Ecological paths in kindergarten allow forming a culture of behavior among preschool children and respect for nature. Teachers emphasize the importance of such activities as part of updating the content of preschool education.
The knowledge that children receive on the trail allows them to deepen and expand the knowledge gained in theoretical classes.
Significance of creation
Preschoolers master practical skills, comprehend the unity of man and the natural environment.
Ecological paths in kindergarten help inform preschool children about ethical and legal norms that are related to nature management.
It is here that optimal conditions are created for a combination of action, feeling, thought.
Such a synthesis is the most important condition for educating the worldview of the younger generation of Russians.
The ecological trail on the site of the kindergarten allows the teacher to educate children in respect for work. Preschoolers not only expand their scientific knowledge, but also learn to build relationships with nature during work and leisure.
They, together with the teacher, predict the consequences of negative human activities, try to find ways to improve the state of the natural balance in the framework of the DOE.
Creating an ecological path in kindergarten can be considered the highest manifestation of the connection between learning and real life, a variant of the humanization of education.
Skills, beliefs, beliefs, feelings formed in the framework of classes on the trail are used to solve the main problem - the formation of the ecological culture of the younger generation.
Functions of the ecological trail
There are several of its purposes:
- Wellness
- fact-finding;
- developing;
- cognitive.
In the framework of ecological and pedagogical work with preschool children in the infield, in addition to the development of the sensory and emotional environment of the child, there is also the formation of ideas and knowledge about the rules of communication with nature.
Ecological paths in kindergarten are a promising educational theory, where kids act as hard workers, propagandists, educators, forming civic qualities, an active life position.
It is important for children that, in addition to assimilating scientific information about the natural environment, they take a personal part in various practical matters aimed at improving and protecting nature, promoting knowledge of its proper protection.
Ecological trails in the kindergarten are the “youngest” variety of the pedagogically created route in the area, used for advocacy and educational environmental activities.
Purpose of created objects
It differs significantly from ordinary cognitive nature trails in length, set of objects, methods of propaganda work.
The ecological trail in the kindergarten involves several stages.
First, there is serious preparatory work. The teacher prepares a small group of preschoolers who will be organizers and teachers.
They set certain goals and objectives, determine the place of each of them in the upcoming project. The success of the planned business largely depends on the emotional mood of the kids.
The developed ecological trail at the kindergarten site is an important event in which a large number of kids are involved. The guys are divided into “brigades”, one leader is appointed in each of them.
After identifying the list of objects that need to be created and installed on the trail, the teacher announces a competition of teams of parents and children for the best version of the structure. To evaluate the entries, a competent jury is created, which includes parents, educators, and members of the public.
The debriefing is carried out in a festive atmosphere, the winners are encouraged by diplomas and sweet prizes.
It is on such projects that an ecological trail is created in the kindergarten. The older group is ideally suited for creative joint activities of children, parents, and educators.
Sequencing
First, a detailed survey of the territory is carried out, the brightest objects are revealed. Next, the ecological trail in the kindergarten is thought out. Description, a map with drawing drawings or circles - the next stage of work.
When drawing up a map-scheme, preschoolers can use the help of a teacher, parents. Ready-made options should include minimal information about the signs, as well as about the arrows that indicate the route.
How to attract children
If an ecological trail is being compiled in a group of kindergarten for kids, the icons should be large, unusual. For example, in circles the tree, butterfly, flower are depicted, all of them are united by a line - a path.
Together with the children, the teacher chooses a fairy-tale hero who will become the “master of the trail”, will invite friends to visit, give them interesting tasks.
If an ecological trail is being developed in a kindergarten building, different groups of preschool educational institutions can be involved.
Object passport
It involves the following actions:
- creation of signs with vivid pictures, signatures for the main stops provided for on the route;
- development of recommendations on the use of trail objects for practical work with children.
Project Opening
This stage is the most solemn and exciting, it is best carried out in the spring, showing parents the work that was done by the guys during the school year. Representatives of environmental authorities, as well as mothers and fathers of kindergarten pupils, whose forces created the ecological path in the kindergarten, are invited to the celebration. Photos of “teachers” who became the culprits of the celebration can be placed on a special stand.
