The power of garden-based curriculum to promote scientific and nature-friendly attitudes in children through a cotton project
Garden-based projects can be effective in promoting preschool children’s scientific and nature-friendly attitudes
The literature on garden-based learning and related research is fairly rich, yet investigations into best practices and desired outcomes of garden-based learning for preschoolers are limited. This study examined preschool children’s experiences with a garden-based project involving cotton.
The study was conducted in South Korea with two different preschools participating. Seventy-nine children from one preschool served as the experimental group; 86 children from the other preschool, as the control group. Only the experimental group participated in the garden-based program. The aim of the study was to determine if the garden-based curriculum using a cotton project would improve young children’s scientific and nature-friendly attitudes. Children in both the experimental and control groups completed two assessments before and after the year-long cotton project. One assessment measured scientific attitudes; the other, nature-friendly attitudes. Classroom observations and teacher interviews were used to collect additional information about children’s experience with the cotton project.
Assessment results at the beginning of the study (before the cotton project) showed no differences in scientific and nature-friendly attitudes between the two groups. After the project, however, students participating in the cotton project scored significantly higher on both the scientific attitudes and nature-friendly attitudes assessments than students not participating in the project. Classroom observations and other sources of information (teacher interviews, children’s drawings and journal entries, etc.) indicated that children in the experimental group experienced self-directed and cooperative learning, engaged in the scientific process, demonstrated nature-friendly attitudes, and increased their sense of wonder.
This study indicates that a garden-based project involving the growth of cotton can promote preschool children’s scientific and nature-friendly attitudes. This study also suggests that inquiries into nature with preschoolers need to be carefully planned and guided. As indicated by the researchers, a garden-based curriculum for preschoolers needs to focus on active hands-on learning at the children’s level and provide a way for teachers to help children connect with nature and internalize learning in natural outdoor environments. Specific guidelines for teacher preparation and future research are offered.
Citation
Kim, K. J., Jung, E., Han, M., Sohn, J., (2020). The power of garden-based curriculum to promote scientific and nature-friendly attitudes in children through a cotton project. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 34(4),
