Language: Spanish

ISSN: 0214-1302

Abstract/Notes: Research shows that environmental education and time outdoors increase social emotional, cognitive, and physical health. We know it’s important to start early and to use a holistic systems-based lens. While research is underway in traditional early childhood programs, research is lacking on how environmental education is implemented and practiced in Montessori early childhood programs. The purpose of the study is to integrate information on the philosophical underpinnings of environmental education with Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, create a questionnaire to examine the implementation of environmental education in Montessori early childhood programming, and pilot the questionnaire to gather information through educators’ responses to systems-based environmental education-framed questions on teacher’s understanding of environmental education, program and pedagogical practices, health promotion, social systems education, natural systems education, and barriers to implementation. Special attention was paid to constructivism, realism mixed with wonder, interdisciplinary practices, biophilia versus ecophobia, critical pedagogy of place, local versus global awareness, and the use of play. A pilot questionnaire was created and sent out via the Internet; 43 questionnaires were returned with sufficient information and analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods. The results are included in full to support continuing conversation about the interaction between environmental education and Montessori pedagogy. Final discussion highlights discrepancies between the philosophical foundations of Montessori pedagogy and environmental education and the reported practices.

Language: English

Published: River Falls, Wisconsin, 2019

Abstract/Notes: This is in the conference proceedings for the 1st Congresso Internazionale, Bari, 14-16 marzo 2007.

Language: Italian

Published: Roma, Italy: Aracne, 2011

ISBN: 978-88-548-3869-7 88-548-3869-1

Language: English

Abstract/Notes: This systematic literature review and content analysis was conducted to ascertain what research from different countries have found regarding the development of environmental awareness in the early years. Environmental awareness in the context of this study speaks to an understanding of the symbiotic relationship of the different entities coexisting within the environment. Research has shown that as children’s environmental knowledge increases, their personal attitudes are modified to more pro-environmental ways. Environmental awareness, over time, may also support children to develop a sense of identity that goes beyond the individual and encompasses how they see themselves as living cohesively as part of the environment through socialization and experience. This systematic literature review and content analysis explored what programs and practices exist in different parts of the world that engage children in various activities in biodiverse places, to support the development of their environmental awareness, which is based on their geographical location, culture, and socialization. To determine how children are supported as they develop their environmental awareness, this content analysis reviewed 80 articles from 15 countries. The findings of this systematic content analysis revealed that research from 15 countries across the world embrace the discourse of early childhood environmental education, but with different foci and objectives. These differences are sometimes determined based on social interactions, family values, community norms, national curricula, geographical locations, and culture. This systematic content analysis also revealed that young children can recognize interdependency and develop relationships with other-than-humans within the environment through programs such as nature schools, place-based education, forest schools, and other kindergarten programs. This recognition enables children to honour themselves as humans to survive and to become mindful of the needs of other entities within the environment and of the need to exist interdependently. Through programs and practices as revealed by the systematic content analysis children can deepen their environmental awareness, see themselves as part of the environment, and perhaps can then go on to participate in decision-making and action initiatives to sustain and support the environment.

Language: English

Published: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2022

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections

Language: English

Archive: Seattle University, Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons, Special Collections