Nature-Based Learning for Young Children

Nature-Based Learning for Every Preschool Setting is designed to provide ideas for all early childhood educators ranging from novice nature educators to highly experienced nature educators in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, cities, prairies, coastal, and deserts. It includes background information on a range of nature topics, reproducible parent newsletters, sample play-based lesson plans, guidance and health and safety issues related to nature activities, ideas for free/inexpensive equipment and materials and for big ticket items, ideas for family involvement, and connections to early childhood learning standards. Chapters are divided by nature topic so readers can dip in right away where they want to start exploring.

Auteur

Julie Powers, MA, grew up in the Sonoran Desert and lives in Maui, HI, during the school year and outside Telluride, CO, in the summers and loves each ecosystem. She has an MA from Pacific Oaks College, a BA in child development from the University of Arizona, and an AA in early childhood education from Pima Community College. Julie is an associate professor of early childhood education at University of Hawaii Maui College. She was the founding director of both Dodge Nature Preschool in West St. Paul, MN, and Valley View Preschool, an inclusion-based public preschool, in Tucson, AZ. She has taught, developed curriculum, and directed in a wide range of preschool programs, including public schools, non-profits, for-profits, Head Start, and a campus lab school. She has consulted for programs ranging from the Air Force Child Development Centers to the Phoenix Zoo. She is the author of Parent Engagement in Early Learning .

Sheila Williams Ridge, MA, has a BA in biology from University of MN and an MA in education from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. She is the director of the Shirley G. Moore Lab School at the University of MN and an instructor for the Institute of Child Development. She is also an adjunct professor for Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Sheila serves on the governing boards for the Natural Start Alliance, the Minneapolis Nature Preschool, and the Friends School of Minnesota.

Contenu

Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction to Nature-Based Education
Chapter 2: Individualizing Nature-Based Learning
Chapter 3: Indoors
Chapter 4: Outdoors
Chapter 5: Weather
Chapter 6: Water
Chapter 7: Rocks, Sand and Soil
Chapter 8: Plants
Chapter 9: Bugs
Chapter 10: Birds
Chapter 11: Reptiles & Amphibians
Chapter 12: Mammals
Chapter 13: Aquatic Life
Chapter 14: Habitats
Chapter 15: Families
Appendices

1. Lesson Plans

2. Children's Books

3. Adult Resource Books

4. Other Resources (websites and apps)

5. Materials and Supplies

6. Nature-based recipes