The Wattle Room children work collaboratively to construct their representation of a chocolate factory.

The Wattle Room children have been collecting plastic yoghurt caps from their morning snack containers in order to recognise the amount of plastic waste that we create. In the spirit of sustainability, the children suggested that the caps be repurposed as a chocolate factory, inspired by the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Members of the group explained that Charlie’s father works at the local toothpaste factory, attaching caps in the story. Over the course of several weeks, the children drew innovative and creative plans for their collaborative piece.

The children have now embarked upon the journey of co-constructing their representation of a chocolate factory. It has been inspiring to observe the children’s broadening awareness of sustainable practices, including the repurposing of unwanted materials. Group members have eagerly contributed recycled items from the home environment to reuse in the context of their play. The children are currently negotiating elements of their individual planning proposals and are beginning to implement the decisions that they have made as a team.

The Wattle Room children draw their plans for a chocolate factory.

This week, the children’s focus rests on creating the foundations for the construction, which will feature the multitude of plastic bottle caps that have been collected during their shared meal times. We have been considering how much kinder it is to nature to mindfully repurpose such materials, as opposed to adding to landfill and our oceans. In this way, the children are learning to become socially responsible and are showing increased respect for the environment.

Miss Kristina Schrader, Wattle Room Teacher