Hands-on composting lesson at Kavadades Nursery School
CORFU. Education on Circular Economy from Preschool Age.
(Spyridoula Kokkali) As part of promoting the circular economy and environmental education initiatives led by North Corfu Municipality, I visited Kavadades Nursery School today following the kind invitation of the Principal, Ms. Morfou Evmorfia. The aim of the visit was to provide a hands-on experience of composting as a process of recycling organic materials and enhancing sustainability.
Putting the Circular Economy into Practice
The activity began with a nutritional and environmental symbolism, as the children ate their fruit and then placed the peels in the composter. In this way, they understood that organic waste is not trash but a natural resource that can return to the earth as fertiliser.
Dramatised Simulation of Composting
To deepen understanding, an experiential method was applied through dramatisation. The children were divided into five groups and used materials to represent the stages of composting:
- Apple peels (red cardboard) – organic waste breaking down.
- Banana peels (yellow cardboard) – enriching the compost with a variety of materials.
- Orange peels (orange cardboard) – symbolizing the diversity of organic waste.
- Earthworms (brown cardboard) – organisms that accelerate decomposition through the biotransformation of matter.
- Rain (maracas) – representing the role of moisture in the process.
This hands-on approach enhanced cognitive understanding through sensory experience, making learning more meaningful and interactive.
From Theory to Practice: Planting for a Sustainable Future
To strengthen the connection with nature and promote environmental awareness, each child received a strawberry plant as a symbolic gift. This emphasised the importance of growing our own food, supporting local production, and understanding the link between healthy nutrition and sustainability.
Environmental Education and Circular Economy from Preschool Age
As the Deputy Mayor of Circular Economy for the Municipality of North Corfu, with years of experience in recycling and composting, I believe that sustainability education should begin in early childhood. Through hands-on learning, children develop an understanding of their responsibility toward the environment and adopt sustainable practices they can carry with them throughout their lives.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank you to Kavadades Nursery School, to Ms. Morfou Evmorfia, to nursery teacher Ms. Georgia Kouloubi, and to the wonderful children who embraced this initiative with enthusiasm. Sharing knowledge and fostering environmental consciousness is the greatest investment in our future.
Change begins with education!
Photos: FB / Spyridoula Kokkali
