

Over time, children required fewer teacher reminders as they independently initiated garden routines, monitored plant growth, reminded peers about caring for the space, and suggested ways to improve the garden. Their growing ownership demonstrated that environmental stewardship had become part of their daily habits rather than a teacher-directed activity. Teachers captured children's learning through photographs, observations, learning stories, and children's reflections, documenting the progression of their understanding, responsibility, and agency over time.

The children's reflections demonstrated their growing understanding: "I water the plants so they can grow." "The garden looks clean because we work together." "The plants need us to take care of them."

This collaboration strengthened children's dispositions as responsible, caring, and resilient learners while supporting the SSDB goals of nurturing environmentally conscious children who contribute positively to their community. Through authentic participation, children developed communication, collaboration, observation, and problem-solving skills while building a strong sense of belonging and civic responsibility.

The partnership also strengthened relationships between the preschool, families, and community partners, demonstrating that sustainability is a shared responsibility. As educators, we will continue to provide meaningful opportunities that empower children to become active citizens who care for the environment and contribute towards building a greener and more sustainable Singapore.