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September 2008

Appreciating the Natural World with Young Children

Valerie Keener, Administrator, Division of Education
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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Recent research has shown that children are losing their connection with nature. As future stewards of our world, it is important for them to be offered time to experience what nature provides. You do not need to be an expert in the natural sciences to provide meaningful opportunities for young children to learn about their environments. Urban and rural areas alike abound with plants and animals that can be observed. When young children are given the chance to explore, their innate curiosity leads them to ask questions and seek answers--parts of the scientific method. Hands-on projects, such as development of butterfly gardens, show children that they can make a difference in their world. In this discussion, Valerie Keener of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources explores how nature studies can be incorporated into many subject areas.

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