Why This Theme

The reason why I chose Earth Day, is because young children are natural explorers of
this world. You have to set some basic boundaries, and let the child discover outdoors. Children
use all of their senses to explore always. They look and listen to observe what is happening
around them, touch what they can reach, smell the fresh scents of nature. They run, jump, dig,
and climb as they discover in the outdoors. For young children, everything is new and even the
tiniest things are interesting in the outdoors and become very exciting to discover. In todays
driven world, exploring the outdoors is an opportunity for young children to actively engage in
learning. They will have the opportunity to learn about Earth Day in so many activities such as
the Recycle Sorting Game, telling plastic from paper and aluminum. Also they will learn about
be able to use junk to create masterpieces. They will be planting seeds, which can also be a
activity they can do at home with their parents.
Doing environment activities is hands-on based for 3- to 5-year-olds. Preschoolers aren't
ready to sit down and memorize concepts, they need activities to encourage basic
understanding of the world around them that teach the basics in an enjoyable way. They will
think they are playing when actually they are learning. As young children spend most of their
most valuable thinking time in early childhood programs, it is essential to find ways to bring
nature to them. We need to think beyond traditional playgrounds, which are often constructed
without grass, flowers, or trees, and envision and create nature-based outdoor classrooms. Deep
bonds can form between children or child and adult when they share experiences with nature.
When young children have daily opportunities to care for plants and trees, animals and insects,
they practice nurturing behaviors that help them interact in kind and gentle ways with people
as well. I think many young children today do not have such opportunities that involve
environment activities outdoors. With children being individually appropriate and culturally
appropriate all children develop at their own rate, they tend to reach milestones in a
predictable pattern. Observing and documenting the physical, emotional, and cognitive
development of each child in your care will ensure that you are providing the best learning
environment possible (website).
When I discovered Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligences, the Naturalistic Intelligence
is the intelligence that adults have less of. We need to install this intelligence more into our
children these days. The Naturalistic Intelligence is the theory that describes learning capability
as the Naturalist learner. This intelligence is the ability to distinguish among living things such
as animals and plants as well having the sensitivity to other aspects of the natural world. There
is a genuine admiration of the aspects of nature and how it intertwine. This trait has been
known to put the future of the world first and being concerned about how man could be
destroying our planet for future generations. People with naturalistic intelligence often show
expertise in the recognition and classification of plants and animals. Its always great to
interacting with surroundings and learn about how things work. When I think about some of
the other Intelligences, the Bodily/ Kinesthetic is a way to using different tools and crafts that
make a child creative with their mind. Having the Musical Intelligence they can use their
recyclable items to make music instruments. When Interpersonal is involved it allows for people
to come together on Earth Day observing Gods creation through community events. And
having a Mathematical/ Logical Intelligence has the child explore through its mind in so many
ways that they can think of.
Nolen, Jennifer L. (2003). Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom. Education. Fall2003. Vol. 124
Issue 1. (p. 115-119). Retrieved from
http://greeneyezwinkin2.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/dr-howard gardner-on-multiple
intelligences/
Smith, M. K. (2002). Howard Gardner and multiple intelligences. Encyclopedia of Informal
Education. Retrieved from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.html.
Bietz, K. (2012). What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?. Retrieved from
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-preschool/98374-what-is
developmentally appropriate-practice/