"A Great Living Organism": A Green Thread in the Pedagogy of Listening

The pedagogy of listening, which originated in the Reggio Emilia approach and is known for the promotion of discussion and democratic participation, serves as the basis for exploring the integration of plants as educational resources. This study aims to elucidate behaviors, methods, and interpretations related to plant-based education through individual interviews with teachers and educators in formal and informal contexts. The interviews will explore the influence of adults on children in relation to plants, examining the impact of time on strategies and the role of listening. The findings could identify factors that influence educators’ planning and potentially shift perspectives by recognising plants as “sensitive” entities. Documenting educators’ efforts in plant-based education could be crucial, providing a repository of innovative ideas to influence curricula and teaching methods. This study argues for a paradigm shift in education towards the promotion of sustainability and the consideration of the needs of all living beings.

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