Pixel International Conferences

This study explores the integration of sustainability and statistical thinking (Jones et al., 2000) in a kindergarten setting. Conducted in collaboration with a health-promoting kindergarten (Østfoldhelsa, 2015), the research aims to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (UN-SDG, 2025). The study involved 18 four-year-old children who engaged in activities that combined learning about healthy eating and statistical concepts. Using a playful approach (Wells, 1999; Carlsen, 2013), children created bar charts with blocks to visualize their favorite lunch foods, followed by discussions to interpret the data. Observations were made during these activities to gather data on the children’s engagement and understanding. The data was analyzed using a thematic qualitative analysis strategy (Widerberg, 2001), focusing on the children’s use of statistical thinking and mathematical concepts. The findings suggest that early education on sustainability and health, supported by statistical thinking, can foster long-term positive habits and awareness among young children.

 

Key Words: Sustainability. Kindergarten Education, Statistical Thinking, Healthy Eating, UN Sustainable Development Goals

 

REFERENCES

 

[1] Carlsen, M. (2013). Engaging with mathematics in the kindergarten. Orchestrating a fairy tale through questioning and use of tools. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 21(4), 502–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2013.845439

 

[2] Jones, G., Perry, B., Putt, I. & Nisbet, S., (2000). Assessing and Fostering Children’s Statistical Thinking. ICME 9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245507779_Assessing_and_Fostering_Children's_Statistical_Thinking

 

[3] UN-SDG (2025, 25. Februar). UN substainable development goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

 

[4] Wells, C.G. (1999). Dialogic inquiry: Towards a sociocultural practice and theory of education. Cambridge University Press.

 

[5] Widerberg, K. (2001). Historien om et kvalitativt forskningsprosjekt: en alternativ lærebok (K. Bolstad, overs.). Universitetsforlaget.

 

[6] Østfoldhelsa. (2015, 13. mars). Prosjekt atten tusen timer.       https://ostfoldhelsa.no/ukategorisert/prosjekt-atten-tusen-timer/