Explore the unique and expansive learning opportunities offered by gardening with children Gardens are where children’s imaginations engage nature, and the result is joyful learning. Gardening helps children develop an appreciation for the natural world and build the foundation for environmental stewardship. This book is packed with information and inspiration to help you immerse children in gardening and outdoor learning experiences—green thumb or a perfect plot of land not required. Learn how a gardening curriculum supports learning and development across all domains. You’ll also find heaps of suggestions for planning, planting, and caring for a garden suited to your unique setting, such as container gardens, raised beds, in-ground gardens, gardens grown vertically on a wall or fence, and even rooftop gardens. Cultivate children’s wonder and appreciation for nature. This book provides More than 60 hands-on learning activities for children of all ages to explore plants and garden creatures Vibrant photographs and classroom stories describing showcasing great programs from around the country New content reflecting childhood issues and gardening trends that have surfaced in recent years, including concerns that children are becoming alienated from nature, and that childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic Resources to help your garden flourish, seed and garden supply lists, information on poisonous plants, and books about gardens and garden creatures

From adding richness and variety to learning, to redesigning a playground, this highly accessible text will provide early years practitioners with a wealth of ideas on how to foster creative play and learning in the outdoor environment with a focus on interacting with the natural world. Nature and Young Children contains many simple ideas on the type of materials that can be added to encourage observation, exploration and dramatic play, as well as guidance on what early years practitioners can do to help children meet early development and academic goals through outdoor learning activities. Relating to every-day early years settings throughout, the author of this inspirational text addresses topics such as: gardening with young children choosing plants for safety, variety and active learning making outdoor activities and play spaces accessible for children with disabilities involving parents in appreciating and developing the outdoor space and outdoor activities dealing with fears, safety and comfort issues. Presented in an effective way to develop environmentally responsible attitudes, values and behaviours, Nature and Young Children is recommended for all early years practitioners and students.

Provides lessons on many topics of nature study, with questions that may form the basis for student projects.

This book emphasizes the significance of teaching science in early childhood classrooms, reviews the research on what young children are likely to know about science and provides key points on effectively teaching science to young children. Science education, an integral part of national and state standards for early childhood classrooms, encompasses not only content-based instruction but also process skills, creativity, experimentation and problem-solving. By introducing science in developmentally appropriate ways, we can support young children’s sensory explorations of their world and provide them with foundational knowledge and skills for lifelong science learning, as well as an appreciation of nature. This book emphasizes the significance of teaching science in early childhood classrooms, reviews the research on what young children are likely to know about science, and provides key points on effectively teaching young children science. Common research methods used in the reviewed studies are identified, methodological concerns are discussed and methodological and theoretical advances are suggested.

Agriculture and Gardening History Gardening and agriculture are important pillars of our culture. Short History of Gardening and Agriculture relates the story of agriculture from Neolithic times until the emergence of modern agriculture. Neolithic Revolution During the Neolithic Revolution that began around the end of the last Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago. Humans, who had been dependent upon hunting and gathering practices and learn the techniques that would lead to the growing, harvesting and storage of food. This allowed the human population to grow and civilization to stabilize. Native American Agricultural Practices Learn how the Native Americans practiced agriculture in the New World as they practiced the Three Sisters method of farming. Ancient Agriculture The agricultural and farming practices of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians are also covered in the book. Medieval Agriculture And Farming Readers will learn many of the tools, crops and practices of Medieval farmers. A monthly journal of the life of the medieval farmer is also included. Colonial Agriculture Agriculture was an immediate necessity the early settlers, as the vast distance from the colonies to the home countries made supply from Europe almost impossible. The book covers the planting, harvesting and storage methods of the colonists during the colonial period. Vegetable, Grain and Livestock Crops The book also discusses the major vegetable and grain crops humans rely upon for food. Livestock like chickens, pigs, cattle, goats and sheep are also included. One section each for dogs and cats relates how these much beloved animals began their long association with people. agriculture history, garden history, neolithic revolution, native american agricultural practices, ancient agriculture, colonial agriculture, medieval agriculture and farming,