By: Damary Lizardo, NEC Program Associate
Here at NEC we recently launched our Family Storytime Series, a new program where we will be bringing virtual activities to families that enrich a child’s learning experience at home. Our Educational Consultants and Family Specialists will lead these trainings on a variety of subjects. Our third session was a live interactive lesson about how to make lessons about nature more accessible, led by our Educational Consultant Helene Gallagher.
Accessibility is crucial to learning.
A good place to begin any educational lesson is to think about how to make the information accessible to all learners. For this lesson we chose an audiobook recording of a book, as well as a print book that was highly contrasted. We also had an ASL interpreter to communicate with our families. Integrating different ways of learning and taking in information is important to addressing the needs of all learners.
Include hands-on learning opportunities.
We include tactile learning opportunities in all of our Family Storytime sessions. Nature in particular can be experienced through all the senses. Learners can learn so much about the natural world around them through touch (feeling the soil, seeds, or leaves) and smell (experiencing the smell of flowers or grass). Ensuring that multiple senses are included in a learning lesson gives more opportunity for a leaner to take in knowledge.
Use existing resources!
Helene shared some of her favorite resources for parents and educators during this session. These can act as a launching pad for future learning:
- Paths to Literacy at Perkins put together an activity using the book Planting Rainbows by Lois Ehlert
- They also have a resource on Sensory Gardens
- There are a number of CVI books on nature
- National Federation for the Blind’s has a guide on gardening with children with disabilities
- Education.com has a page on educational activities about gardens
- National Geographic has a library on garden resources
- Tar Heel Reader Collection has a section on nature
Watch our recorded session led by Education Consultant Helene Gallagher below to learn more:
