Environmental Education and STEAM approach for Visually Impaired Pupils in Kindergartens

<< Background >>The importance of early education provided by well-trained staff is fundamental for visually impaired kids who face barriers in their inclusion in mainstream classes because pre-school teachers don’t know how to supply them contents and which adapted tools they should use to convey such contents appropriately.GREEN4VIP faced the following topics: 1) The topic of inclusion of visually impaired pupils in ECEC, providing preschool teachers with suitable inclusive pedagogical strategies to address VIP needs 2) the topic of environmental awareness, as it is one of the main pillars of the SDGs; so that we updated the skills of pre-school teachers through innovative training materials in the field of sustainable lifestyles and sustainable consumption habits and how to convey them to VIP.<< Objectives >>GREEN4VIP, in line with the UN SDGs, 2022 EU COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on Learning for Environmental Sustainability and the 2019 Recommendation on High-Quality ECEC Systems, was aimed at improving pre-school teachers’ skills on environmental awareness, the interdisciplinary STEAM approach and digital pedagogies focussing on visually impaired pupils (VIP) in ECEC to implement online and offline environmental workshops in kindergartens, to contribute to the implementation of the EU Green Deal<< Implementation >>GREEN4VIP investigated the skills gaps of 189 teachers through an online survey and then elaborated the GREEN4VIPGuidelines (WP2), Teacher Training Curriculum (WP3) and Inclusive Toolbox for VIP (WP4): a collection of resources for teachers to implement STEAM-based environmental workshops for 365 kids (44 are VIP) in kindergartens. Through a Transnational Training event and National Pilots for 96 teachers, resources were tested and then shared with stakeholders through Multiplier events.<< Results >>Guidelines for pre-school teachers, a practical guide to implement learning processes in ECEC to deal with VIP + Teacher Training Curriculum supplies skills to teachers to convey sustainable practices focusing on VI kids + Inclusive Toolbox for VIP (with audio-described video tutorials), to implement environmental workshops in kindergartens online and offline. OTHER OUTCOMES: -Teachers’ improved skills-Children’s awareness on environmental issues -Stakeholders use resources in their daily work.