It is increasingly clear that encouraging students to build an understanding of the environment, develop sensitivity towards the environment, and find ways to demonstrate care about their environment is the critical responsibility of school education (“National Curriculum Framework for School Education”). Nature-based learning occurs in natural settings and where elements of nature have been brought into built environments. It includes learning about the natural world, but extends to engagement in any subject, skill or interest while in natural surroundings (“Environmental Education and Nature-Based Learning”). Although nature-based learning generally takes place outdoors, it can be incorporated in built environments by introducing and integrating natural elements into the curriculum to enrich the learning process. This method of teaching cultivates a strong bond with the environment as the source of knowledge, generates a sense of wonder, curiosity, exploration, and discovery.
Establishing natural play spaces and outdoor classrooms is one strategy to introduce and facilitate nature-based learning for kids. It’s necessary to incorporate gardens, forested areas, and places for imaginative play when designing rooms that are influenced by nature. Research has demonstrated that time spent outside can have considerable benefits for children’s numeracy skills. Natural elements can be used as tools for measurement. Students can measure the length of a tree shadow at different times of the day, or estimate the circumference of a tree trunk using a piece of string. We can connect math concepts to gardening activities by involving students in tasks such as planting seeds at specific intervals, measuring plant growth over time, or calculating the area of garden beds. Students can conduct field studies where students collect and analyse data related to natural phenomena. For example, they can track changes in temperature, or rainfall, and use mathematical tools such as graphs, charts, and tables to interpret their findings.
Literacy encourages students to transform themselves by connecting to the natural world and learning from it. Place-based writing is a technique that encourages children to connect with their surroundings and write about what they see, smell, feel, and hear. It allows them to build a connection with the place they are in and understand how they fit into it (Learnlife). Another way can be to take storytelling sessions outdoors and read nature-themed books or poems to students in natural settings such as under a tree or by a stream, and facilitate discussions about the same. Natural objects can be used to reinforce letter and sound recognition skills. For example, students can search for objects that start with a specific letter sound or sort natural materials based on their initial sounds.
Similarly applying the principles of nature-based learning in science allows students to engage in exploration and experimentation in the natural world. Science classes can be taken outdoors for hands-on exploration of local ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, or tide pools. Students can observe biodiversity, collect data on plant and animal species, and analyse ecological patterns in their natural habitats. Hands-on activities, such as soil sampling or wildlife tracking, provide valuable opportunities for scientific inquiry and data analysis. Teachers can design laboratory activities that incorporate natural materials, organisms, or environmental samples. For example, students can study the anatomy of plants, or investigate water filtration using natural materials.
Art, music, and dance are ventures that allow students to simulate their senses in a creative manner. Schools can take art and music classes outdoors, allowing students to immerse themselves in nature while creating. This can inspire them to observe natural elements such as landscapes, plants, and wildlife, and translate these observations into artistic expressions through painting, drawing, sculpture, or music composition. Experiment with using natural materials such as leaves, flowers, rocks, or shells in art projects. Students can create nature-based collages, sculptures, and foster an appreciation for the textures, colours, and shapes found in the natural world. Students can explore the connections between music and natural rhythms, create visual representations of scientific phenomena, or collaborate on multimedia projects that blend artistic expressions with ecological principles.
India has a long history and rich traditions of environmentally sustainable practices. It is important for students to understand this and learn about such practices from across different regions in our country (“National Curriculum Framework for School Education”). A change in perspective that begins with our children is the recognition that we are a part of nature, not its masters. Nature-based learning once incorporated into school curriculum, especially during the foundational years, only further enriches the learning process.
References:
“Environmental Education and Nature-Based Learning.” PennState: College of Agricultural Sciences, 2022, aese.psu.edu/teachag/instructional-classroom-resources/envir-edu-and-nature-based-learning#:~:text=Nature%2Dbased%20learning%20occurs%20in,interest%20while%20in%20natural%20surroundings.
Learnlife. “Nature-based learning for literacy and numeracy.” learnlife, 28 Oct. 2022, blog.learnlife.com/nature-based-learning-for-literacy-and-numeracy.
