Nature at Your Door

Abstract

Through regular classroom communications teachers facilitate family partnerships in nature-based learning. Teachers can promote family engagement in the local environment and foster lifelong naturalists with a strong commitment to the Earth through consistent welcoming invitations via classroom communications. Strategies for supporting families to engage in activities in their local environment are described. By strengthening nature-connectedness, dedication to sustainability, and environmental literacy teachers assist in the development of citizens who will advocate for the Earth and its environment.

Keywords:

• Early childhood
• science and engineering practices
• field trips/field study
• biodiversity
• Earth and human activity
• Earth systems/weather
• environmental change
• physical changes
• ecosystems
• interactions
• energy
• and dynamics
• life science
• plant structures
• functions
• needs
• NGSS

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Gallo-Fox

Jennifer Gallo-Fox ([email protected]) is an associate professor, Ariadni Kouzeli is a doctoral student, and Katie Pollock is a University Lab School nature preschool teacher and instructor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, all at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware.