This was a 15min Presentation for class. We were allow to do any topic... I chose a topic that I worked on in my current job as a Books Aloud Specialist!
3. Goals
• Discuss gardening with children
• Practice Literacy skills while gardening
• Linking literature to gardening
4. Nature and Children
Gardens and green spaces provides the
perfect setting for learning because
children have the opportunity to use
all five senses while exploring outdoors.
5. Hands on Sensory Experience and Learning
• Sight – there is so much to see in a park or a garden.
• Touch – children can experience the different textures and
feel of everything in the park.
• Smell – children can experience a wide range of smells in
the garden.
• Sound –On a breezy day, you can hear the rustle of leaves
and plants as they move in the wind.
• Taste –A vegetable garden or fruit garden provides plenty
of acceptable options.
6. The Great Outdoors
• “A growing body of evidence indicates that
contact with nature is as important to children
as good nutrition and adequate sleep, and
therefore, educators need to address
children’s access to nature” (Hachey and
Butler, 2009).
7. Building Literacy Skills while Playing in Parks
and Gardens
• The park and garden will provide the perfect
environment to introduce new words to
children.
• Activity
25. Linking Literature
• There are so many wonderful picture books
about gardens and green spaces. For example In
the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming.
• Activity
26. Questions for Parents
NOW-Think about a typical day for you. Think about
a typical day for your children…
• How much time do you spend outside?
• How important is a visit to the park?
• Does your local park have grass, trees or flowers?
• When you walk to work, school or the bus, how
many “green spaces” do you pass?
• How many trees do you see?