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Examine the importance of including environmental education in early childhood education
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit preliminary ideas on how environmental education can be included in your program
Submit a written summary of what is meant by environmental literacy
Submit a written personal philosophy statement on why environmental education should be included in early childhood programs
Criteria
You read the assigned reading
You brainstorm and record ideas
You research the term environmental literacy
You contemplate and write a philosophy statement
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Analyze perspectives of the changing connection between children and the natural world
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit a written summary of “Nature Deficit Disorder”
Present orally a memory from your childhood of being in nature
Participate in discussion of the implication of an assigned quote
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You use the Louv text to examine Nature Deficit Disorder
You prepare notes for an oral presentation
You contemplate an assigned quote and prepare notes for discussion
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Summarize the importance of play-based teaching methodologies in early childhood education
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit a written summary of “The Eighth Intelligence”
Participate in a discussion of the meaning and importance of play
List the ways young children play in nature at an early childhood program
Participate in a group discussion about ways children play in nature
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You use the Louv text to examine The Eighth Intelligence
You research play as it relates to learning in early childhood
You prepare a list for use in a group discussion
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Explore established environmental education curricula for early childhood
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Participate in early childhood environmental education activities from an established curriculum
Teach the class an activity from an established environmental education curriculum
Submit written feedback of an established environmental education curriculum
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You actively participate in activities
You demonstrate an activity
You evaluate and give feedback
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Develop lesson plans that incorporate various aspects of the outdoor environment
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit a written feedback of an assigned lesson plan
Create 3 lesson plans for early childhood that integrates environmental education and the outdoors
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You examine an assigned lesson plan
You research and record ideas for 3 lesson plans
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Practice outdoor environmental education activities
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit a written summary for each of 3 environmental education activities that you implemented with a group of young children
Participate in a discussion of how young children extemporaneously adapted, changed or modified lessons as they were implemented
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You implement 3 activities and write a summary for each
You prepare notes for group discussion of how your lessons were adapted, changed or modified by children
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Implement outdoor teaching strategies that encourage observation and inquiry
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Submit 2 written observations of the outdoor play space at your early childhood program
Submit a written paper on cycles occurring in nature that can be readily observed and how they might be used for inquiry activities
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You complete 2 observations of outdoor play space
You research and write a paper on cycles in nture and observation/inquiry
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Assess outdoor environmental education lessons and activities
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Review and discuss the National Environmental Education Standards for Early Childhood
Submit a written assessment of a peer’s environmental education lesson for early childhood
Submit a written assessment of your own environmental education lesson for early childhood
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You prepare notes for a discussion of the NEE Standards
You review and assess a peer’s lesson plan
You review and assess your own lesson plan
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Create an environmental education plan for an early childhood program
Assessment Strategies
The learner will demonstrate competence by (Condition):
Complete a journal entry reflection on the assigned readings
Create a written vision/mission statement for an early childhood program that includes environmental education
Create a written plan for incorporating environmental education components into various learning spaces both indoors and outdoors in your current program
Assess with written feedback a peer’s environmental education plan
Criteria
You read the assigned readings
You contemplate and write a vision/mission statement
You envision and construct a written environmental education plan
You provide feedback to a peer regarding their plan