Skills In Environmental studies Through Language And Maths In Early Grades

PREFACE

National Curriculum Framework-2005, has prescribed Environmental Studies as a separate subject at Classes III-V. At Classes I and II.

It is recommended that the environmental component be integrated with language and mathematics. The present textbooks of language and mathematics of Classes I and II are based on the focus given in the NCF- 2005, to integrate environmental concerns with language and mathematics and these represent relevant ideas that commensurate with the age and development level of the children so as to provide them with the necessary understanding about their immediate environment.

However, at the same time, it is important that teachers should be clear about the transactional/pedagogical strategies to make language and mathematics learning EVS-oriented. Generally, they find difficulty in integrating environmental concerns with these subjects without enhancing their load. The recent curriculum also lays lot of emphasis on moving beyond the textbooks. For this, the teachers need to design different activities that are contextually relevant, age appropriate and could be easily executed in the process of teaching learning. They also find it difficult to connect the existing knowledge of the students with the knowledge outside the classroom.

Further, to develop an attitude of the learners and sensitise them towards various issues and concerns related to the environment is also a major challenge for them. Above all, besides taking care of all these aspects they wish to make teaching learning a joyful experience for their students.

In light of the objectives of NCF-2005, and the Focus Group Reports of Teaching of Science, Teaching of Social Science and Habitat and Learning, this document as a Self Learning Material (SLM) will help teachers overcome all the difficulties and face the challenges mentioned above. The document is compendium of a variety of field-tested activities that will help the teachers weave the EVS skills and concerns with languages and mathematics so as to enable them to teach these subjects in an EVS-oriented manner It will also make them competent to plan and design many mor learning experiences in their local contexts.