Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

In recent years, a renewed interest to unplug and get back to basics has brought nature-learning to the forefront of early childhood education. Until now, nature-based approaches have been loosely lumped into a bucket of environmental education, outdoor education, or recreation unless a school or programme explicitly refers to itself as a forest or nature preschool, forest kindergarten, or something similarly named. Nature-Based Early Childhood Education defines nature-based early childhood education (NBECE) as its own educational philosophy. While it is already being applied in forest and nature preschools, it is spreading into every imaginable early learning environment.

This book will show how the benefits of NBECE for young children are supported by research. It includes guidance for directors and educators to implement seasonal, nature-based curricula with a focus on emergent curriculum and provides practical strategies for indoor and outdoor settings. It discusses how educators can embrace their own natural wonder to bring joyful learning to children.

Each chapter contains topics that form the backbone of a nature pedagogy framework. Readers will discover how emergent curriculum and NBECE pedagogy underpin developmentally appropriate practice.

Readers will find in each chapter:

• Guiding Questions at the beginning of each chapter provide a starting point for engaging with the content.
• Reflection Questions at the conclusion of each chapter encourage more thought on key concepts.
• The feature "Teacher's Call to Action" is a related challenge that extends educators' understanding and learning.
• Vignettes written by experienced nature educators that provide examples of successful nature programmes.

An appendix includes workbook-style templates that teachers can use for outdoor/classroom activities, to advocate with families/communities, communicate with parents, and assess/reflect on their programme and staff, documenting authentic learning.

The foreword is written by David Sobel, who has spent the last twenty-five years working in the field of child development, place-based education, and parenting with nature. He currently serves as Senior Faculty in the Education Department at Antioch University New England in Keene, NH. His expertise and passion have led to authoring seven previous books and being identified as one of the "gurus and rock stars of environmental education" by Teacher magazine.