Nature-Based Education 101

Nature-based education is taking the country by storm! Curious about what it entails? Let's dive

What Is Nature-Based Education?

Nature-based education (NBE) is a teaching approach that uses nature as the foundation for learning. For young children (ages 0-8), it aims to foster overall development and environmental literacy.

Why is it Gaining Popularity?

Teachers and families are raving about NBE, and here’s why: it’s engaging, student-centered, and adaptable! Research shows that NBE enhances student attention, physical health, and mental well-being (Kuo et. al., 2019). It also fosters equitable and inclusive learning environments (Hubbart, 2021).

What's the Curriculum Like?

NBE’s curriculum is emergent, nature-centric, child-led, and play-based.

• Emergent Curriculum: Responsive to students' interests and needs, it’s collaborative, inquiry-based, and flexible.

• Nature-Centric Curriculum: Guided by the environment, learning occurs mostly outdoors, but can also happen indoors.

• Child-Led Curriculum:Driven by students' interests, with teachers supporting learning through observation and facilitation.

• Play-Based Curriculum: Uses play as the primary mode of learning, engaging children when they are happy and motivated.