Job opportunities
After the trail is officially open, you can use it for the following actions:
- meetings with interesting people who are associated with nature conservation;
- to monitor certain objects;
- organize excursions, classes for preschoolers.
What will the final project “Ecological Path in Kindergarten” look like? Second generation FSES, developed for preschool institutions, require a clear structure, as well as a passport indicating the location of the trail. There should also be a detailed description of all objects on the route.
Important points
During the excursion with children, several types of ecological trails are allowed:
- in the territory of a preschool institution;
- in vivo.
When choosing the first option, it is necessary to remember that you can use the objects in the route that already exist in the territory of the preschool educational institution, as well as plant shrubs and create an artificial reservoir to diversify the ecological trail.
In this case, shrubs and trees of various breeds, shapes, ages can be made species points. This will allow the teacher to create optimal conditions for conducting observations, introducing children to the features of wildlife.
If the site adjacent to the kindergarten has a significant area, you can recreate fragments of various natural plant communities inherent in this region.
Educational effect
The educational and developmental opportunities depend on the diversity of flora and fauna chosen for the ecological trail.
When placing plants on the territory of a preschool educational institution, it is necessary to take into account open and shaded, dry and wet areas.
A great option would be to place a small pond with animals and plants on the trail. It will increase the educational effect, and also perform an aesthetic function. The presence on the route of small elevations allows you to create different types of observations. The stones available on the site will not only become a decoration of the path, but will also be a good refuge for various wood lice, snails, insects.
Environmental activities
In preschool institutions, educators try to allocate small areas for growing medicinal herbs, as well as for planting those plants that are subject to protection.
Also in the plants of the trail you can include a bed of "continuous flowering". Of interest for observations is the "anthill" point, as well as the original weather site, which is equipped with certain equipment: a thermometer, a barometer.
When organizing an ecological route in natural conditions, it is advisable to use points on lower and higher sections, small slopes, and also natural water bodies on the trail.
Customization
In order for simple walks with children in the fresh air to turn into a fascinating acquaintance with the diversity of wildlife, the teacher uses ecological trails.
When creating them, it is important to take into account the age-related characteristics of preschoolers, their intellectual level. For the development of cognitive interest of kids, the formation of research skills, it is recommended to visit the same object located on the ecological trail at different times of the year.
At a younger preschool age, classes can be conducted with the aim of introducing kids to the outside world, the work of older children and adults in natural conditions. Among the forms of work suitable for this age, there are:
- tours;
- observations;
- didactic games;
- memorizing verses;
- reading books about nature.
In the process of such classes, children gain skills in growing certain plants: beans, peas, nasturtium, onions.
In the middle group, environmental education acquires focused work. The teacher shows the pupils the connection of various natural phenomena, teaches them to help animals and plants, to develop skills in behavior in the natural community.
The knowledge gained when traveling on an ecological trail is worked out and fixed in the classroom in kindergarten. For example, kids come up with riddles about those plants, animals, natural phenomena that they managed to get to know on the route. Together with the teacher, they look for, memorize proverbs and sayings about plants, flowers, and also get acquainted with the purpose of medicinal herbs. In the classroom, older preschoolers create unique souvenirs from natural materials.
Conclusion
Environmental education of preschool children is an important section of the activities of teachers of preschool institutions in the framework of the requirements of the new federal educational standards.
Excursions along the ecological trail created by the joint efforts of children, teachers, parents, as children grow older, become longer. They provide for the organization of labor, environmental, educational, artistic activities of preschoolers. Children from middle and senior groups of preschool educational institutions can act as guides, real owners of the ecological trail. This contributes not only to their environmental education, but also helps to develop communication skills, improve speech, and develop skills for conducting scientific discussions.
It is environmental education that has now become one of the factors in the formation in the younger generation of Russians of patriotism, citizenship, a sense of respect for their historical and cultural roots.
The development of theoretical knowledge obtained in the classroom is carried out on an ecological path, in the course of labor activity in separate sections of the developed route.