ERIC Number: EJ1475238
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0040-0599
EISSN: EISSN-2163-5684
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Nature for All: Utilizing the Universal Design Framework to Incorporate Nature-Based Learning within an Early Childhood Inclusive Classroom
Arianna E. Pikus1; Hannah M. Etchison2; Hope K. Gerde1; Gary E. Bingham2
TEACHING Exceptional Children, v57 n5 p338-347 2025
Experiences with nature are important for children's development and there are many ways for educators to provide children with exceptionalities opportunities to interact with nature. Children with diverse needs can, and should, have opportunities to interact with nature. This article describes how to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific evidence on how people learn (CAST, 2018a), to nature-based learning and articulates strategies for educators looking to provide more opportunities for all children to interact with nature, including those with disabilities. These strategies focus on how to incorporate nature within the indoor classroom and engage children with nature outdoors to promote development and learning.
Descriptors: Access to Education, Environmental Education, Students with Disabilities, Outdoor Education, Child Development, Special Needs Students, Educational Opportunities, Evidence Based Practice, Inclusion, Early Childhood Education, Lesson Plans
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Texas A&M University; 2Georgia State University