Multiliteracies pedagogy promoting young children's ecological literacy on climate change

Abstract

This chapter discusses how to nurture young children’s ecological literacy (eco-literacy) on climate change encompassing seven core skills; empathy, collaboration, communication, creativity, systems thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving. The chapter draws on the Riddle of the Spirit project designed to support children’s eco-literacy in making connections between themselves and climate issues through playful and multimodal activities embedded in a a cross-cutting narrative on Finnish myths around forest. The chapter makes visible how young children’s engagement with and learning of eco-literacy, including sustainability-oriented knowledge, skills and empathy of the natural world can be supported through novel designs informed by Multiliteracies pedagogy.