At times, parents underestimate the depth of comprehension that might be possible with their preschooler, particularly when dealing with complex subjects such as the environment. Sometimes, it is surprising to find out how much awareness they already have, even before we introduce the subject. The environment has become a popular topic that is often found in children's books, videos, movies, songs, and in the media. Chances are very good that they have internalized a base knowledge of some of the global concerns regarding our environment. With that in mind, begin by finding out what they KNOW, which is the first step in completing the KWL chart.
While there are a lot of complex sub-topics surrounding the environment, the connections and commonalities between living things and what they need is not difficult for preschoolers to grasp. They come at it from a point of reference insofar as their own personal needs are concerned. It is quite natural for them to connect the dots between being hungry and eating, being thirsty and having a drink, and breathing in air. Moving their compass to include other living things is easier once they have acknowledged their part in the bigger picture.
Most preschoolers respond wonderfully to visual aids. Using a globe to let them explore the lands and waters of earth gives them a manageable concept of such a massive thing. Let them have time to play around with the globe, ask questions, and absorb new information you give them. Show them where they live on the globe and then allow them to explore where other living things might live, such as in the water. Again, you are drawing a comparison between what they already know about themselves and what is going on with other people and living things.
Relying on the strength of visual aids, take a field trip to a nature trail, natural museum of history, or botanical garden. Talk about the "homes" of the many living things there. The plants, the birds, even the grass has a part in making up all the things found on that globe you examined earlier. All of these things have needs, and when those needs are not met it can affect them. Ask what might happen under certain scenarios, such as no rain for the trees to grow or no trees for the birds to make homes in. This is where you complete the What I WANT to Know section of the KWL chart.
Guide them through as they use critical thinking in order to come to logical conclusions about their inquiries. For example, ask what can happen if a living thing never gets a drink of water. You can use a live plant or even a family pet to discuss that further. What would happen to a living thing if it no longer had a home? Help them analyze these from a Cause and Affect perspective. Their deductions will complete the KWL chart as the What I LEARNED section is filled in.
Use all available learning tools to help your child internalize these basic lessons. Preschoolers generally love memorizing songs, so using songs that help teach them about the environment is a great way to help them retain what they're learning. This is a stage of development when children can soak up ideas and knowledge like a sponge. The sooner they explore pivotal subjects with such global concerns, the sooner they will be ready to take that knowledge to the next level.