In our magazine Nursery News we featured the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Here are the free resources we have collected to help early years settings to support the goals.
Don’t forget to share what you get up using #globalgoals. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
1. No poverty
Support this goal at your nursery by holding a bake sale to raise funds for a local charity. You can also support nursery parents on low incomes by setting up a book lending library or costume swap shop
2. Zero hunger
This goal includes targets on sustainable food production. Find tips on growing and cooking vegetables, plus encourage children to learn about vegetables and plan a visit to your local market or allotment.
3. Good health and well-being
Encourage good health and well-being from an early age with our Healthy Body, Happy Me resources. This goal also includes targets on air pollution – find advice for your nursery in our blog here.
4. Quality education
This goal includes targets on literacy – encourage reading and storytelling skills with our We’re Going on a Bear Hunt activities. You can also aim for the highest standards by signing up to our Quality Counts scheme.
5. Gender equality
Promote gender neutral play opportunities with this activity. This goal also includes targets on ending practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – find out more in our mini-guide here
6. Clean water and sanitation
This goal includes targets on increasing water use efficiency and raising awareness to improve water management. Find tips on water conservation plus links to water safety information and factsheets.
7. Affordable and clean energy
Explore science in early years with the activities in this blog post, including making a kite and exploring the physical force of water. Explore different energy sources and introduce the concept of renewable energy.
8. Decent work and economic growth
This goal works towards opportunities for creative work that motivates people’s development. Encourage children to follow their interests from an early age with “Planning in the Moment”.
9. Industry, innovation & infrastructure
Goal 9 covers how companies are responsible for helping the communities where they operate, so that community members feel included and respected. Follow the “Kindness to our community” section in this activity guide.
10. Reduced inequalities
Goal 10 encourages us to promote inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. Promote inclusive play at your setting with our mini-guide.
11. Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 11 includes a target to promote affordable and sustainable transport systems. Explore transport with activities including “Making vehicles” and “Making a journey stick” in this nursery guide.
12. Responsible consumption
Goal 12 encourages us to reduce the generation of waste through the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Find tips for recycling here and activities to be kind to the environment in this activity guide.
13. Climate action
Goal 13 focuses on taking action to combat climate change and its impacts. In Nursery News we featured a story from members The Old Forge Nursery on their “Climate Change Day”. Download it below.
14. Life below water
Help children to learn the importance of protecting marine ecosystems and reducing pollution in our oceans, with this blog post on reducing single-use plastic and plastic waste at your setting.
15. Life on land
Show children from a young age the importance of conserving natural habitats. This goal includes targets to promote our forests – why not offer forest school at your setting if you don’t already?
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
Goal 16 encourages us to promote peaceful and inclusive societies and access to justice for all. Promote representative decision making at your nursery by hosting a children’s council.
17. Partnerships
Get the SDGs in Action app. Also don’t forget to share your actions with #globalgoals and work in partnership with your parents and carers too – find activities for working with parents here.
Downloads
Useful links
Find out more about global goals
Find guidance on implementing them for and with children
A child-friendly guide to the goals
The links between the Global Goals and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
‘World’s Largest Lesson’ has resources to introduce the Goals to children