Freebies!
Free resources related to nature-based early childhood education
Tracking Whole-Group Time in Nature-based Classrooms
In this episode of the Mindful Turtle podcast, Dr. Rachel A. Larimore invites you to observe and record daily time spent in whole-group activities, much like we did last week with time in free play.
Tracking Free Play in Nature-based Education
In this episode of the Mindful Turtle podcast, Dr. Rachel A. Larimore encourages educators to reflect on how much time children are engaged in free play, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Listening to Young Voices: Noticing Emerging Behavior Challenges
In this episode of the Mindful Turtle podcast, Dr. Rachel A. Larimore suggests that by observing and addressing challenging behaviors early, educators can maintain a balance of calmness and engagement.
Noticing Nature: Reconnecting Educators to Support Emergent Curriculum
In this episode of the Mindful Turtle podcast, Dr. Rachel A. Larimore encourages listeners to slow down and notice the nature around them to reconnect with their own awe and wonder of the natural world.
Reflecting on Routines for a Calm Nature-based Classroom
In this episode of the Mindful Turtle podcast, Dr. Rachel A. Larimore explores the importance of establishing consistent routines in nature-based early childhood education.
We’re in it together—Team teaching in early childhood
Every single adult in any classroom matters. They impact the children, the other adults, and interactions with families. Everyone matters.
Experiences rather than activties
An "activity” is a very teacher-led, scripted interaction with a clear structure and intended outcome. Whereas an "experience" is an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on someone.
Child-led play
One goal of nature-based early childhood education is to support children’s holistic development. The way we do this is by emphasizing two key elements of early childhood education: 1) Play-based and 2) Child-led.
Whining or communicating a need?
There are times where young children may sound like they’re whining, but they’re really communicating a need. It’s our job as nature-based early childhood teachers to figure out what it is they need.
So Much More Than A Cute Kid Story
At first glance this may seem like just a cute kid story. We have lots of cute kid stories in our work, don’t we? But like with almost every cute story…there’s real depth to notice.
Surviving Re-entry
After a break, it’s hard for us to get back into the normal routine. It’s no different for young children.
Wonder walks & sit spots
Mindfulness. It’s a term that seems to be growing in popularity, but what is it? And does it have a place in nature-based early childhood education? Two strategies that bring mindfulness into our nature-based classrooms are Wonder Walks and Sit Spots.
Your place matters
Despite so much being universal, place is vital to our work in nature-based early childhood education. It’s universal that our programs connect to nature, but the plants, animals, and culture of our place are unique.
Never wonder where your sense of wonder went
Maybe nature-based education ensures that we as teachers will hold onto our own sense of wonder. Our sense of wonder in nature. Our sense of wonder in children.
Routines & rituals
Rituals are about connection between people through eye contact, appropriate touch, presence, and playfulness. What if we intentionally worked to make our routines a time for connection?
Saying goodbye
As the end of the school year is approaching, children, families, and teachers will be saying goodbye to routines and communities they’re accustomed to and starting anew.
Connecting to place
One of the core principles of nature-based education is connecting children to local, authentic nature. This means connecting them to the nature found in their place in the world.
Reflection: The powerful teaching of a deer carcass
In this article, Dr. Rachel Larimore discusses how nature-based approaches sometimes provide opportunities to address deeper life issues such as the concepts of life, death, and care for others.
What does it remind you of?
This simple question also requires higher order thinking to compare, contrast, and connect to children’s prior experience. This also honors their culture and identity in the learning process.