Natural Wonders: a Guide to Early Childhood Environmental Education
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Natural Wonders A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators Created by the Minnesota Early Childhood Environmental Education Consortium Marcie Oltman, Editor Natural Wonders A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators Created by the Minnesota Early Childhood Environmental Education Consortium Editor Marcie Oltman Minnesota Children’s Museum Contributors Jenny Eckman Tri District Community Cultures/ Environmental Science School Sandra Hudson Tamarack Nature Center Design/Layout Mark Granlund Nora L. Koch Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Gravel Pit Publications Julie Powers Copy Editor Dodge Nature Preschool Mary Kate Boylan April Rust Indigo Ink Communications Project ⁄ Illustrator Department of Natural Resources Peter Quinlan Nikki Schneider Cover Design Dodge Nature Center Tara Lundborg This project would not have been possible without the generous funding provided by the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. © 2002 MN Early Childhood Environmental Education Consortium © Minnesota Children’s Museum and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or non-profit purposes only. You may not distribute, copy or otherwise reproduce any of this guide for sale or commercial use without written permission from the publisher. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copy- right notice. To request additional copies and alternative formats, contact— Minnesota Children’s Clearinghouse Coordinator Museum Minnesota Office of W. 7th St. Environmental Assistance St. Paul, MN Lafayette Rd N Floor 2 -- St. Paul, MN - -- (fax) -- -- (fax) -- (toll free) Printed on paper with % total recycled fiber and % post-consumer waste. Contents Section lll: Essential Ingredients for Active Learning Hands-On Learning 36 Open-Ended Activities 38 Choice 40 Section lV: Supporting Active Learning About this Guide iv Learning Stations 44 Acknowledgements v Art 46 About the Authors vi Story Time 48 Introduction: Reed’s Story viii Outdoor Exploration 52 Section l: Section V: Understanding Young Children Possible Program Formats Developmentally Appropriate Practice 2 Infant and Toddler Programs 56 Developmental Stages 4 Adult-Child Programs 57 Constructivism 6 Drop-Off and Camp Programs 58 Egocentrism 8 School Groups 59 Teaching to the Whole Child 10 Section VI: Multiple Intelligence Theory 14 Developing and Evaluating Diverse Learners 16 Your Program Learning through Play 20 Program Components 62 What You Need to Know Developmentally appropriate About Children Under Six 22 Practice at a Glance 64 Section ll: How Developmentally Appropriate Planning for Active Learning Is Your Program? 67 Teaching vs. Learning Objectives 24 Epilogue: Reed Returns 68 Appropriate Topics 26 Authentic Experiences 26 Section VII: Inquiry-Based Learning 30 Resources Guiding Children’s Behavior 32 Resources 69 iii About this Guide Since the late ’s, the National Association for the Education of Young Children () has led the way in defining what those ways are. This information has been available to early childhood educators for years, but has not been translated for use in environmental educational settings—until now. This guide was written especially for natural- ists and environmental educators who are inter- ested in learning more about how and why young children think and act and how they can use this information to design developmentally appropriate programs and activities. However, it is not intended to be a recipe book. You won’t Environmental education organizations and find a prescribed method for teaching about other informal education venues have recently maple syruping or pond study. Although we do recognized the need to provide specialized pro- provide guidelines on what makes a program or gramming for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and activity developmentally appropriate, we recog- their families. Likewise, record numbers of par- nize that everyone’s situation is different and ents, daycare providers and early childhood edu- allow for as much flexibility as possible. cators have begun seeking out nature centers, zoos and museums as places to help their not-yet How to use this guide school-aged children learn, grow and develop an appreciation of and love for nature. On the sur- The sections of this guide become progressively face, it’s a match made in heaven. However, more practical and specific—from understand- unlike teachers in the formal school system who ing the basics of how young children think to specialize in certain age groups, informal educa- evaluating the developmental appropriateness of tors have to be ready and able to provide dynam- programs and everything in between. Each