Module 5: THE GMRC TEACHER AS AN AGENT OF NATION-BUILDING AND

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Lesson 1B: Care for the Planet

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to:
▪ demonstrate an affectionate attitude towards the earth and nature;
▪ describe how we contribute to the environmental crises;
▪ value reusing, repairing and recycling natural resources and
▪ appreciate peace with nature.

Understanding the Concept

This aims at developing the sense of 'touch' with Nature in us. Peace with nature is
blissful, healing and fulfilling. It creates a deep spiritual sense of communion with Nature,
which brings about contentment and peace. The ever-increasing restlessness in the modern
society arises from the loss of touch with Nature.

In coming into touch with Nature, we develop what is called, the planet consciousness.
Children need to have it to know how the ecosystem operates. Fortunately, many curriculum
designers have identified the needs. Subjects like science, geography, and social studies area
in both primary and secondary amply provide knowledge about the planet. Peace education
helps internalization of such knowledge, through bringing in the affective learning dimension.

Our present era is crucially decisive about the future of Mother Earth. Mankind had
been living on earth at least for the last six million years. They built many civilizations on
various parts of the earth. The striking fact about the ancient civilizations was that they were
never posed threats to the earth. But within the short existence of the modern civilization for
the last twenty-seven decades, say from 1830 with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution
up to the present, the earth has been threatened with damage, pollution and destruction as
never before. Unless we stop this, the future of the earth is at great risk.

Educating to care for the planet

Children need to understand the consequences of damages we do to the earth because they
are the future citizens. In fact, children can be crusaders to save the earth. To quote only a
few problems affecting the earth:

▪ Global warming
▪ Epidemics/pandemics
▪ Ever increasing poverty
▪ Population growth
▪ Famines, cyclones
▪ Loss of forest
▪ Soil erosion
▪ Extinction of species
▪ Scarcity of drinking water
▪ Chemical poisoning of fertile soil
▪ Toxic wastes

Good Manners and Right Conduct 1st Sem 2023-2024 LSCagande

People accept the need to stop all this destruction. However, when it comes to action, they
are indifferent. The damaging is continuing as ever year-by-year.

Educationally, raising awareness in children should be reinforced through providing an

We are capable

A teacher from a public school in Colombo, Sri Lanka reports:

“I did a small classroom activity on the caring for the earth. A few days later I heard how one of my
students had stopped his destructive habit. The parents leave home to their offices with the child. On
the way there is a preserved birds sanctuary land.

Many people bring their home garbage in bags, stop cars and throw them away to the preserved land.
On the following morning, the child protested against their parent’s habit.”

Concluding Thoughts

The earth is at risk as a consequence of our mistreatment. Our life is so intrinsically connected with the
earth. Mistreating earth is mistreating ourselves. In this context, it is so necessary to enhance children's
affection towards earth and Nature so that they develop concern for their living surroundings in everyday
life. Children have capacities to help Nature in their own ways. To involve children in persevering and
protecting earth first they have to learn how the ecosystem operates, identify crises and then involve
inaction. (Balasooriya, 2001).

Good Manners and Right Conduct 1st Sem 2023-2024 LSCagande