Exploring Education for Sustainable Development in a Chinese Kindergarten: An Action Research

Abstract

Purpose: This article was intended to share and reflect on experiences concerning the education for sustainable development (ESD) project at Hongqiao Kindergarten in Shanghai. The project aimed to explore how ESD could be implemented in a current curriculum and to provide useful examples of educational activities and experiences. Design/Approach/Methods: The action research included two cycles with four steps. The first cycle involved the integration of ESD into a traditional science curriculum. The second cycle involved the validation and optimization of the ESD objectives. The implementation strategies were reviewed and refined. Findings: First, a variety of strategies can be used to identify the theme and choose the content. Second, the objectives should be developed on children’s life experiences and interests. Third, the idea of ESD can be implemented in multiple ways. Fourth, a reasonable objective system involving ESD was constructed for children by ages. Fifth, there were many effective ways to integrate ESD activities into other domains of curriculum. The challenges and implications were also discussed. Originality/Value: The study had a positive effect on teachers’ ability to practice ESD. This was a pioneer project in early childhood education in China, which provided valuable information for those aiming to implement ESD practices in Chinese kindergartens.