sec- ic, interesting, relevant and appropriate programs tion contains specific topics that explain in for all ages—from preschool to senior citizens— greater detail the elements of child development often at a moment’s notice. and what it means to facilitate young children’s While this kind of versatility is necessary, it learning. can lead to one-size-fits-all programming that At the end of each topic, a chart is provided leaves preschoolers behind. But the more we detailing information and examples of most learn about the brain and how experience appropriate, somewhat appropriate or least affects growth and development, the more we appropriate practices associated with those top- see the need to specialize our approach to edu- ics. We have provided this chart as a gauge edu- cating young children. Thanks to educators and cators can use to identify where their teaching researchers like Rousseau, Piaget, Froebel and methods currently are on the developmentally Montessori, we’ve known for decades that chil- appropriate continuum and what they can dren are not just smaller versions of adults, nor change about their methods to make them are preschoolers smaller versions of school-aged more developmentally appropriate. No one is children. From years of research and practice, developmentally appropriate percent of the we know that very young children—infants, time. But if you challenge yourself to keep pro- toddlers and preschoolers—are fundamentally gressing along the continuum, you’ll find it different than older children and need to be becomes easier and more rewarding for you and taught in fundamentally different ways. the children. iv Practicing developmentally appropriate edu- Williams Ridge, Dave Metzen, Sarah Sivright, cation is a constant and evolving process. Even Jim Roe, Ken Finch, Kelly Osborn, and Mark veteran early childhood educators must evaluate Hoffman. their practices on a regular basis and adapt To the individuals who served as reviewers of them to changing situations and children. The early drafts of the guide and provided valuable best way to evaluate your programs for develop- feedback and editorial comments: Mary Adams, mental appropriateness is by being an active Michelle Anderson, Patti Bailie, Helen Bartee, learner yourself—experiment, explore, seek Cheryl Bauer, Arta Cheney, Kathleen Cohen, questions and answers, test theories and invent Jenna Daire, Sandra Gavin, Judy Gibbs, Beth new ways of approaching learning. Girard, Paige Guetter, Jen Hagen, Karrie And don’t forget to have fun! Holler, Margie Jones, Michelle Kelly, Louie Acknowledgements Kolberg, Shelly Lewis, Corinne Lines, Elaine Loranz, Christine Lukes, Becky McConnell, This guide is the culmination of a two-year Lori Olson, Jennifer Perry, Becky Rosendahl, project of the Minnesota Early Childhood Pat Rummenie, Kim Schilla, Sue Shockey, Environmental Education Consortium with Glenn Shoemaker, Bekah Stendahl, Alyssa generous funding from the Minnesota Office of Szepi, Suzanne Trapp and Terry Wittnebel. Environmental Assistance. The authors would Special thanks to Colleen Schoenecker of the like to gratefully acknowledge everyone Office of Environmental Assistance and Greg involved in the project and the creation of this Allen of Minnesota Children’s Museum for guide. help and support in managing the project. To the sponsoring organizations that offered And last but not least, to the individuals who support, meeting space and in-kind financial patiently worked with naïve writers, met very assistance: Minnesota Children’s Museum, tight deadlines with grace and good humor and Tamarack Nature Center, Ramsey County who helped produce this wonderful resource: Parks and Recreation, Como Zoo and Nora L. Koch, Mary Kate Boylan, Peter Conservatory, City of St. Paul, Dodge Nature Quinlan and Tara Lundborg. Center, Dodge Nature Preschool, Tri District Community Cultures/Environmental Science School, Project , Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Duluth Aquarium, Ney Environmental Center, Moorhead State University Regional Science Center, Quarry Hill Nature Center and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. To the individuals who supported the project by contributing ideas, time, expertise and encouragement: Karen Stimpson, Myra Smisek, Jeff Ledermann, Kelly Finnerty, Bekah Stendahl, Joey Schoen, Kathleen Mountain, Barb Poblete, Michelle Blodgett, Sheila v About the Authors Mark Granlund Mark Granlund has been the resident artist at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, in St. Paul since and is currently the arts and community gardening coordinator for St. Paul Parks and Recreation. In this capacity, he coor- dinates art classes and programs for adults and children, develops and implements public art projects and oversees the more than commu- nity gardens in