T odays Agenda Nature Kindergarten Using Nature to Connect - - PDF document

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Nature Kindergarten— Using Nature to Connect Children to STEM

Charlie Schwedler, Superintendent, Bullock Creek Public Schools Rachel Larimore, Director of Education, Chippewa Nature Center

T

• day’s Agenda
• Why is nature-based education important?
• What is Nature Kindergarten?
• How was Nature Kindergarten developed?
• What has resulted since we started?
• Suggestions for getting started

Oxford J unior Dictionary—

R eflection on children’s Disconnect from nature?

Removed:

• Acorn
• Beaver
• Blackberry (the fruit)
• Dandelion
• Clover
• Heron
• Minnow
• Nectar
• Otter
• Violet

Added: Blog Broadband MP3 player Voicemail Database Cut and paste

Nature is Necessary for Healthy Development

• Physically—balance; coordination;

active; illness recovery

• Cognitively—engaging all of the

senses; creative thinking; better concentration

• Socially—problem solving; interacting

with peers; ability to handle stress

• Building lifelong stewards!

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What is nature-based education (NB E )?

• Daily outdoor lessons—even in the

rain, cold, snow

• Purposeful integration of nature as a

tool to achieve daily curriculum

• Emphasizes hands-on, real-world

learning History of NB E in B ullock C reek

• Nature Preschool at Chippewa

Nature Center 2007-present

• Discussions on kindergarten

began in Spring 2011

• Serious planning began early in 2012
• Program began Fall 2012 with limited

funds from Saginaw WIN

Nature Kindergarten 2014-15

• 4 sections of kindergarten

(~90 students)

• Daily outdoor activities
• Weekly visit with

naturalist

• Curriculum development

with naturalist

Grant Support 2013-2015

• 1. Enhancing Nature Kindergarten
• Teacher training
• Weekly naturalist visit & curriculum

development

• Paraprofessional in each classroom
• Equipment & material

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Grant Support 2013-2015

• 2. Build capacity of other elementary

teachers in the district

• Monthly visits by naturalist
• Two visits to CNC
• Equipment & materials
• 3. Summer camp at CNC
• 4. Assessing the nature-based approach

T ypical Day—Morning

• Morning work & breakfast
• Calendar & read-aloud with accountable talk

(nature-based books)

• Diagnostic learning lab (small group reading)
• Writing workshop
• Literacy work stations (nature-based work stations
• r stations using natural materials)
• Lunch/Recess

T ypical Day—Afternoon

• Nature Time (30-60 minutes devoted nature

lessons/outdoor time)

• Math (natural material manipulatives)
• Shared Reading (nature-based books)
• Reading Workshop
• Specials or Computer Lab
• Social Studies (e.g., mapping of playground)

Daily Outdoor Activities

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Using nature- based themes in concept webs Nature-based themes in literacy work stations

Results

• Academically:
• Richer writing (particularly Title 1 school)
• More diversity in vocabulary
• Kindergarten daily attendance was

88% in Year 1, 95% in Year 2 (Title 1

school data only)

Results

• Every teacher at Floyd

Elementary has been trained by CNC (all K teachers have attended

minimum of 6 days)

• Two natural play areas built by

Chemical Bank employees

• 5th grade teachers & students

built their own play area

Unexpected Outcomes

• Grown from original goal of 1 section to 4

sections in the District

• Parent pressure for 1st grade & beyond
• Led to 3M Corporation project (week-long

visits to CNC)

• Cultural shift within the District (naturalist

mailbox, teachers at other grade levels going outside, recess even in winter, etc.)

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Suggestions for Getting Started

• Connect with local nature

center if possible

• Create a culture where
• utdoor time ≠ recess time
• Lessons can be ABOUT nature
• r simply IN nature
• Connect with businesses for

financial support

C

• ntact Information

Charlie Schwedler Bullock Creek Schools 1420 S. Badour Rd. Midland, MI 48640 989-631-9022 schwedlerc@bcreek.org Rachel Larimore Chippewa Nature Center 400 S. Badour Rd. Midland, MI 48640 989-631-0830 rlarimore@chippewanaturecenter.org