12/7/2024 3:51:11 PM	CHLD 150 Course Outline as of Fall 2023	Inactive Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  CHLD 150	Title:  EXPLORE THE NATURAL WRLD
Full Title:  Exploring the Natural World with Young Children
Last Reviewed:2/27/2017

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	0		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	1.00			Contact Total	17.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course will focus on outdoor education for young children, using local resources to develop teachers' skills at facilitating learning and discovery in natural environments.  Class will include field trips to local nature preserves.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course will focus on outdoor education for young children, using local resources to develop teachers' skills at facilitating learning and discovery in natural environments.  Class will include field trips to local nature preserves.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Use local natural environments as a resource for curriculum development.

2.  Develop curriculum for young children that supports curiosity, knowledge of, and interest in

    nature.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Implement age-appropriate strategies to use with children in a natural environment.

2. Recognize the learning value of children's interests and responses in the natural environment.

3. Use nature-based activities to enhance development in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial

    domains.

4. Explain the teacher's role in creating opportunities that support children's curiosity and interest

    in nature.

5. Identify local natural environments that are available as a resource for developing curriculum

    for young children.

Topics and Scope

I. Child Development Overview

    A. Skills associated with outdoor discovery

    B. Domains of development: cognitive, social-emotional, and physical

    C. Naturalistic intelligence (Gardener's theory)

II. Understanding Children's Interactions with Nature

    A. Discovery and learning

    B. Imaginative, sensory, observation and unstructured play

III. Documenting Children's Experiences and Learning in Nature

    A. Photography

    B. Child art

    C. Collections

    D. Dictation

    E. Stories

IV. Using Available Local Resources

    A. Pepperwood Preserve

    B. Bouverie Nature Preserve

    C. Armstrong Woods

    D. Marine Mammal Rescue

    E. Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue

    F. Tidepools at county or state beaches, examples: Shell Beach, Pinnacle Gulch

    G. Bodega Marine Lab

    H. Point Reyes Bird Observatory or Petaluma Wetlands

V. Using Docents

    A. Understanding the role of a docent in interacting with young children

    B. Adapting docent information to early childhood curriculum

VI. Planning Activities for Natural Settings

    A. Following children's interests

    B. Emergent curriculum

    C. Using children's books as part of the nature experience

    D. Planned activities that support outdoor experiences

VII. Guidance, Discipline and Safety in the Outdoor Setting

    A. Guidance techniques for field trips and unstructured outdoor time

    B. Sources for identification of outdoor hazards

Assignments:

Assignments may include but are not limited to:

1. Written report on local nature organizations or resources (2-4 pages)

2. Written classroom lesson plan related to field trip activity (2-4 pages)

3. Philosophy statement about the value of nature in regard to children's learning and

     development (2 pages)

4. Participate in selected field trips and guided experiences in nature

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 50 - 70%
Written report, lesson plan, philosophy statement
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Classroom lesson plan
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 0 - 0%
None
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 20%
Attendance and participation (in class activities), guided experiences during field trips

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Sharing Nature®: Nature Awareness Activities for All Ages. Cornell, Joseph. Crystal Clarity Publishers. 2015

Sharing Nature with Children. 20th ed. Cornell, Joseph. DAWN Publications. 1998 (classic)

Instructor prepared materials

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