1. This document summarizes research on the impact of natural environments on children's development, learning, and relationship with nature. 2. Studies have found that time in nature is associated with benefits like reduced stress, improved concentration, more creative play, and better cognitive development. 3. Experiences in nature in childhood may help shape environmental identity and concern for the environment later in life. 4. The research implications discussed include designing schools with more nature access, nature-based curriculum and pedagogies, and the need for more longitudinal research in this area.

1. Exploring the impact of natural environments on children’s development, learning and environmental identities.Donald GraySchool of Education© D. Gray

2. © Marie-Aude Bodin_UNEP

3. Freefoto.com

4. Human Affinity with natureThe Biophilia Hypothesis“The innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”. (Wilson, 1984, p1) “humans’ inherent affinity for the natural world.” (Kellert, 2005, p3)© Amos Nachoum_UNEP

5. Biologically prepared learning...both the rewards and the dangers associated with natural settings during human evolution have been sufficiently critical to favour individuals who readily learned, and then over time remembered, various adaptive responses—both positive/approach (biophilic) responses and negative/avoidance (biophobic) responses—to certain natural stimuli and configurations. (Ulrich, 1993, p75)© D. Gray

6. Embodied CognitionReason is not disembodied...but arises from the nature of our brains, bodies and bodily experience...The same neural and cognitive mechanisms that allow us to perceive and move around also create our conceptual systems and modes of reason. (p4)Reason is evolutionary...Reason is thus not an essence that separates us from other animals; rather, it places us on a continuum with them. (p4)...there is no Cartesian dualistic person, with a mind separate from and independent of the body...(p5)Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1999) Philosophy in the Flesh. The Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought.© UNEP

7. Homo habilusHomo erectus Homo sapienshttp://www.bigpicturesmallworld.com/funstuff/bigtime.shtml© UNEP

8. 4000BC. Start of small settlements.1800s start of modern urbanisation (and schools -1872 compulsory in Scotland 5-13)http://www.bigpicturesmallworld.com/funstuff/bigtime.shtml

9. 200019701980199019501960Human History Timeline50 YearsGreen Revolution

10. Humans in space

11. 2 hr circumnavigation

12. Laser, Color TV

13. Semiconductors

14. Minicomputers

15. DNAPop.: 3billionHumans on moon

16. Boeing 747

17. Pocket calculator

18. Fax, e-mail

19. Computer networksPop,: 3.7 billionPersonal computers

20. VCRs, Cable TV

21. Space shuttle

22. Cell phones

23. CD ROMPop.: 4.4 billionT.V. Birth Control

24. Jet,Satellite

25. H-Bomb

26. Solar Cells

27. Xerox, car phonePop. : 2.5 billionCAT scans

28. Gene Mapping

29. CD players

30. Internet/World Wide WebPop.: 5.3 billionPop.: 6 billionSince 1950Population doubles

31. Energy use goes up four times

32. Motor vehicles in use goes up eight times

33. Bicycle production goes up ten times

34. Gross world product goes up five times

35. Gross world product per person goes up two and a half times

36. World trade goes up twelve times

37. Telephones in use goes up ten times

38. Computers in use goes up 1100 times

39. Number of literate people increases by over 3 billion

40. Life expectancy increases 35%http://www.bigpicturesmallworld.com/funstuff/bigtime.shtml© Victor Azinheira _UNEP

41. The AnthropoceneRefers to the current geological epoch in which human beings and their societies have become a global geophysical force capable of creating global level changes in “i) the biological fabric of the Earth; ii) the stocks and flows of major elements in the planetary machinery such as nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and silicon; and iii) the energy balance at the Earth’s surface” (Steffen et al., 2007, p614)© Rudolf Gurth _UNEP

42. Human Impacts on the Natural Environment33,047, or 12.5 percent of plants are threatened on a global scale, may be an underestimate.75 percent of the major marine fish stocks are either depleted from overfishing or are being fished at their biological limit.world’s forest cover reduced by as much as half through logging and conversion.58 percent of coral reefs are potentially threatened by destructive fishing practices, tourist pressures, and pollution.65 percent of the roughly 1.5 billion ha of cropland worldwide have experienced some degree of soil degradation.Coastal ecosystems such as salt marshes, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses have declined - seagrasses have been disappearing at a rate of 110 km2 yr−1 since 1980. © Lupidi _UNEP

