Teaching Nature and Science

There are so many approaches to teaching nature and science, some involve getting outside and getting dirty, others focus more on reading and classroom study. I was curious about how different schools approach nature and science so I consulted someone who knows. Which school would you have liked to go to?

Laura writes at Global Mama, where I’ve been following her for some time. Laura has a BA in Child and Adolescent Development, magna cum laude – she knows a thing or two about teaching! She kindly agreed to share some insights with us.

Global Mama’s Guide – 6 Ways to Teach Nature and Science

#1 Theme/Unit-Based Curriculum – popular in traditional preschool, kindergarten, and lower elementary teaching approaches. Science and nature topics are covered which directly relate to the unit introduced by the teacher. Units usually include stories, songs, games, art projects, and brief lessons covering key concepts. For instance, a unit on bugs could include songs about bugs, a lesson at circle time on the parts of an insect, and an art project creating an insect collage.

#2 Montessori – a well-established educational approach, especially at the preschool level. Focuses on hands-on experience and observational skills. Materials such as levers, pulleys, pendulums, and prisms introduce scientific concepts in a concrete way, with children exploring at their own pace. Cards with clear photos of animals or plants might be used in a classifying, matching, or sequencing activity, and specimens from nature such as leaves, stones and a naturally shed snakeskin might be arranged on a tray with a magnifying glass for taking a close look.

#3 Charlotte Mason – has a strong following amongst homeschoolers. Nature study is a core part of the Charlotte Mason approach. Children take nature walks, collect flowers and leaves, and often draw or paint outside. The focus is on free exploration of nature and strengthening observation skills. High quality books written by authors passionate and knowledgeable about their subject can be used to learn more about topics of interest.

#4 Waldorf – a method followed at some small schools. The focus here is on observing the changing seasons in nature. Children collect items on nature walks and display them on a rotating nature table in the classroom, and learn songs and poems about the seasons. A sense of wonder and respect for nature and animals is key.

#5 Forest Schools – something I just heard of recently which would be difficult to find in the USA. Direct experience of nature is what Forest Schools are all about. Children are free to wander and explore in a natural environment throughout the day. There are no typical classroom materials, so the focus is on direct observation of nature and sensory experience. Children look under rocks, play in mud puddles, build with sticks and logs, climb trees, watch the clouds, roll down hills, and take naps, all outside.

#6 Reggio-Inspired – an approach which overlaps with other approaches in child-led learning. Curriculum in the Reggio approach is child-led, so nature and science topics are explored as the children become interested. Projects can come from many sources: perhaps the children love cars, which leads to a study of motion and velocity, or maybe the children are curious about their shadows, which leads to light and dark, the Sun and the Earth.
It can be unpredictable – you never know what will happen next or where each project will lead – but no matter the topic, the children will use many different media to express what they are learning, from drawing and painting to building 3D models and dictating stories.

Had you heard about all of these teaching methods before? Which one appeals to you?

Please leave any comments or questions for Laura here. You can also visit Laura at her blog, Global Mama and read more about choosing a preschool: Charlottte Mason; Montessori; Waldorf; Reggio-Inspired.

Related posts:

1. Natural Science Foundation
2. Natural Science Terminology
3. Green Hour – it’s kids and nature