Develop children’s problem-solving and critical-thinking skills? Check.
Support children’s communication and collaboration skills? Check.
Inspire children’s creativity and innovative thinking? Check.
Meet early learning standards in literacy, math, and more? Yes, please!

How can early childhood teachers do all this? By engaging children in outdoor STEM discoveries!

Dig In: Outdoor STEM Learning with Young Children provides strategies, ideas, real-life examples, and information to help you get children outside and learning, all while meeting required early learning standards and objectives. Explore the Learning Life Cycle and discover fresh ideas for engaging children in deeper explorations and experiences outdoors that will stick with them into kindergarten and beyond. Have more aha moments, seize learning opportunities, invite questions, and investigate answers—while supporting rich STEM learning.

Lea Ann Christenson, PhD

Lea Ann Christenson, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of early childhood education at Towson State University. She earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University...

Jenny James, MA

Jenny James, MA, is an early childhood advocate, author, and director of a preschool in Maryland. She has served as an early childhood educator, a family counselor, a project manager...