Introducing soil animals in preschool

Animals are a part of our life and the fact is that some animals cause a positive response to people, while others cause nausea, discomfort and fear. Adults often transmit negative feelings to children with bad examples, instead of giving them the opportunity to analyse them on their own. The purpose of my thesis was to allow children to develop their own attitude towards soil animals through direct contact with them and their cultivation. Through my own attitude I wanted them to develop a positive attitude towards these animals. In my thesis I investigated what children can learn about soil animals by exerting active learning. I also investigated how learning about animals changes their attitude towards them. Through various activities children learned about isopods, diplopods, earthworms and spiders. In playroom we temporarily bred isopods, diplopods and earthworms, observed them and took care of them. Before and after carrying out the activities with children, I made an oral interview with them. Comparison of the results showed that children gained a lot of knowledge about soil animals through active learning and direct experience. Their attitude towards soil animals also changed a lot. They learned that even small creatures have their needs and that they need to be handled in a responsible manner. Some children even overcame the fear that they felt towards these animals