Nature as Teacher: The Power of Environmental Learning in Early Childhood Education

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." - E.E. Cummings

In our increasingly digital world, something profound happens when we step outside with young children. Their behaviour shifts, their curiosity ignites, and their natural learning instincts come alive. As early childhood educators, we're witnessing a powerful truth captured beautifully by pioneering outdoor educator Erin K. Kenny: 'Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.'

But nature pedagogy offers far more than just an outlet for energy. It's a gateway to understanding our place in the interconnected web of life and a cornerstone of sustainability education that addresses children's wellbeing while building deep connections with the natural world.

The Environmental Foundation of Sustainability

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) v.2 Sustainability Principle recognises three key domains: environmental, social, and economic sustainability. While sustainability encompasses all three areas (and extends even further into cultural and leadership domains), the environmental dimension provides a tangible, sensory-rich starting point for young learners.

When children engage with nature, they're not just learning about trees, birds, and insects—they're developing an understanding that all of creation has needs, rights, and intrinsic value. This expanded thinking moves beyond human-centred perspectives to embrace what we might call "more-than-human" sustainability, where children recognise that animals, plants, and entire ecosystems are partners in creating a healthy planet.

The Wellbeing Connection

Research consistently shows that when children learn outdoors, they demonstrate deeper concentration, increased motivation, and enhanced problem-solving abilities. But the benefits extend far beyond academic outcomes. Nature experiences provide:

• Sensory integration through varied textures, sounds, and environments

• Emotional regulation as children find calm in natural settings

• Physical development through navigating uneven terrain and engaging gross motor skills

• Social competence as children collaborate in open-ended, child-led explorations

• Resilience building through manageable risk-taking and challenge

The outdoor environment naturally supports developmentally appropriate practices. Instead of asking four-year-olds to sit still and focus for extended periods—something their developing brains aren't designed for—nature invites movement, exploration, and hands-on learning that aligns with children's natural development.

Practical Pathways: From Bush to Classroom

For Educators with Access to Natural Spaces

If you're fortunate to have bushland, reserves, or dedicated outdoor learning areas:

Create Nature Rooms: Use natural clearings or tree groupings as outdoor classrooms. These spaces invite different types of play and learning while maintaining the sense of wonder that comes from being immersed in nature.

Develop Seasonal Routines: Plan regular nature walks to observe environmental changes throughout the year. Children develop temporal awareness and scientific thinking as they notice patterns in plant growth, animal behaviour, and weather cycles.

Embrace Manageable Risk: Trust children's ability to assess their own capabilities. Standing nearby while asking, 'How do you feel in your body?' helps children develop risk assessment skills and body awareness.

For Urban Educators Seeking Excursions

Urban settings offer unique opportunities for environmental learning:

Local Park Partnerships: Develop relationships with nearby parks, botanical gardens, or community gardens. Even small green spaces can provide rich learning experiences when approached with intentionality.

Seasonal Scavenger Hunts: Create lists of items to find during neighbourhood walks—different leaf shapes, textures, or signs of seasonal change. This transforms familiar environments into discovery zones.

Community Expert Connections: Partner with local environmental groups, master gardeners, or wildlife educators who can bring expertise to your outdoor explorations.

For Classroom-Based Nature Integration

Even indoor environments can embrace nature pedagogy:

Nature Corners and Sensory Gardens: Dedicate classroom spaces to natural materials—shells, pinecones, feathers, and stones. Add magnifying glasses and journals for scientific observation.

Living Systems: Maintain classroom plants, terrariums, or small gardens. Children learn caregiving responsibilities while observing life cycles and growth patterns.

Natural Materials for Learning: Use stones for counting, sticks for building, and leaves for art projects. These materials offer open-ended possibilities that plastic manipulatives simply cannot match.

Moving Beyond Environmental Thinking

While environmental sustainability provides an excellent entry point, nature pedagogy naturally connects to broader sustainability concepts:

• Social sustainability emerges as children learn to share resources, collaborate in outdoor play, and include diverse perspectives in their nature explorations

• Economic sustainability develops as children understand resource conservation and the value of caring for materials and spaces

• Cultural sustainability grows through incorporating Indigenous knowledge about local plants, animals, and land care practices

This interconnected approach helps children understand that sustainability isn't just about recycling or turning off lights—it's about recognising the complex relationships that support all life.

5 Key Takeaways for Implementing Nature Pedagogy

1. Start Where You Are

You don't need a forest school to begin. A single potted plant, a collection of natural materials, or a weekly walk around the block can spark meaningful environmental connections. The key is intentionality and consistency.

2. Trust Children's Natural Capabilities

Children are born naturalists. They instinctively want to explore, investigate, and care for living things. Your role is to facilitate these instincts rather than direct every interaction.

3. Embrace the 'More-Than-Human' Perspective

Help children understand that plants, animals, and ecosystems have their own needs and rights. This expanded thinking creates the foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship.

4. Connect Indoor and Outdoor Learning

Nature pedagogy isn't confined to outdoor spaces. Bring natural materials inside, document outdoor discoveries in classroom projects, and use nature experiences to inspire literacy, mathematics, and creative expression.

5. Model Wonder and Curiosity

Children learn more from what you do than what you say. When you express genuine curiosity about a bird's nest or excitement about finding mushrooms after rain, children absorb this sense of wonder and make it their own.

The Ripple Effect of Environmental Learning

When we ground early childhood education in nature pedagogy, we're not just teaching about the environment—we're nurturing future citizens who understand their place in the web of life. These children grow up with an embodied knowledge that their actions have consequences, that all living things deserve consideration, and that caring for our planet is both a responsibility and a joy.

As David Attenborough reminds us: 'If children don't grow up knowing about nature, they won't understand it; and if they don't understand it, they won't protect it.'

The time is now to embrace nature as our most powerful co-teacher. Whether you're leading children through ancient forests or helping them notice dandelions growing through sidewalk cracks, you're planting seeds for a more sustainable future—one where children understand that taking care of our planet means taking care of each other.

Lili-Ann Kriegler and Bronwyn Cron

Project Sustainabilityy Collective

Ready to deepen your sustainability practice? Download our free Sustainability Decoder to explore how environmental learning connects with social, economic, cultural, and leadership dimensions of sustainability. This comprehensive resource will help you move beyond single-domain thinking to embrace the interconnected nature of sustainable education.

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