I think about being a parent and a teacher and observing children. Even experts can forget that there is a time to model and guide, and also a time to give space for the kind of learning that happens with uninterrupted play and exploration.
If the environment is the third teacher, there is no better classroom environment than the outdoors. I use our experiences and my notes and pictures as inspiration for our curriculum.
As an outdoor educator and “nature elder,” Heather Taylor tells two stories that stretched her personal views of what it means to allow children to have the freedom to make their own choices as they study nature.
This summer, discover learning activities for the classroom and explore resources to add to your teaching toolbox and enhance your professional development.
Parents, educators, and other primary caregivers might not realize that a small patch of grass, a single tree, and a walk to the store are opportunities to observe nature, generate questions, and conduct experiments to find answers.
Authored by
Authored by:
Marion Goldstein, Lisa Famularo, Jamie Kynn
Not every preschool can implement a full nature-based approach. Small shifts in program practices can give children more meaningful experiences with the natural world.
Mr. Joe has set the stage for ongoing learning opportunities by creating a weekly routine that focuses on the children’s in-depth study of Todd, the adopted oak tree.
Authored by
Authored by:
Sue Mankiw, Janis Strasser, Lisa Mufson Bresson
It began with just the spark of an idea—to construct an outdoor classroom—and ultimately led to using photography as an instructional anchor to explore and capture nature’s beauty, and beyond.
Authored by
Authored by:
Karen Capraro, Lorraine Downes, John Diego Arango
The most exciting part? When children get to eat their long-awaited garden treats. What could possibly be more tempting on a hot day than fresh watermelon from the garden? The proud smiles say it all.
