October: Developing a Sense of Place
What is a “Sense of Place”?
A “sense of place” refers to a child’s connection with their community and natural environment. A sense of place is developed with a place-based education approach that fosters those connections. Place-based education immerses children in their local community, landscapes, heritage, and experiences. It is using the local natural and human world to learn science, social studies, math, art, music, and language.
Research has shown that children lose their sense of place when they are focused too quickly or exclusively on national or global issues. It follows the idea that before children can tackle the problems of the rainforest in Brazil they need to love the woods down the street. By exploring the local environment children learn a fundamental connection to the natural world and their place in it. Place-based education does not overlook global or national issues but simply strives to give children a sense of their own place and a love of their own place first. Through hands-on, project-based learning children get involved in the real world right outside their door.
Be sure to check back next week for ways to foster a sense of place with your students!
Do you want to explore place-based education with other liked-minded educators? Join the Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners group on Facebook™! It’s a forum for educators to learn and share with each other!
Place-based education resources for educators
Books
Sobel, D. 2004. Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities. The Orion Society.
Sobel, D. 1998. Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years. Heinemann.
Smith, G. A., and D. Sobel. 2010. Place-And Community-Based Education in Schools. Routledge.
Links
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