[Note- Here are the notes I took that day, edited for clarity]
Notes – Day 1 Session 1
From preschool to “treeschool”: Supporting young children’s growth and development with the wonder of trees
Environmental Education for Children
3-hour Wednesday session — limit 8 presenters
Preschoolers
11/2/2016 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM Room 306AB
Los Angeles Convention Center
Sandra Duncan, Professor, Nova Southeastern University; Heather Fox, Director of Communications and Outreach, Dimensions Educational Research Foundation; Jaclyn Stallard, Senior Manager of Education Programs, Project Learning Tree; Betty Olivolo, Assistant Director, Natural Start Alliance; Christy Merrick, Director, Natural Start Alliance
In most neighborhoods, trees are all around us…in our backyards, on the playground, beside the road, in the local park, and the nearby forest or woods. Trees are so commonplace in our environments that sometimes we forget the great learning that can occur when children and adults notice, explore, and appreciate these natural wonders. Through storytelling and beautiful real-life images, this presentation offers an understanding of what high-quality environmental education looks like for preschool-age children using trees as a focus for our exploration. With hands-on opportunities to explore award-winning activities, materials, and guidelines, participants will discover how to create experiences for children that are developmentally appropriate, effective, fun, and relevant for everyone. Participants will take home innovative strategies and resources to spark children’s curiosity and adventure by building a great environmental education program–and help transport children’s experiences from PreSchool to TreeSchool.
Presenter asked, “What do you remember about trees from childhood?”
“We are all connected“ ~music of flute and tribal drum~
We are best connected through local knowledge
[Unit – places nearby — photos]
“You don’t know who you are until you know where you are” – Wendell Berry
Cognitive
open ended play
problem solving
reasoning
classifying – sorting
Social Emotional
create imaginary worlds
Physical
Nature Everyday – observe
“It’s too cold to play outside” – show picture of kids
No bad weather, just bad clothing – (engineer print)
Most successful programs:
– have discussion with licensing
– understand the learning
Emergent examples
Activity Based Experiences
Go outside often
Begin with simple experiences
provide choices
keep children actively involved in play
seeds of local plants
Math Art Writing Science – all outdoor
Tree picture
seed pods
Local Forest Dept – Posters and Activities
Tree Field Guides
Extension agents
“Plants for Play” book
Need to start to love the earth before start to save it
Nature Explore – natureexplore.org – become certified
family club activity
8 min to explore nature – open ended
get to know trees
Told story re: space outside of doctors offices
Play structure – not healing
Their waiting rooms are nature spaces (Texas)
The presenters came out with a Cape with felt leaves
Environmental Action Kit
worldforumfoundation.org
nature action
Go paperless
minimize plastic
Suggested “Last child in the woods” book
Eliminate construction paper for two weeks (art)
Other options:
- birch wood
- tree bark
- tiles
- terra cotta
- plywood
- cheese cloth
- fabric / textiles
- foils
- cardboard
- leather
- paint on bark
label a table “the blue table” (branch with pinecones hanging and large blue swath of blue cloth)
easy ways to decorate classroom – basket with sticks they’ve painted
sticks for weaving
{Photo of bottom of swing base chair}
weaving
also could be nest
duct tape reversed bracelet for collecting on a nature walk (could be around ankles, or even waist)
can cut and attach to bulletin board
Beans – mosaic
Ask : What would happen if..
experimenting
mortar & pestal (inexpensive wooden from Asian market)
Reduce plastic
tree stump furniture
corn cob as rolling pins
replace art tool with nature tool
replace plastic manipulatives with natural
count how many plastic items in classroom
[[spray paint acrylic clear coat]]
make frames out of sticks with numeral & rocks
Tree Cookies – letters , numbers
have a blank frame [[to border work & define workspace]]
community play things blog
no sided container – Big tree cookie
rock dominoes
elders glue and tempura paint
name written on “welcome stones” (can write in fingernail polish)
circle art
sand box art
checker – tree cookies
tree cookie stringing
tree cookie door stoppers screwed in on top, use to make music
hole punched in top & wood cookie decor
replace play dough with clay
clay table set out all the time
-dining room table cut down to size
-granite on top
wet towel over top & plastic cloth over that (to preserve clay usability)
wooden toys & tools
clay table center
dirt dough recipe –
3 cups dirt
3 cups flour
1 cup oil
[With Nature]
more imaginative
90% indoors
powers of observation and creativity
ADD are relieved with green nature
genuine risk have fewer incidents – too sterilized environments and they take outlandish risks
indian corn rolling pin
old christmas trees
natureconnections.org
NW Iowa
PLT grant
Frog with wood noise maker