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Nature by default in early childhood education for sustainability
Early childhood education for sustainability calls for more meaningful engagement of children with nature.
Elliott, S., Young, T., (2016). Nature by default in early childhood education for sustainability. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 32(1),The Youth Leading Environmental Change project: A mixed-method longitudinal study across six countries
An environmental justice framework can be an effective way to create motivation for action and help youth better understand the complexity of global climate change and sustainability
Riemer, M., Voorhees, C., Dittmer, L., Alisat, S., Alam, N., Sayal, R., Bidisha, S.H., De Souza, A., Lynes, J., Metternich, A., Mugagga, F., Schweizer-Ries, P., (2016). The Youth Leading Environmental Change project: A mixed-method longitudinal study across six countries. Ecopsychology, 8(3),Young children’s ideas about environment: Perspectives from three early childhood educational settings
Study finds environmental sustainability education effective with young children
Madden, L., Liang, J., (2017). Young children’s ideas about environment: Perspectives from three early childhood educational settings. Environmental Education Research, 23(8),Tomorrow's leaders and today's agents of change? Children, sustainability education and environmental governance
Engaging children as “agents of change” for the environment should be based on a consideration of structural and relational dimensions of environmental knowledge transmission
Walker, C., (2017). Tomorrow's leaders and today's agents of change? Children, sustainability education and environmental governance. Children & Society, 31,Education for sustainable development in early childhood education: A review of the research literature
A research review of early childhood education for sustainability illustrates teachers’ differing definitions and changes in practice over time
Hedefalk, M., Almqvist, J., Ostman, L., (2015). Education for sustainable development in early childhood education: A review of the research literature. Environmental Education Research, 21(7),Love and social justice in learning for sustainability
Learning for sustainability requires a social justice approach applicable to both humans and the more-than-human world
Griffiths, M., Murray, R., (2017). Love and social justice in learning for sustainability. Ethics and EducationEducation for sustainable development, nature, and vernacular learning
Nurturing a sense of wonder, joy, and belonging in learners as they experience nature is vital to developing an ethic of care for the planet
Selby, D., (2017). Education for sustainable development, nature, and vernacular learning. CEPS Journal, 7(1),Live green, think green: Sustainable school architecture and children's environmental attitudes and behaviors
Sustainable school design promotes students’ pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors
Tucker, R., Izadpanahi, P., (2017). Live green, think green: Sustainable school architecture and children's environmental attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 51,No-self, natural sustainability and education for sustainable development
Education based on natural sustainability highlights the non-dual relation between the self and the rest of the natural world
Wang, D-L., (2017). No-self, natural sustainability and education for sustainable development. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 49(5),'If there's no sustainability our future will get wrecked': Exploring children's perspectives of sustainability
Children’s ideas about sustainability are developed through experiential, investigative, sensorial and place-oriented ways of learning
Green, M., (2017). 'If there's no sustainability our future will get wrecked': Exploring children's perspectives of sustainability. Childhood, 24(2),Sustainability by default: Co-creating care and relationality through early childhood education
Early childhood education for sustainability can benefit from earlier pedagogical traditions focusing on connectivity, care, and crossing boundaries
Wals, A.E.J., (2017). Sustainability by default: Co-creating care and relationality through early childhood education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 49,Thrown together: Incorporating place and sustainability into early literacy education
Literacy learning can be broadened to integrate issues of sustainability
Schmidt, C., (2017). Thrown together: Incorporating place and sustainability into early literacy education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 49(2),How to educate children for sustainable learning and for a sustainable world
Sustainable learning should be integrated into everyday practices with young children
Pramling Samuelsson, I., Park, E., (2017). How to educate children for sustainable learning and for a sustainable world. International Journal of Early Childhood, 49(3),Education for what? Shaping the field of climate change education with children and young people as co-researchers
Climate change education can become an entirely new field of educational experience and inquiry when it is inclusive of and led by young people
Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Rousell, D., (2019). Education for what? Shaping the field of climate change education with children and young people as co-researchers. Children's Geographies, 17(1),Youth e-participation as a pillar of sustainable societies
A game-based and expert-supported approach engages youth in urban planning for a sustainable future
Rexhepi, A., Filiposk, S., Trajkovik, V., (2018). Youth e-participation as a pillar of sustainable societies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174(10),Use of children's literature to support an emerging curriculum model of education for sustainable development for young learners
Children’s literature can be an integral component of education for sustainable development for young learners
Bhagwanji, Y., Born, P., (2018). Use of children's literature to support an emerging curriculum model of education for sustainable development for young learners. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 12(2),Preschool educators' interactions with children about sustainable development: Planned and incidental conversations
Giving children a voice can empower them to act as agents of change for a more sustainable future
Bautista, A., Moreno-Nunez, A., Ng, S-C., Bull, R., (2018). Preschool educators' interactions with children about sustainable development: Planned and incidental conversations. International Journal of Early Childhood, 50,Running Wild: Engaging and empowering future custodians of place through creative nature-based play
Creative nature-based play embedded in the participatory arts fosters children’s connection to nature and promotes their ability to act as agents of change in their local environment
Beer, T., Cook, A., Kantor, K., (2018). Running Wild: Engaging and empowering future custodians of place through creative nature-based play. Journal of Public Pedagogies,, 3Preschool children's knowledge about the environmental impact of various modes of transport
Swedish preschool children are aware of the environmental impact of different modes of transportation
Borg, F., Winberg, T.M., Vinterek, M., (2019). Preschool children's knowledge about the environmental impact of various modes of transport. Early Child Development and Care, 189(3),The Environmental Commons in Urban Communities: The potential of place-based education
Place-based stewardship education in urban communities promotes knowledge, skills, and motivation needed for sustaining common-pool resources
Flanagan, C., Gallay, E., Pykett, A., Smallwood, M., (2019). The Environmental Commons in Urban Communities: The potential of place-based education. Frontiers in Psychology, 10Young children's contributions to sustainability: The influence of nature play on curiosity, executive function skills, creative thinking, and resilience
Nature play can contribute dispositions and skills relevant to sustainability
Ernst, J., Burcak, F., (2019). Young children's contributions to sustainability: The influence of nature play on curiosity, executive function skills, creative thinking, and resilience. Sustainability, 11(15)Green schools in Taiwan -- Effects on student sustainability consciousness
Green schools and non-green schools have similar effect on the sustainability consciousness of students in Taiwan
Olsson, D., Gericke, N., Boeve-dePauw, J., Berglund, T., Chang, T., (2019). Green schools in Taiwan -- Effects on student sustainability consciousness. Global Environmental Change, 54,Exploring human-nature relationships amongst young people: Findings of a quantitative survey between Germany and South Africa
Young people in Germany and South Africa are detached from the natural world
Gräntzdörffer, A.J., James, A., Elster, D., (2019). Exploring human-nature relationships amongst young people: Findings of a quantitative survey between Germany and South Africa. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 14(7),We are wilderness explorers: A review of outdoor education in Canada
Outdoor education in Canada generally focuses on the country’s history, environmental knowledge, outdoor-living skills, and personal growth
Purc-Stephenson, R.J., Rawleigh, M. H., Kemp, H., Asfeldt, M., (2019). We are wilderness explorers: A review of outdoor education in Canada. Journal of Experiential Education, 42(4),Systematic review of education for sustainable development at an early stage: Cornerstones and pedagogical approaches for teacher professional development
Promoting agency in young children is of major importance for education for sustainable development
Bascope, M., Perasso, P., Reiss, K., (2019). Systematic review of education for sustainable development at an early stage: Cornerstones and pedagogical approaches for teacher professional development. Sustainability, 11Utilising place-based learning through local contexts to develop agents of change in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability
Place-based learning can help young children develop a sustainability perspective
Boyd, D., (2019). Utilising place-based learning through local contexts to develop agents of change in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability. Education 3-13, 47(8),Human-nature relationships in context. Experiential, psychological, and contextual dimensions that shape children’s desire to protect nature
The experiential aspects of saving animals can enhance children’s appreciation and understanding of animals, nature, and nature conservation.
