Nature based educational opportunities for children

Nature based educational opportunities for Children

Curriculum

Eyes of the World Nature Immersion
Eyes of the World

Curriculum

Nature Play and Emergent Curriculum

Child-led curriculum is based on the children’s interest and passion at a certain point in time. Children thrive and learn best when their interests are captured. Learning occurs naturally through play. We strive to enhance the natural unfolding of the whole child leading to the development of capable learners.

Specific Examples of Development through Outdoor Exploration

Cognitive
Literacy/Math/Science- Collecting, labeling, classifying, sorting, pattern recognition, journals, storytelling, singing, building structures (engineering), cause and effect in natural world

Fine Motor
Drawing, cutting, picking (moss & bark off trees, flowers, plants), self-help skills, paining, sculpting, small scale construction, digging, breaking up dirt, carving

Gross Motor
Hiking, climbing trees, running (on un-even ground), hopping, jumping, swinging, crawling, balancing on logs, circle games, large scale construction (fort building or lifting rocks)

Social
Conflict resolution, circle activities, group games/hikes, spontaneous & uninterrupted free play, group observation, storytelling, fort building, problem solving

Sensory
Water & mud play, digging, sculpting, free exploration, smelling, tasting, nature collecting, weather experiences, music

Emotional
Uninterrupted imagination play, opportunities to problem solve & negotiate, journaling, observation of natural world, exposure to weather, self-help, breathing techniques

As children, many of us built forts, dug holes, made mud pies, daydreamed in special hiding places and swung on vines. These activities are all nature play: unstructured childhood play in the outdoors. Nature play isn’t scheduled, planned, or led by adults. Instead, it’s open-ended, free-time exploration and recreation. For many of us, this sort of nature play virtually defined our childhoods. Good outdoor clothes are a must. Children will need to be prepared for the weather that day. As long as the weather is safe, we will go out and play!