David Sobel in Minnesota
March 18th & 20th, 2012
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Sunday, March 18th Minnesota Zoo

Mapmaking with Children and Cultivating the Wonder of Nature in Childhood – Teacher Workshop and Lecture by David Sobel at the Minnesota Zoo
David Sobel, a professor at Antioch University New England is a national leader in the place-based education movement. How do children naturally come to learn their neighborhoods and communities?   Once we understand this, we can design curriculum that builds on the underlying biological patterns.

This workshop will include research on children’s neighborhood maps, a clear developmental model of children’s geographic understanding, examples of social studies and geography curriculum based on this developmental model and a mapmaking/treasure hunt activity that involves local exploration and a literacy challenge.

Following the workshop, Dr. Sobel will discuss how the parent/child/nature relationship changes from early childhood to middle childhood to adolescence to early adulthood.  He will challenge parents and educators to take advantage of the openness to nature found in childhood and provide frequent opportunities for children to adventurously be at-one in nature.  

Please note that MAEE is not handling registration for this event.  For more information and to register, please visit  http://www.mnzoo.org/education/lectureseries.asp
 

David Sobel is an internationally-known researcher, practitioner, and promoter of developmentally appropriate environmental education, place-based education, map-making with children, school improvement, children and nature, and parenting with nature.


Tuesday, March 20th
UMD Campus, Duluth, MN

 12:30 - 3:30
UMD Library Rotunda

On March 20th, David will be leading a free educational workshop focused on the seven Children and Nature Design Principles: Special Places, Adventure, Fantasy, Small Worlds, Hunting and Gathering, Animal Allies and Maps and Paths.  These principles are useful tools for formal and non-formal educators in constructing new and innovative approaches to curriculum and program design in schools, summer and vacation camps, nature centers and environmental learning centers.

We’ll look at examples of how to apply these design principles in classrooms and outside the formal school setting.   Participants will work on a design
challenge and learn how to use these design principles to innovate your curriculum or programming needs in your professional setting.

Please note that space for this workshop is limited. To help us in planning the design and content for this workshop, please click here to register.


4:30 - 6:00
Weber Hall
UMD Campus

Did you know that children engage in more creative forms of play in green areas, as opposed to manufactured play areas?  Please join us for this free event as David discusses his research and experience designing natural play areas for children.  Through design principals tested and reviewed, you will learn the social, emotional, and behavioral benefits of these areas, and how to begin designing one at your park, school, or child care facility.

Sponsored by MAEE and

 
 
© Minnesota Association for Environmental Education