1. Bringing the Outdoors in:
Integrating Nature into the
Early Childhood Classroom
Beth Edwards
www.greenspacetx.com

2. Objectives:
• Identify benefits of Nature play for
children
• List Benefits of nature in the classroom
• Examine ways to integrate nature
throughout the EC classroom
• Formulate a plan to increase nature in
your classroom

3. Pair and Share
• What are your favorite memories of
playing as a young child?
• Where were you?
• What surrounded you?

4. Why is nature important when
educating young children?
Discussion

5. Benefits of Nature Play
• Natural elements allow longer
periods of sustained focus and
concentration
• Sensory development in infancy and
toddlerhood is critical to behavior
regulation and school readiness
• Supports physical, cognitive,
language and social emotional
development- BUILDS BRAINS
• Supports inquiry base learning
• Nature connects all cultures
• Offers a child-centered, intrinsically
motivating space to learn
• Promotes collaboration
• Promotes an appreciation for nature
• Affords opportunities to learn about
respect and care for the natural
environment
• Encourages physical activity helping
to reduce childhood obesity

6. Benefits of Nature Rich Classrooms
• Natural color pallets create a peaceful
and calming environment
• Nature and natural material engage all
the senses (plastic materials all feel the
same, smell the same)
• Children are less distracted and
overstimulated in nature rich settings,
better able to regulate their own
behaviors
• Promotes the use of the classroom as the
third teacher
• Children are drawn to nature, natural
materials and real tools.

7. Best of all….
Nature based approaches to learning inspire wonder, curiosity and observation.

8. Compare these spaces? How does each feel to you?

9. Curating a Nature Rich Environment
• Incorporate natural materials and nature items
into all learning/discovery centers
• Use plants throughout the classroom in a variety
of ways
• Build provocations to invite children to explore
nature items
• Gradually replace plastic materials with natural
materials
• Look for ways to add a variety of textures
rugs, wall art, pillows, wood, nature items.

10. Nature in the Art Center
• Paint with pine branches
• Use nature as inspiration
• Post photographs and paintings
of nature in the art space
• Incorporate flower petals, leaves,
sticks, acorns into projects or
collage work
• Use nature items in playdough
provocations
• Paint branches, rocks, and
pinecones

11. Construction Center
• Add tree cookies/ tree
blocks
• Silk scarves/ pieces of
fabric
• Silk leaves
• 2-3 small logs, small
stumps
• Small basket of river rock
• Wood people, trees
• Large pinecones

12. Dramatic Play
• Silk scarves
• Textural pillows
• Straw bags or hats
• Baskets
• Metal pans
• Real cooking tools
• Felt pretend food
• Flowers
• Fabric Place mats
• Small rugs
• Herbs/plants

13. Literacy/Library
• Pillows
• Soft rugs
• Baskets for books
• Books about nature
• Textural wall hanging
• Mobile
• Wood clipboards, paper and
Pencil
• Aquarium/Terrarium

14. Literacy

15. Science/Discovery/Math
• Wood scales
• Wood trays
• Baskets
• Plants/vegetable
garden
• Rocks
• Bug boxes
• Magnifiers
• Nature collections
• Leaves

16. Science/Discovery

17. Math

18. Infant /Toddler Spaces

19. Infant /Toddler Spaces

20. Plants
• Herbs
• Root Vegetables
• On top of cubbies
• Plant hangers
• Label plants with
common and
botanical names

21. Workshop:
• Describe two of your favorite learning activities that you do routinely.
What materials from nature can you use to do the activities?
• Action Plan:
List three ways you plan to incorporate Nature into your classroom.

22. Resources:
Websites:
Naturalearning.org
Childrenandnature.org
www.playstudiofw.com
Bringing the Outside In:
Ideas for Creating Nature-Based Classroom Experiences for Young Children
By Sandra Duncan and Jody Martin
Questions?