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Lately the term ecology is heard regularly in our society. We hear about ecological clothing, ecological food, and even ecological games, without being completely clear on the concept. Well, the term ecological refers to those products that have been created in a sustainable, ethical and respectful way with the environment. In this way, ecological clothing is one that is made with fabrics typical of sustainable agriculture and that does not use artificial products such as pesticides or chemical products. Organic foods are those obtained from environmentally friendly agricultural methods, without the use of artificial products, much less genetic alterations. On the other hand, ecological games are those that help us to develop knowledge of the natural environment and to carry out good environmental practices. Do you want to learn to play? In Green Ecologist we teach and explain some ecological games for kids.
What are ecological games
When we talk about ecological games, we refer to those playful activities through which we can understand how our planet works, enriching our knowledge and promoting, at the same time, awareness of current environmental problems. Some games may even allow us to collaborate and implement some actions that help curb these problems, such as recycling, saving energy and resources or cleaning green areas.
On the other hand, it should be noted that playing is not just for children and much less ecology. Respect for the environment is something that concerns us all, so in ecological games they do not have a certain age range, they can participate from the oldest to the smallest.
Games to learn and discover
The ecosystem
In this game each player will choose a living or inert being and he will get into his role, so that one player can be, for example, a lake, another a deer, another a mountain, another a flower, another the sun, and so on. Next, one of the players is given a ball of wool, and he must approach each element of the environment with which he is related without releasing the ball, so that a kind of spider web or net is formed. Once the participants are connected by the wool thread, questions or unknowns can be asked to make them think and understand the importance of maintaining each and every one of the elements of the ecosystem. We can eliminate, for example, one of the elements and check how it affects the rest or play to move the thread, raise it, lower it or pull it and observe how the rest of the members will also move. With this game children will learn the importance of the interrelationships of an ecosystem.
The detective
We present the children with a case, and we give them a fairly wide margin of time to carry out their investigation, such as, for example, Where does our garbage go? Where does the toilet water go? How do birds communicate? This will arouse interest and curiosity of the smallest who will develop their own conjectures. Once they explain their theory, we will correct them if they are wrong and we will provide them with videos or tools so that they understand how it really happens.
Games to take care of the environment
Pick up trash
This game can be set up as a competition. Groups will be made and there will be a natural space that is slightly affected by human contamination, such as a picnic area where there are food containers on the ground. Each team is given a garbage bags and utensils to pick up debris such as gloves or brushes and are given a limited time to have each team collect the most trash possible. The winning team will be the one that has collected the most trash.
Recycled crafts
There are many Crafts that can be made from items that we consider waste or that "are no longer worth", such as wallets with newspaper, using glue, thread and sewing needle. Convert food containers into other products, such as making a piggy bank or pencil pot from a used soda can or toys and decoration items such as Christmas decorations from bottles, tin cans, and other containers. Through this practice the children they learn the dual use of objects and to focus in a different way of view everything that we throw away or that we get rid of. In the following articles we explain how to make musical instruments from recycled materials or ideas to recycle colored straws.
Games to raise awareness and educate
Toxic water
It consists of a game of catch. One of the players is contaminated water and has to catch one of the other players, once they catch it they will shake hands and continue trying catching people and spreading until practically all players are trapped. With this game, the aim is to understand the ability of a toxic or polluting substance to expand and affect the environment.
Deforestation
One of the children or players will be the forest rangerwhile they will exist three lumberjacks. The loggers will begin to touch the rest of the children, which will be the trees. Each child touched will be a felled tree, so they will have to sit down. At the same time, the forester will touch the felled trees so that they grow back, however they cannot be incorporated directly but will need at least three touches to fully incorporate. With the first touch they will squat, with the second on their knees and with the third finally standing. With this game children can appreciate the devastating effects of uncontrolled loggingNo matter how hard the forester tries to alleviate the effect. In the following Green Ecologist article we explain the consequences of deforestation for children.
If you want to read more articles similar to Ecological games for childrenWe recommend that you enter our Environmental Education category.
