Gardening and Nature Play provides everything we look for in early Childhood Education
Learner centered – it is intrinsically motivating and rewarding
Hands – On – Promotes sensory exploration
Inclusive - connects children of all cultures, all ages, and all skill levels and abilities
Socially bonding – provides interesting things to talk about and work on together
Emotionally up-lifting – builds self-efficacy and self-esteem
Physically stimulating – promotes fine and gross motor skills
Integrative – allows for seamlessly incorporating science, maths, reading, social studies and the arts
Aesthetically appealing – offers opportunities to create and appreciate beauty
Start with some basic gardening ideas:
Hang plants from the ceiling, place them on shelves and window ledges, use them to fill empty spaces .
A few pots on a shelf can support year long gardening investigations.
Place gardening containers in areas of the classroom that get lots of light and not too close to heating source
Use a high quality potting soil and provide child size gardening tools.
To promote scientific practices and content knowledge set up data collection stations with calendars, charts, tracing paper and a variety of measuring tools
