Approaches to Teaching Nature Science to Young Children

There are many, many approaches to teaching nature science to young children, from micro to macro:

1. Individual species, such as gray squirrels, polar bears, monarch butterflies, or emperor penguins.

2. Groups by classification, such as insects, birds, or bears.

3. Groups by habitats, such as pond, woodland, meadow, or marine coast.

In my next few Blogs, I will focus on each one of these approaches, including strategies, resources, and photographs, as well as ideas for invitations to learning for each topic. Whether you use the thematic or the project approach, you can introduce children to nature science using approaches that will engage them, and engage you as well.

There are literally hundreds of books and web site resources for teachers and children. Here is one to consider.

Sharing Nature with Children, 20th Anniversary Edition, by Joseph Bharat Cornell, Dawn Publications, 1998.