43. Nature impacts on PeopleHealth and Well-beingAdvanced motor fitness (Grahn, et al. 1997, Fjortoft 2001).Stress reduction (e.g. Wells and Evans, 2003)ConcentrationChildren with symptoms of ADHD are better able to concentrate after contact with nature(Taylor 2001).Development and LearningWhen children play in natural environments, their play is more diverse with imaginative and creative play that fosters language and collaborative skills (Moore & Wong 1997, Taylor, et al. 1998, Fjortoft 2000).Exposure to natural environments improves children’s cognitive development by improving their awareness, reasoning and observational skills (Pyle 2002).Environmental Identity.Experiences in nature are linked to developing environmental identities and pro-environmental behaviour in later life (Clayton & Opotow, 2003; Chawla, 2007; Thomashow, 1996)© D. Gray

44. Attention Restoration TheoryKaplan, S. (1995) The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology , 16, 169-182Builds on William James’ (1892) – notion of effort in voluntary attentionDirected attention fatigueRestorative environments: being away, fascination, extent, compatability.Green play settings improved children's concentration: children with Attention Deficit Disorder were found to function better than usual after activities in green settings. Taylor A F, Kuo F E and Sullivan W C, 2001.Faber Taylor, A., & Kuo, F. E. (2008). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders Volume 12 Number 5 March 2009 402-409.© D. Gray

45. Environmental/Ecological IdentityEcological identity refers to all the different ways people construe themselves in relationship to the earth as manifested in personality, values, actions, and sense of self...The interpretation of life experiences transcends social and cultural interactions. It also includes a person’s connection to the earth, perception of the ecosystem and direct experience of nature. (Thomashow, 1996).Children’s contact with nature, through tending gardens, playing in parks and being in spaces with trees are significant predictors of positive adult beliefs about the benefits of nature. (Clayton & Opotow, 2003; Chawla, 2007; Lester and Maudsley, 2006.© D. Gray

46. Nature and Learning“For children, nature is the richest, most detailed, and most readily available informational context they are ever likely to encounter” (p69)Stephen R. Kellert. (2005) Building for Life. Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection. Washington, Island Press.Results indicate that children whose homes improved the most in terms of greenness following relocation also tended to have the highest levels of cognitive functioning following the move.Wells, N.M. “At Home with Nature: Effects of ‘Greenness’ on Children’s Cognitive Functioning.”Environment and Behavior. Vol. 32, No. 6, 775-795.© D. Gray

47. Nothing new?John Amos Comenius 1592-1670Jean-Jacque Rousseau 1712 –1778Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi 1746 - 1827Friedrich Froebel 1782 - 1852Patrick Geddes 1854 - 1932John Dewey 1859 –1952Maria Montessori 1870 –1952Kurt Hahn 1886 –1974 Loris Malaguzzi (Reggio Emilia) 1920-1994© D. Gray

48. But.... © CognitiveMedia 2010http://www.thersa.org/events/vision/animate/rsa-animate-changing-paradigms

49. Implications for EducationSchool designStephen R. Kellert. (2005) Building for Life. Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection. Washington, Island PressCurriculumLTS (2010) A Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor LearningPedagogies/Approachese.g. Place-based educationDavid A. Gruenewald (2003) Foundations of Place: A Multidisciplinary Framework for Place-Conscious Education. American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 619–654© D. Gray

50. The Times they are a changing...?Curriculum for Excellence: Outdoor LearningForest Education Initiative/Forest SchoolsPlace-based learningLandscapes for LearningReal World LearningChildren and Nature NetworkGrounds for Learning© D. Gray

51. Further ResearchResearch is required to identify the types of nature experiences that appear to be most efficacious at each stage and how these influence future dispositions.

52. The role of key socializerssuch as parents and teachers. How they interact with children and the extent to which that interaction contributes towards the development of their environmental identity and future attitudes and behaviours.

53. There has been no research that has gathered real time data on nature experiences over a prolonged period of time. This research will require field observations or records, ethnographic field work and interviews with key socializers and children.

54. Examining the impact of providing children with different levels of responsibility for action can provide further evidence to help understand the processes that encourage development of pro-environmental behaviours.

55. The impact that different environmental experiences has on learning.

56. And more .....................© D. Gray