Nature is my best teacher: one-week nature-based education program for preschool teachers

Abstract

This study aimed to enable preschool teachers to comprehend a complete vision of nature-based teaching to teach curricular subjects while introducing nature to children as a source of wonder, value, and endless opportunity for learning. Twenty-five preschool education teachers have participated in a one-week nature-based teaching program. Teachers engaged in hands-on activities including experiments, field trips, observation, play, drama, and online interactive applications. A qualitative case study approach was utilized in this study. Findings revealed that although participating teachers emphasized the value of nature-based teaching, they rarely used nature and natural materials in their activities before involving in this project.