Exploring with the non-human – A toolkit to introduce a non-human perspective to children
Exploring with the non-human is a project with the aim to introduce a non-human perspective. It manifested into The children’s toolkit for thinking with nature, a toolkit used to introduce a non-human perspective to children. The toolkit includes everything a teacher might need in order to introduce and explore a non-human perspective with children in kindergarten age. It was developed in collaboration with a teacher and tested with children in kindergarten.
The toolkit includes tools for four different exercises with the children that each build upon each other. The first is to see how nature and humans are connected and therefore affect each other. To show and let them explore how each species needs the others they match pictures on to a background to see how they are connected. They also talk and come up with their own creative ways the species connect to each other.
In the second they color in a mask each of a different species and start to try to think from the perspective of that species. Stepping into the role to come up with what the non-human might need in order to live happily.
In the third they look at some human actions that happen today and sort them based upon their impact on nature. If it is good for nature and the non-human or bad. Staying in the role they put on with the mask and using that perspective.
Lastly the teacher builds up a small town with pictures and the children are then tasked with adding, moving and removing things to welcome and make the town better for the non-human. They use what they previously did to think of how things and species affect each other and what each species needs. Coming up with opportunities for improvement in the town and adding things for the betterment of all who live or will live there. All of this while talking about how the things they add might affect existing things and what the people who live there can do to improve the town.
Goal and aim
The children’s toolkit for thinking with nature was created as nowadays we mostly view nature as a resource or a place to visit to get away from our stressful everyday life. But nature is more than just something for us to use or visit. It is something that we are dependent on and need in order to live, eat and exist. Our current view of nature as something that is separate from humans and just a resource is not sustainable. I believe that by changing our mindset and seeing nature as something we are a part of and need, the changes we want to achieve will be more easily maintained. By thinking from the perspective of other species such as animals and plants, trying to put ourselves in their place and think of their needs and wants, would allow for change towards sustainability to last. This project looks into the future and strives for long-term sustainability and change. While it is well known that there are urgent matters that need to be addressed and dealt with now and a change in mindset would take years to be embraced, it is my belief that it is an important step to take. As if we do not have a change in mindset we will fall back onto the old way of thinking and doing things. This project does not look at children to fix the problems but to introduce ways for future adults to see opportunities for positive change for a sustainable planet and future.
