Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget [Paperback]

Nature-Based Learning for Every Preschool Settingis designed to provide ideas for all early childhood educators ranging from novice to highly experienced in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, cities, prairies, coastal, urban, and deserts. It includes background information on a range of nature topics, reproducible parent newsletters, sample play-based lesson plans, guidance and health and safety issues related to nature activities, ideas for free/inexpensive equipment and materials and for big-ticket items, ideas for family involvement, and connections to early childhood learning standards. Chapters are divided by nature topic, so readers can dip in right away where they want to start exploring.This is the book that many early childhood educators have been waiting for! It's a wonderful synthesis of philosophy and practicality. I love the sample letters to parents, Julie and Sheila's attention to diversity issues, and their ability to articulate possibilities for teachers. —David Sobel, senior education faculty, Antioch University New England, and author ofNature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens

Nature-Based Learning for Young Childrenre-energized my excitement about the power of nature to make learning at the early childhood level a deeply meaningful and joyful experience. The guidance offered here is practical, inspirational and truly impressive. —Ruth Wilson, PhD, research library curator, Children & Nature Network, author of Nature and Young Children

Engaging and practical . . . this is a must-read for both the novice and the experienced early childhood educator. Weaving stories from the field, encouraging risk-taking, honoring inclusivity of all children, families, and communities, we are drawn into a myriad of lively nature-based learning opportunities that truly speak to the subtitle:Anytime, Anywhere, and Any Budget. &mdashDilafruz Williams, professor and coauthor ofLearning Gardl³°