Giusti, M., (2019). Human-nature relationships in context. Experiential, psychological, and contextual dimensions that shape children’s desire to protect nature. PLoS ONE, 14(12)Implementing ecopedagogy as an experiential approach to decolonizing science education
Ecopedagogies empower urban youth to critically examine issues of environmental justice in their community
Zocher, J.L., Hougham, R.J., (2020). Implementing ecopedagogy as an experiential approach to decolonizing science education. Journal of Experiential EducationRefocusing environmental education in the early years: A brief introduction to a pedagogy for connection
Early childhood environmental education should place connectedness to nature at the center and have environmental protection as its goal
Barrable, A., (2019). Refocusing environmental education in the early years: A brief introduction to a pedagogy for connection. Education Sciences, 9(1)An analysis of the educational and health-related benefits of nature-based environmental education in low-income Black and Hispanic children
Nature-based environmental education programs may improve health-related quality of life and STEM capacity in low-income Black and Hispanic youth
Sprague, N., Berrigan, D., Ekenga, C.C., (2020). An analysis of the educational and health-related benefits of nature-based environmental education in low-income Black and Hispanic children. Health Equity, 4(1),Promoting health-related quality of life in minority youth through environmental education and nature contact
Minority youth who participated in an environmental education and nature contact program reported improved overall health-related quality of life
Ekenga, C.C., Sprague, N,, Shobiye, D.M., (2019). Promoting health-related quality of life in minority youth through environmental education and nature contact. Sustainability, 115th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment
A group of teachers in Norway rarely linked their outdoor teaching practices to sustainable development
Aksland, C., Rundgren, S. N. C., (2020). 5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment. Journal of Adventure Eduction and Outdoor Learning, 20(3),Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss
Research on connection with nature and coping with environmental change can benefit from integration
Chawla, L., (2020). Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss. People and NatureWhat is the evidence base for integrating health and environmental approaches in the school context to nurture healthier and more environmentally aware young people? A systematic scoping review of global evidence
Integrated approaches used by schools to promote both human health and environmentally aware students are underexplored, and evidence of their effectiveness remain fragmented
Proctor, R., Guell, C., Wyatt, K., Williams, A. J., (2020). What is the evidence base for integrating health and environmental approaches in the school context to nurture healthier and more environmentally aware young people? A systematic scoping review of global evidence. Health & Place, 64Gardens as science learning contexts across educational stages: Learning assessment based on students' graphic representations
Educational gardens offer appropriate real-life contexts for science and environmental teaching from preschool through higher education
Eugenio-Gozalbo, M., Aragón, L., Ortega-Cubero, L., (2020). Gardens as science learning contexts across educational stages: Learning assessment based on students' graphic representations. Frontiers in Psychology, 11,Analysing the state of student participation in two Eco-Schools using Engeström’s Second Generation Activity Systems Model
An activity-based “whole institution” approach may promote student engagement in Eco-School programs
Schröder, L, U., Wals, A. E. J., van Koppen, C. S. A., (2020). Analysing the state of student participation in two Eco-Schools using Engeström’s Second Generation Activity Systems Model. Environmental Education Research, 26(8),Children’s preferences for schoolyard features and understanding of ecosystem service innovations – A study in five Swedish preschools
Swedish preschoolers generally ignored new features installed at their schools to enhance biodiversity, perhaps due to their lack of involvement in the process
Almer, E., Askerlund, P., Samuelsson, T., Waite, S., (2020). Children’s preferences for schoolyard features and understanding of ecosystem service innovations – A study in five Swedish preschools. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor LearningSchool ground pedagogies for enriching children's outdoor learning
Outdoor learning can broaden and transform curriculum and pedagogy in place-oriented ways
