School Education

In April 2024, OWLHK provided preschool environmental education teaching training for 10 teachers from St James Catholic Kindergarten. On the activity day, after listening to the preschool environmental education thematic lecture, the teachers went to the school garden and learned about various plants, such as white champak and jackfruit, in order to learn how to observe plants and gain inspiration for designing preschool environmental education activities in the future. Subsequently, they travelled to Sam Ka Tsuen Recreation Ground to conduct ecological field trip studies. Through guided tour and sensory observations, they learned more about the common species found in urban ecology, for example, plants, insects and birds, and had enhanced their understanding of Hong Kong ecology and biodiversity.

Urban EcologyExperience with Five Senses

With the combination of indoor thematic lectures and outdoor field trip studies, 10 Sin Ching Kindergarten teachers received preschool environmental education teaching training designed by OWLHK in April 2024. During the thematic lecture, the teachers gained a preliminary understanding of the Hong Kong ecology status quo and the application of preschool environmental education. In addition, during the field trip at Tsing Yi Park, the teachers learned about the characteristics of the plants that could be found in the park, such as palm trees, via different interesting games and guided tours. They had also learned about the skills for guiding children to observe plants and animals. It is hoped that teachers could apply the relevant knowledge to future teaching activities.

Environmental EducationPlant Training

In order to enhance educators’ understanding of local biodiversity and the vision of environmental education, OWLHK arranged preschool environmental education teaching training for 15 teachers of St. Thomas’ Catholic Kindergarten in April 2024. Apart from thematic lectures and sharing, the training also consisted of a board game session, enabling teachers to experience the "Laws of the Forest" board game designed by us. The session helped teachers to understand the interdependent relationship between different organisms, and broadened their imagination on the application of environmental education.

Board Game Education

Invited by ELCHK Ling Kung Nursery School, OWLHK conducted a preschool environmental education teaching training for 14 teachers in March 2024. After completing the outdoor warm-up game and listening to thematic lecture sharing, in order to help teachers further understand the implementation of environmental education, the teachers went to Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve under the guidance of our instructors. They experienced diversified games targeting different children’s abilities and interests, including Bingo, the ecological network game and sensory exploration activities, in order to help them think about the ways of incorporating environmental education in different teaching facets.

Environmental Education

OWLHK was invited by Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children Ma Tau Chung Nursery School, and provided preschool environmental education teaching training for 11 teachers. The training theme will be learning how to enable children to explore nature through multisensory. We visited Tsiu Hang Lions Nature Education Centre, and demonstrated to teachers the way of utilizing different games to arrange outdoor environmental education activities about five senses and exploratory activities. Besides, we introduced the methods of leading children to understand local forest animals and plants from daily life experiences. Concurrently, to enhance the effectiveness of environmental education, we pointed out the main points and precautions of conducting preschool environmental education activities, and explored environmental-friendly actions that are suitable for children to engage in, hoping that teachers could help students to cultivate good environmental literacy.

Experience with Five SensesForest Ecology

To help teachers to understand urban ecology and biodiversity, and understand the pedagogies of children environmental education, Department of Early Childhood Education from The Education University of Hong Kong invited OWLHK to provide preschool environmental education training to 16 teachers. In October 2023, we visited Kowloon Park and conducted a 3-hour outdoor study, in order to understand urban natural resources. The teachers had hands-on experience in using binoculars and field guides to observe and differentiate common urban birds, insects and plants. They learned about urban biodiversity that is often overlooked. Furthermore, through sharings and reflections, teachers converted the experiences to effective learning. They explored the main points of designing outdoor preschool environmental education, as well as the way to adopt environmental education in daily teaching.

Urban Ecology

Invited by Hong Kong Christian Services Tai Hang Tung Nursery School, we organized preschool environmental education workshop for 23 staff. In the morning indoor activity, teachers listened to thematic lectures and understood Hong Kong ecology, as well as theories about environmental education. Speaker from OWLHK also shared related experience and main points of conducting indoor and outdoor environmental education. In addition, through《Law of the Forest》board game session, teachers gained a deeper understanding of local forest ecology, and experienced the threats posed to forests by human. In the afternoon, teachers visited Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve to conduct forest ecology outdoor study. Through game and sensory observation, they learned about local forest environment, as well as common animals and plants. Lastly, teachers reflected about how to implement the learned concepts in daily teachings. Hopefully, it could enhance children’s knowledge, skills and attitude in environmental protection.

