Let's Go Outside! Bringing Nature-Based Learning into Early Childhood Environments
Children are naturally curious about the world around them and no better classroom can welcome that curiosity than the great outdoors. Nature-based learning immerses young children in the natural environment, fostering a love of nature while also offering opportunities to learn essential skills that we early educators seek to teach young children.
So, how can you bring the wonders of nature into your early childhood environment not matter your access to natural areas?
Here's what you need to get started:
The Great Outdoors (or a Little Piece of It):
Access to Nature: Ideally, a dedicated outdoor space like a schoolyard or park is best. But even a small courtyard or balcony can be transformed into a natural learning space.
Natural Elements: Think trees, plants, rocks, sand, and water features (age-appropriate of course). Consider creating a sensory garden with plants that have different textures, smells, colors, and tastes!
Bring the Outdoors In: If you’re still limited by your outdoor access, you can always bring natural elements inside to help connect children to its beauty and wonder. An easy addition to any classroom is a nature table with a microscope or even just a magnifying glass, a small case full of “treasures” you or the children may have found outside that can be discovered, explored, and analyzed. Observe life cycles in your classroom by renting an incubator for chicken or quail eggs, finding a caterpillar, and providing it a small ecosystem indoors where it can transform, plant beans and other seeds in jars so children can observe them sprouting and growing - there are many opportunities like this for children to observe nature even indoors.
Encourage Natural Learning: Children are designed to learn. When you offer opportunities that work with their natural inclinations and development, you’ll find that children make connections and easily master skills that enhance their growth.
Natural Materials: Whenever possible, include items that are made from natural materials like wooden blocks, toys and furniture, silk scarves, simple handmade cloth, or felt items that can serve multiple purposes. Provide natural loose parts like sticks, stones, leaves, and pinecones for children to explore and arrange. Avoid bright plastic toys that light up and make noise, turn off the fluorescent lights, and instead use as much natural light as possible.
Inquiry-Based Exploration: Ask open-ended questions that encourage curiosity. "What kind of creatures live in our backyard?" or "How many different colors can you find in the leaves?" Observe the children as they interact with nature to see what sparks their interest the most and offer more and varied opportunities surrounding those interests.
Seasonal Activities: Connect with the changing seasons. Plant a garden in spring (even if it’s just in pots next to your windows), study the changing colors of leaves in fall, observe the frost on the ground (or even just the windows), and study animals who hibernate during the winter.
Planning and Curriculum: Even if you work in an environment where traditional learning objectives are in place, it’s easy to integrate nature-based activities to meet these objectives. Math skills can be practiced by counting leaves and measuring the height of plants. Fine motor skills can be enhanced using natural materials too — stacking stones, weaving long blades of grass through string, sculpting clay, painting with mud or water, sensory play with sand, or homemade playdough. Literacy goals can be met in so many ways using nature as inspiration - reading stories about nature, learning the names of animals and plants — the possibilities are endless.
Dress for the Weather: If you have access to an outdoor space, nature-based learning can happen year-round! Invest in weather-appropriate clothing (rain gear, boots) to keep children comfortable outdoors. Make a point to go outdoors even when it is not sunny and warm so children can feel the rhythm of the seasons.
Benefits Abound:
By incorporating nature, you're not just creating a fun learning environment, you're nurturing well-rounded young minds and bodies. Research shows that nature-based learning can lead to:
Improved cognitive development
Enhanced social skills and emotional well-being
Increased physical activity and a love for nature
Taking the First Step:
Implementing these strategies doesn't require a complete overhaul. Start small! Dedicate a specific time each day for outdoor play, or set up a nature center indoors with natural objects. With a little planning and creativity, you can bring the magic of nature into your early childhood environment and watch the children blossom!
Ready to learn more? Check out these resources for more information:
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAEEY) [NAEYC website ON National Association for the Education of Young Children naeyc.org]
Children & Nature Network [Children & Nature Network website]
