The "nature" of learning about the natural world

"By keeping children away from complex, natural environments, from experiencing risk, from learning to play imaginatively we are not denying them the chance to develop fully –‐ to become autonomous and independent." David Bond


Spending time outdoors and experiencing the wonder of nature is essential for children to learn about the natural world, writes David Bond
Unveiling plans this week for a new National Curriculum, Education Secretary Michael Gove has been criticised for introducing endless lists of spelling, facts and rules, and sacrificing understanding for rote learning. The Wildlife Trust claims Gove is proposing to remove teaching about the natural environment from the curriculum.
Learning about the natural world helps children to connect to the huge environmental issues that face us. If you don’t know about something, it is very difficult to care about it.
But I would go a step further. Children should be encouraged to spend more time learning about the natural world, but instead of doing this in a classroom, I believe that the emphasis should be on children experiencing the natural world first–‐hand. Click to continue reading article at Outdoor Nation