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September 2008
Appreciating the Natural World with Young Children
Valerie Keener, Administrator, Division of Education
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Online Resources
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources Education Division
This Web site contains information about educational materials for use in the classroom, teacher workshops, and more.
http://dnr.state.il.us/education/index.htm - Illinois Department of Natural Resources SMARTBoards™ Lessons
These tools include lessons linked to the Illinois Early Learning Standards. Lessons include A to Z from a Tree and A Year with Wildlife.
http://dnr.state.il.us/education/SmartBoardintro.htm - Wings, Stings, and Leggy Things: Insects of Illinois
This booklet, which can be downloaded in PDF form, includes a diagram of an insect as well as a diagram showing insect life cycles.
http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/wingleg/WingsStings.pdf Print copies of the booklet in English or Spanish (Alas, aguijones y cosas zanquilargas: insectos de Illinois) can be ordered from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Permission to photocopy these pages is granted for use with students in the classroom.
http://dnr.state.il.us/education/classrm/edmats02.htm - Let’s Talk about Insects
This Web site includes a guide to activities such as making models, charting insects, and more.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/index.htmlHablemos de insectos
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects_sp/index.html - My First Garden
This site is designed for use with older children but may be adapted for use in preschool.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/tg/index.html
Mi primer jardín
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden_sp/tg/index.html - Nature Study: A Science Curriculum for Three- and Four-Year-Olds
This chapter is a part of a book that recounts a year’s work at the Early Childhood Development Center at Texas A&M University. The chapter illustrates key components of an early childhood science curriculum model.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED468868 - The Natural World in Books for Children and Teenagers
This list is intended for use by teachers and others interested in finding books for children and young teens about the natural world. The age range is given after each title so teachers can choose age-appropriate materials for preschoolers.
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=160 - Starting Children on Science
This publication from the National Association for the Education of Young Children notes that in their early encounters with nature, children develop ideas about our world based on experiences with real things.
http://www.naeyc.org/ece/2002/02.asp - Nature Spies
This activity guide from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Education Place Web site lists materials that children will need to go on a nature walk and how to record and discuss their observations.
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/1_3_act1.html - Wherever I Look
This activity guide from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Education Place Web site discusses how children can become aware of the natural world around them by observing, then writing about and drawing what they see.
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/look.html - Meet a Tree
This site suggests ways to help children explore trees.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_earlychildhood/castaldo/castaldo015.shtml - Have You Ever Met a Tree?
This site includes suggestions related to observing and documenting observations of a tree.
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/arb/meetatree.html - Make Your Own Leaf Book
This activity guide discusses how children can make books to help them remember their leaf observations.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_earlychildhood/castaldo/castaldo017.shtml - Bird Walk
This site suggests ways that parents can watch and discuss birds with their children.
http://familytlc.net/issues/september2007/fall_4.html - Fall: Colorful and Crunchy
http://www.naeyc.org/ece/1998/20.asp
Illinois Early Learning Tip Sheets
- CSI: Child Scientist Investigates!
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/csi.htm - Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Animal Study in the Classroom
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/science-animals.htm - Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Rain or Shine
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/weather.htm - Get Growing: Learning about Seeds
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/garden-seeds.htm - Get Growing: Planning a Garden with Young Children
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/garden-planning.htm
Additional Resources
- Discovering Nature with Young Children
Author(s): Chalufour, Ingrid and Karen Worth
Publication Date: 2003
Availability: Redleaf Press, 450 North Syndicate, Suite 5, St. Paul, MN 55104-4125
This guide, part of a preschool science curriculum, uses an inquiry approach to encourage young naturalists to observe life more closely, build an understanding of what is living and nonliving, and develop science inquiry skills and scientific dispositions. - Raising Butterflies from Your Own Garden
Author(s): Howley-Pfeifer, Patricia
Source: Young Children, v57 n6 p60-65 Nov 2002
Publication Date: 2002
This article describes how raising butterflies in a class garden can provide opportunities for observation experiences. It describes related classroom activities such as photography, group discussion, journals, creative dramatics, and a butterfly release party. - Be a Bee and Other Approaches to Introducing Young Children to Entomology
Author(s): Danoff-Burg, James A.
Source: Young Children, v57 n5 p42-46 Sep 2002
Publication Date: 2002
This article discusses three ways to introduce young children to the study of insects: live collections for observation and investigation, re-creation of insects through artistic constructions to learn structure and function, and dramatic play activities to understand insect behavior.
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