get outside, learn outside abbreviated research presentation

8/13/2019 Get Outside, Learn Outside Abbreviated Research Presentation

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Get Outside, Learn Outside:Environmental Education

for Early Childhood


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Childhood Memories?

American children spend less than half as muchtime outdoors as their parents did growing up

Spending 7 hours per day on electronicequipment during their free time

US children under 13 spend about half an hour ofunstructured time outdoors each week


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Nature Deficit Disorder Richard Louv (2005)

ADHDChildhood obesityCognitive & conceptual

development

Children need more timeoutdoors in structured andunstructured settings


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Within just one generation, the definition ofplay has changed dramatically among

children in industrialized countries.Ruth A. Etzel, MD PhD, 2010


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Impact on Childrens Health

Childhood obesity Diabetes Cardiovascular disease Asthma Sleep disorders Lack of Vitamin D Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Depression


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This Might Say It All

Todays children may be the first generation tohave a shorter lifespan than the previousgeneration.


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How Nature Helps

Physical activity improves health Exposure to natural environments improves

attention Exposure to natural environments decreases

stress

Play in nature is a practical method to addresschildhood obesity and mental health

Cost-effective & easily sustainable


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Benefits for Growing Minds

IncreasedFocus

ImprovedCognition


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Emotional & Social Benefits

Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) benefitfrom more exposure to nature the greener a childseveryday environment, the more manageable their

ADD symptoms.

Access to green spaces for learning and play, andeven having views of green settings, enhances

peace, self-control, and self-discipline among inner-city youth, especially among girls.


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Health & Nutrition Benefits

Children who experience school grounds or play areaswith diverse natural settings are more physicallyactive, more aware of good nutrition, morecreative, and more civil to one another. (Bell &Dyment, 2006)


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Nature Helps Adults, Too!Newsweek Web, A Moment of Zen Feb. 12, 2009

People who have evenelectronic views of naturehad a greater sense of well-being and clearer thinking. (Kahn)

Time in nature helpspromote better focus,attention &concentration .(Berman)


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Spend More Time Outdoors? Its Not ThatSimple

Whats Your

Environmental

IQ?


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NEETF/Roper Starch Surveys

Only 3 out of 10 Americanscan pass a quiz on basicenvironmental knowledge

Most Americans believe

they know more about theenvironment than theyactually do

Makes case for increasingopportunities forEnvironmental Education
http://www.neetf.org/pubs/ELR2005.pdf


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What is Early ChildhoodEnvironmental Education?

Environmental education in earlychildhood is a holistic concept thatencompasses knowledge of thenatural world as well as emotions,dispositions, and skills.

-NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence, 2009


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What is Early ChildhoodEnvironmental Education?

Develop a sense of wonder Appreciation for the natural world

Opportunities to experience nature Development of problem-solving skills Respect for other creatures Development of interest and

appreciation for the world around us


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Why Early ChildhoodEnvironmental Education?

Learning is more than a cognitive process Emotions play an important role Environmental education

begins close to home,

encouraging children

to understand and form connections

with their immediate surroundings


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Why Early ChildhoodEnvironmental Education?

Early childhood educators should provide opportunitiesfor children to experience peace, joy, and fascinationwith nature because these emotions undergird thedeveloping knowledge, skills, and dispositions.(Harlan & Rivkin, 2008)


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Benefits of EE toOverall Academic Performance

Schools that adopt EE as the central focus of theiracademic programs frequently demonstrate thefollowing results (Liberman & Hoody, 1998; NEETF,2000; Archie, 2003): Reading, science, social studies, and

mathematics scores improve. Students develop the ability to transfer their

knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar contexts. Students learn to do science rather than just

learn about science. Classroom discipline problems and truancy

decline. All students have the opportunity to learn at a

higher level.

www.seer.org


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Benefits of EE toCritical Thinking Skills

Environment-based educationemphasizes specific criticalthinking skills central to goodscience questioning,investigating, forming hypotheses,interpreting data, analyzing,developing conclusions, andsolving problems, i.e. INQUIRY.

(Archie, 2003)


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Benefits of EE toHelp Address National Standards

Early Childhood EE Activities aredesigned to address all Head StartDomains (language development,literacy, mathematics, science,creative arts, social and emotionaldevelopment, approaches tolearning, and physical health anddevelopment).

Early Childhood EE Activities arealigned with NAEYCs goals forchildren and promote learning anddevelopment in the areas of social,emotional, physical, language, andcognitive development.


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Benefits of EE for Development of Positive SocialSkills

Play and learning in diverse natural environments reduces oreliminates anti-social behavior such as violence, bullying,vandalism, and littering and reduces school absenteeism.(Coffey, 2001; Malone, 2003; Moore, 2000)


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Benefits of EE for the Environment

EE Engages children in hands-on learning

activities that promote critical thinking &problem solving skills, increased environmentalknowledge relevant to the place they live, anddevelopment of a land ethic.

Higher levels of environmental knowledge

correlate significantly with a higher degree ofpro-environment behavior. The more peopleknow, the more likely they are to recycle, beenergy efficient, conserve water, etc. (NEETF,2006).

Research has shown that most attitudes areformed very early in life, and this is why it is soimportant for environmental education to beginin early childhood. (NAAEE Guidelines forExcellence, 2009)


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Where Does Early Childhood EnvironmentalEducation Take Place?

Formal settings:-Head Start

-Preschools-Kindergarten

-Early Elementary-Child Care Centers

-Family Child Care


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Where Does Early Childhood EnvironmentalEducation Take Place?

Non-formal Settings: Zoos Nature Centers Parks

Museums Homes Churches Libraries After School Programs

Summer Programs


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Quality Early Childhood EE Activities

There are 2 new activity guides developed especially for early childhoodeducators of children ages 3-7 from PLT and Project WILD.


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Benefits of These EC EE Resources

Hands-on, research-based activities to engage childrenin outdoor exploration & play

Activities include art, music, movement, science,snacks, reading, math, outdoor play and more!

Help foster learning and development in all domains Developmentally appropriate activities allow children

to learn at levels that are individually, socially, andculturally appropriate.

Correlated to the National Association for theEducation of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards & HeadStart Domains


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Working Together toGet Kids Outdoors!

Children and Nature Network No Child Left Inside Coalition Kansans for Children in Nature


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Get Outside, Learn Outside!

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