Board Game EducationForest Ecology

Plants and insects are popular topics in early childhood education, but how should we select and apply suitable information for young children to learn? In August 2021, 24 teachers from S.K.H St. Joseph’s Church Kindergarten attended our teacher training session to learn about plant ecology. They learned fundamental plant observation skills and related examples, and conducted field trips to observe plants on and off campus. Through surrounding plants, teachers could gain a better understanding of nature and related creatures, and be prepared for curricula design and teaching activities. In April 2023, OWLHK was honoured to be invited again by S.K.H St. Joseph’s Church Kindergarten, and hosted teacher training revolving the theme of insect ecology. Group instructor led teachers to conduct field study in Lui Kung Tin Tsuen and Tsing Tam Reservoir, and demonstrated the skills of searching for and observing insects. Besides, group instructor introduced the ecology of different insects, such as its life cycle and the developmental process. Instructors also provided participants with insect observation tools to observe insects, and to think about how to introduce different insects to children with daily life examples.

Plant TrainingInsect Training

We were gratefully invited by Kowloon Ling Liang Church Kindergarten to conduct a training workshop for 10 teachers and staff in March 2023. Revolving around the topic of urban ecology, the workshop began with a lecture sharing the ecology and biodiversity of local birds, followed by the threats and conservation issues about them.

After the indoor section, teachers were brought for an outdoor field trip and game activities in Kowloon Walled City Park to meet with urban birds in real life. By linking nature to our human lives, educators may incorporate environmental education into their teaching and inspire the next generation to appreciate and protect our precious nature.

Urban EcologyBird Ecology

In February 2023, 20 teachers and staff from the Choi Ha Estate Kit Sam Kindergarten paid a visit to the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve in a training workshop focused on forest ecology. With different game demonstrations and observation using different senses, our tutors guided the teachers to learn about the unique characteristics of the forest environment. The learning experience was enriched by identifying some common wildlife as well as witnessing the impact of human activities in the forests.

Meanwhile, a mindful forest walk offered the teachers an opportunity to release their burdens and connect with the forest on a spiritual level. Finally, teachers consolidate their observations from the training and came up with key points for their childhood environmental education activities. Some practical ways incorporating with teachers’ newfound knowledge into daily teaching practice were also generated.

Forest EcologyMindfulness

Invited by Ms. Carmen Chan BBS, JP, the Principal of Tivoli Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten, we were able to conduct a comprehensive one-day training session for 40 teachers and staff in October 2022.

The first part of training covered the fundamental principles of environmental education as well as experience and insights on how to effectively incorporate environmental education into early childhood curriculum. In the second half, we visited Aberdeen Country Park to demonstrate some sensory-based nature exploration activities for young children, followed by a discussion to integrate activities experienced into the school’s teaching practice.

Experience with Five Senses

We were honored to conduct an "Environmental Education Workshop and Outdoor Ecological Tour" in October 2021 for over 20 educators from Po Leung Kuk Kam Hing Kindergarten. We demonstrated the board game "Law of the Forest" for game-based learning and embarked on a field trip to the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve to deepen teachers’ understanding of Hong Kong’s forest ecology.

Board Game EducationForest Ecology

Invited by the Child Education Centre for Teaching & Learning under the Childcare, Elderly and Community Services of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Shatin), we provided a training for preschool teachers under the project “ECF Kids Go Green” in 2019.

The theme for this training was about PingFang-Bold.ttf PingFang-ExtraLight.ttf PingFang-Heavy.ttf PingFang-Light.ttf PingFang-Medium.ttf PingFang-Regular.ttfHong Kong biodiversity. Through a series of seminars, a session with board game “Law of the Forest” and fieldwork, teachers learned the importance of Hong Kong nature as well as the closely linked and inseparable relationship within ecology.

Ecology TrainingEnvironmental Education