Erica has extensive experience helping child care centers bring learning outdoors. When she was a teacher naturalist at Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, she worked with multiple early childhood education centers to develop outdoor curriculum for infants to age six.
Using the Creative Curriculum framework, Erica helped teachers develop 12 units of study that included content knowledge and process skills, guided by the Objectives for Development and Learning.
- Spring: Senses, Birds, Flowers
- Summer: Water, Bugs, Gardening
- Fall: Leaves, Air and Wind, Seeds
- Winter: Rocks and Sand, Melting and Freezing, Things That Go (Vehicles, Animals, People, Balls)
Erica led monthly professional development sessions where she modeled activities and helped teachers plan for each unit: special indoor and outdoor experiences; changes to the classroom; changes to routines and schedule; and family involvement.
Ready to get more out of your child care center’s outdoor space? Get in touch today!