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Shaping
Young Guardians of the Planet with Creativity and Education
Children are the
future of our planet, and teaching sustainability from an early age can
transform the world. Discover how parents and educators can use theater,
science, and inspiration to cultivate respect for nature in young minds.
Teaching children
sustainability and respect for nature is more than an educational task; it is
an investment in the planet’s future. The next generation has the power to
shape a more just and balanced world, and this begins with the education they
receive at home and in school. Inspiring young ones to care for the environment
requires an approach that blends science, creativity, and emotion. The play Green,
I Want You Green, part of Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s children’s
collection, is a perfect example of this, using theater to show children the
importance of protecting forests and animals. Through engaging stories and
methodologies like the Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA),
parents and educators can turn environmental education into a fun and
meaningful adventure, planting seeds for a greener future.
Motivational Quote: “We don’t just teach
children; we learn from them.” – Maria Montessori
Science shows that
children learn best when they are emotionally engaged. A study from Stanford
University revealed that playful activities, such as theater, increase concept
retention in children by up to 40%. The MBPT (Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater)
methodology, created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, leverages this principle. In
Green, I Want You Green, puppets represent trees that dialogue with
fire, teaching children about the dangers of wildfires. In a São Paulo school,
teachers used MBPT to stage the play, and children created their own
puppets from recycled materials, learning about sustainability while having
fun. This practical and creative approach makes environmental education
accessible and unforgettable.
Curiosity Box: The Power of
Children’s Theater
Theater has been used since Ancient Greece to teach values and stories. In Green,
I Want You Green, Antônio Carlos dos Santos uses puppets to bring nature to
life, helping children see the environment as a living character worthy of care
and respect.
The MAT (Mindset,
Action, and Theater) methodology, part of the Pedagogies of Creativity
and Autonomy (PCA), emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive
mindset, taking concrete actions, and using theater to engage. For example,
parents can apply MAT by taking their children to plant a tree in the
backyard while telling stories about the importance of forests. A study from
the University of Cambridge showed that children exposed to hands-on
activities, like planting, develop greater empathy for the environment. In Green,
I Want You Green, the trees in the play “talk” to children, encouraging
them to act to protect nature, showing how theater can turn ideas into actions.
Inspirational Story: Malala Yousafzai
and Transformative Education
Malala, with her fight for education, shows that teaching values to children
can change the world. Her story inspires parents and educators to use environmental
education to shape conscious young citizens ready to protect the planet.
The ThM (Theater
Movement), another methodology by Antônio Carlos, uses physical movement to
reinforce educational messages. In a Rio de Janeiro preschool, teachers used ThM
to create a choreography where children mimic the growth of trees while
learning about the importance of water and soil. This activity, inspired by Green,
I Want You Green, brings nature to life through dramaturgy. Studies from
Yale University indicate that activities involving the body, like ThM,
help children internalize complex concepts, such as sustainability, more deeply
and lastingly.
Practical Tip: Create a Garden
with Children
Use MAT to plan a gardening project at home or school. Choose native
plants, teach children to care for them, and share stories about the importance
of biodiversity. This reinforces respect for nature in a practical and fun way.
Antônio Carlos’s
children’s collection, with ten theatrical plays, including Green, I Want
You Green, is a treasure for educators. Each work addresses themes like
cooperation, diversity, and sustainability, always with a touch of humor and
reflection. For example, in All Colors Are Cool, children learn about
inclusion, while The Jaguar and the Capybara teaches about sharing.
These stories, staged with MBPT, allow children to connect emotionally
with the themes. A Harvard University study showed that theatrical narratives
increase empathy in children, helping them understand social and environmental
issues in a more human way.
Environmental
education also aligns with Maria Montessori’s principles, who advocated that
learning should spark curiosity and autonomy. In Green, I Want You Green,
children are invited to reflect on how to stop wildfires, taking on the role of
protagonists in protecting the environment. A practical example is a school
that, inspired by the play, created a “nature club” where students monitor
water and energy use. Studies from the University of Oxford reinforce that
educational programs giving children autonomy, like those inspired by
Montessori, increase engagement in environmental causes by up to 25%.
Curiosity Box: The Power of
Stories
Antônio Carlos’s collection includes ten plays addressing values like
sustainability and inclusion. Green, I Want You Green has already been
performed in thousands of schools in Brazil, inspiring children to become
defenders of the environment.
Teaching
sustainability also means showing children the impact of their actions. A study
published in Nature revealed that children participating in
environmental projects, like recycling, develop a sense of responsibility that
lasts into adulthood. Inspired by MBPT, teachers can create activities
where children build objects from recycled materials, like PET bottles, while
discussing the importance of reducing waste. In Green, I Want You Green,
the narrative of trees “speaking” to fire teaches children that every small
gesture, like turning off a light or recycling, makes a difference for the
planet.
Motivational Quote: “The Earth does not
belong to man; man belongs to the Earth.” – Indigenous Proverb
The story of Wangari
Maathai, who planted millions of trees in Kenya, is an inspiring example for
parents and educators. Like Antônio Carlos’s plays, Maathai used practical
actions to teach sustainability, showing that small initiatives can have a
global impact. In a school that adopted ThM, children performed a play
about Maathai, using movements to represent tree growth. This approach,
blending theater and education, reinforces that children can be agents of
change. Studies from Stanford University show that real-life examples, like
Maathai’s, increase children’s motivation to act for the environment.
Practical Tip: Use Stories to
Teach
Read or stage a play from Antônio Carlos’s collection, like Green, I Want
You Green, with children. Then, ask them to draw or write what they learned
about caring for nature. This stimulates creativity and reinforces
environmental values.
Antônio Carlos’s Pedagogies
of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA) are powerful tools for educators. MAT,
for instance, can be used to create school projects combining reflection
(mindset), practical action (like recycling), and theater (performances). In a
Belo Horizonte school, teachers used MAT to organize an environmental
theater festival, where children created plays about water conservation. The
result was increased student engagement and a 15% reduction in water waste at
the school. These initiatives show that environmental education, when creative,
can transform attitudes and behaviors from an early age.
Inspirational Story: Wangari Maathai
and the Green Movement
Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, planting millions of trees and
empowering communities. Her story, like Antônio Carlos’s plays, teaches that
simple actions, when done with purpose, can change the world, inspiring
children to protect nature.
Teaching
sustainability to children is a commitment to the future. Antônio Carlos’s
methodologies, like MBPT, MAT, and ThM, show that theater
can be a bridge between science, education, and emotion. Just as Irena Sendler
used courage to save lives, Green, I Want You Green uses art to save the
planet, teaching children they are essential to this mission. A Yale University
study highlights that children educated with environmental values from an early
age are 30% more likely to adopt sustainable practices as adults. It is up to
us, parents and educators, to inspire young ones to be guardians of the planet
with creativity, love, and action.
Access the books by Antônio Carlos dos Santos on amazon.com or amazon.com.br
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