Innovations in Nature-Based Play 1 Nice to Meet You! 2 - - PDF document

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Innovations in Nature-Based Play 1 Nice to Meet You! 2 - - PDF document

Sep 02, 2023 178 likes •332 views

10/23/2019 Innovations in Nature-Based Play 1 Nice to Meet You! 2 Innovations in Nature-Based Play 3 3 1 10/23/2019 A. Our outdoor space has no Poll natural areas. B. Its too hot/cold to be outside so much of the year. What are your

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Innovations in Nature-Based Play

Nice to Meet You!

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Innovations in Nature-Based Play

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Poll

  • A. Our outdoor space has no

natural areas.

  • B. It’s too hot/cold to be outside

so much of the year.

  • C. Other teachers and

administrators aren’t quite there yet.

  • D. I’ve gotten started with

nature-based play. What’s next?

What are your biggest challenges with nature-based play?

Theory and Nature-Based Play

  • Developmental Theory
  • Interactional Theory
  • Constructivist Theory

Pathways to Nature-Based Play 4 5 6

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Many Roles of the Teacher in Nature-Based Play

Learning Supporter Resourceful Problem- Solver Play Partner Learning Observer Learning Facilitator Role Model Guide and Limit Setter Partner to Families Emotions Validator

Teacher as Learning Supporter

7 8 9

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Teacher as Emotions Validator Curriculum and Nature-Based Play

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Supporting Nature-Based Play

  • “It’s common sense to take

a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”

– Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Some things are better outdoors! Messy Play!

  • Making berry

pies for birds is so fun outside!

13 14 15

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Water Play!

  • Incorporate natural

loose parts.

“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.”

  • Simon Nicholson

Keep Materials Accessible

16 17 18

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Keeping the Momentum

  • Use documentation to

engage children and families, and to keep the conversation going.

  • Talk daily about

what you find in the natural world.

  • Make predictions

about what might happen next!

  • Explore changes

together and document your findings.

  • Use the outdoor

space to build community in your program.

  • Invite families to

join in.

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Considerations for Staff

  • If your program does not

have an Outdoor Classroom Coordinator, who will be responsible for the play and learning

  • pportunities outside?
  • Who will decide which

materials will be offered, rotated, and replenished?

Early Childhood Educators Partner with Environmental Educators

  • Early childhood environmental education programs - guidelines for
  • excellence. (2016). Washington, DC: North American Association

for Environmental Education (NAAEE).

  • PDF available online:

https://cdn.naaee.org/sites/default/files/final_ecee_guidelines_fro m_chromographics_lo_res.pdf

Explore Activities in Nature

  • Master Gardeners
  • Master Naturalists
  • State Park Naturalists
  • Nature Centers
  • Arboretums
  • Zoos
  • Landscape Designers
  • Nature Explore
  • Forest Service
  • Project Learning Tree
  • Project WILD
  • Add Environmental

Education to your professional development.

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Developing Your Outdoor Playscape

Good design often means creating something that is both functional and beautiful.

Create places to spark the imagination.

Is that a toad house or a fairy house?

  • Design places

for children and adults to be together in your outdoor playscape.

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  • Make the most of

fences!

  • Gardens are

wonderful additions to your nature-based playscape.

  • A hay bale

maze can provide long- lasting fun!

28 29 30

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  • Bring art and music outside.

The Child’s Point of View

Considering Safety

To play is to risk; to risk is to play.

  • Diane Ackerman

31 32 33

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  • Allow developmentally

appropriate risk-taking.

  • Implement risk

assessments.

Conclusion: Who Benefits from Nature-Based Play?

Benefits for Children

34 35 36

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Benefits for Teachers Benefits for Families

Benefits for Early Childhood Programs and their Administrators 37 38 39

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10/23/2019 14 Contact Information

  • Sharon DuShane-Young:

sharonyng@yahoo.com

  • Kay M. Albrecht:

kay@innovationsinece.com

  • Halcyon Reese-Learned:

halcyrl@gmail.com

  • Learn more about

Innovations in Nature-Based Play at www.innovationsinece.com

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