Green, M., Rayner, M., (2020). School ground pedagogies for enriching children's outdoor learning. International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education,Educating through art, ecology, and ecojustice: A rain barrel project
Artmaking can help students address local ecological challenges
Miller, W., Cardamone, A., (2021). Educating through art, ecology, and ecojustice: A rain barrel project. Art Education, 71(1),"Face the cow": Reconnecting to nature and increasing capacities for pro-environmental agency
Arts-based environmental education can be effective in promoting nature connectedness and pro-environmental agency
Raatikainen, K. J., Juhola, K., Huhmarniemi, M., Peña-Lagos, H., (2020). "Face the cow": Reconnecting to nature and increasing capacities for pro-environmental agency. Ecosystems and People, 16(1),What difference does it make? Exploring the transformative potential of everyday climate crisis activism by children and youth
Youths’ everyday climate crisis activism can make important contributions to a more sustainable future
Trott, C. D., (2021). What difference does it make? Exploring the transformative potential of everyday climate crisis activism by children and youth. Children's GeographiesPotential effects of school garden on students' knowledge, attitude and experience: A pilot project on sixth grade students in Iran
School gardens can positively impact students' knowledge and attitude, and help them gain valuable experiences
Amiri, A., Geravandi, S., Rostami, F., (2021). Potential effects of school garden on students' knowledge, attitude and experience: A pilot project on sixth grade students in Iran. Urban Forestry & Urban GreeningThe effects of contact with nature during outdoor environmental education on students' wellbeing, connectedness to nature and pro-sociality
Contact with nature during outdoor environmental education promotes students’ wellbeing, connectedness to nature, and pro-sociality
Pirchio, S., Passiatore, Y., Panno, A., Cipparone, M., Carrus, G., (2021). The effects of contact with nature during outdoor environmental education on students' wellbeing, connectedness to nature and pro-sociality. Frontiers in Psychology, 12Educators' intentions for learning in virtual school garden exchanges: A comparison with the aims of education for sustainable development
Virtual school garden exchange offers an approach to education for sustainable development that uses technology to support global partnerships
Lochner, J., (2021). Educators' intentions for learning in virtual school garden exchanges: A comparison with the aims of education for sustainable development. Environmental Education Research, 27(8),Developing connections between healthy living and environmental sustainability concepts in Cretan preschool children: A randomized trial
Teacher-designed activities help preschoolers understand connections between healthy living and environmental sustainability
Kornilaki, E. N., Skouteris, H., Morris, H., (2021). Developing connections between healthy living and environmental sustainability concepts in Cretan preschool children: A randomized trial. Early Child Development and CareNorwegian kindergarten children’s knowledge about the environmental component of sustainable development
Norwegian kindergarten children demonstrate knowledge about sustainable development
Melis, C., Wold, P., Bjørgen, K., Moe, B., (2020). Norwegian kindergarten children’s knowledge about the environmental component of sustainable development. Sustainability, 12,Contributions to sustainability through young children's nature play: A systematic review
Nature play is a valid contributor to sustainability outcomes
Ernst, J., McAllister, K., Siklander, P., Storli, R., (2021). Contributions to sustainability through young children's nature play: A systematic review. Sustainability, 13,Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature
Review of the early childhood environmental education literature presents overwhelmingly strong evidence of positive child development and environmental outcomes
Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., (2020). Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature. Educational Research Review, 31Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs
Young children, with support of early childhood educators, have the ability to be meaningfully involved in ecologically sustainable practices
Konerman, R., Elliott, S., Pugh, R., Luthy, T., Carr, V., (2021). Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs. Children, Youth and Environments, 31(2),MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM:
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