Nature Swap: Art Tools Go GREEN!

What's In This Kit?
This training kit helps Teachers promote creativity using natural elements as art tools. This training program contains the following components:

• Expected training outcomes and learning objectives
• Training research
• Training models
• Training benchmarks
• Preparation and implementation steps
• Handouts
• The article “Nature Swap: Art Tools Go GREEN!” by Sandra Duncan, Jessica DeViney, and Sara Harris
• References
• Resources
• Training Certificate for Learner �" Certificate of Attendance and Participation

Who's the Target Audience?
The target audiences for this training kit are beginning and intermediate Learners who are working with preschoolers to school-agers. This kit is designed to help participants understand the importance and benefits of infusing nature into the early childhood classroom.

Teacher Skill Level

beginning intermediate advanced

Children's Age Level

infants toddlers preschoolers school-agers birth to 8

Kit Timeline:
Preparation time for this kit is estimated at 1.5 hours. Implementation and actual training time is 5.0 hours, which includes 2.5 hours of face-to-face training and 2.5 hours of independent study and an action research project.

Training Outcomes:

1. 1. Learner will define nature-deficit disorder and list one way to remedy this disorder.
2. Learner will describe why using natural elements as art tools can promote creativity in young children.
3. Learner will cite at least 2 ways to infuse natural elements into the early childhood classroom.
4. Learner will conduct action research to determine if children create differently when using a plastic paintbrush versus a nature-inspired art tool.

These training outcomes address the following:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Standards and Accreditation Performance Criteria (2005). www.naeyc.org. Children are provided varied opportunities to explore and manipulate age-appropriate art materials (2.J.01). Children are provided varied opportunities to develop and widen their repertoire of skills that support artistic expression (2.J.05).
• Head Start Performance Standards (Federal Register, Nov. 5, 1-6, Volume 6, Number 215). www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/. Expands knowledge of and abilities to observe, describe, and discuss the natural world, materials, living things, and natural processes. Gains ability in using different art media and materials in a variety of ways for creative expression and representation.
• National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs, National Association of Child Care Professionals (2005). www.naccp.org. Creativity is promoted through daily opportunities for self-expression, symbolic representation, and development of aesthetic sensibility (D16).




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