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Bringing Nature in Classroom
- 1. Bringing the Outdoors in: Integrating Nature into the Early Childhood Classroom Beth Edwards www.greenspacetx.com
- 2. Objectives: • Identify benefits of Nature play for children • List Benefits of nature in the classroom • Examine ways to integrate nature throughout the EC classroom • Formulate a plan to increase nature in your classroom
- 3. Pair and Share • What are your favorite memories of playing as a young child? • Where were you? • What surrounded you?
- 4. Why is nature important when educating young children? Discussion
- 5. Benefits of Nature Play • Natural elements allow longer periods of sustained focus and concentration • Sensory development in infancy and toddlerhood is critical to behavior regulation and school readiness • Supports physical, cognitive, language and social emotional development- BUILDS BRAINS • Supports inquiry base learning • Nature connects all cultures • Offers a child-centered, intrinsically motivating space to learn • Promotes collaboration • Promotes an appreciation for nature • Affords opportunities to learn about respect and care for the natural environment • Encourages physical activity helping to reduce childhood obesity
- 6. Benefits of Nature Rich Classrooms • Natural color pallets create a peaceful and calming environment • Nature and natural material engage all the senses (plastic materials all feel the same, smell the same) • Children are less distracted and overstimulated in nature rich settings, better able to regulate their own behaviors • Promotes the use of the classroom as the third teacher • Children are drawn to nature, natural materials and real tools.
- 7. Best of all…. Nature based approaches to learning inspire wonder, curiosity and observation.
- 8. Compare these spaces? How does each feel to you?
- 9. Curating a Nature Rich Environment • Incorporate natural materials and nature items into all learning/discovery centers • Use plants throughout the classroom in a variety of ways • Build provocations to invite children to explore nature items • Gradually replace plastic materials with natural materials • Look for ways to add a variety of textures rugs, wall art, pillows, wood, nature items.
- 10. Nature in the Art Center • Paint with pine branches • Use nature as inspiration • Post photographs and paintings of nature in the art space • Incorporate flower petals, leaves, sticks, acorns into projects or collage work • Use nature items in playdough provocations • Paint branches, rocks, and pinecones
- 11. Construction Center • Add tree cookies/ tree blocks • Silk scarves/ pieces of fabric • Silk leaves • 2-3 small logs, small stumps • Small basket of river rock • Wood people, trees • Large pinecones
- 12. Dramatic Play • Silk scarves • Textural pillows • Straw bags or hats • Baskets • Metal pans • Real cooking tools • Felt pretend food • Flowers • Fabric Place mats • Small rugs • Herbs/plants
- 13. Literacy/Library • Pillows • Soft rugs • Baskets for books • Books about nature • Textural wall hanging • Mobile • Wood clipboards, paper and Pencil • Aquarium/Terrarium
- 14. Literacy
- 15. Science/Discovery/Math • Wood scales • Wood trays • Baskets • Plants/vegetable garden • Rocks • Bug boxes • Magnifiers • Nature collections • Leaves
- 17. Math
- 20. Plants • Herbs • Root Vegetables • On top of cubbies • Plant hangers • Label plants with common and botanical names
- 21. Workshop: • Describe two of your favorite learning activities that you do routinely. What materials from nature can you use to do the activities? • Action Plan: List three ways you plan to incorporate Nature into your classroom.
- 22. Resources: Websites: Naturalearning.org Childrenandnature.org www.playstudiofw.com Bringing the Outside In: Ideas for Creating Nature-Based Classroom Experiences for Young Children By Sandra Duncan and Jody Martin Questions?