NHB100K Nature Health Movement

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Bachelor's Programme in Pre-school Education

Teaching language

Norwegian

Course contents

The area of ​​expertise includes nature, sustainability, food, movement and health in a broad sense and is mainly based on the teacher education subjects natural sciences, physical education and food and health. Wonder and first-hand experience with the diversity and coherence of nature will be central, as well as children's life skills and education.

Experiences in nature are important. Children are sensual and bodily in their behavior, and this forms the basis for exploration, wonder, conversation, play and learning. Social relationships between children, and between children and adults in kindergarten, are related, among other things, to play, the meals and movement experiences.

An important part of professional competence is to be able to observe, analyze and understand the development and physical play cultures of children, and to use this to inspire and motivate children. The kindergarten teacher must be safe in nature and see and master the opportunities that lie in educational work outdoors. The work within the knowledge area will contribute to giving students a basis for becoming conscious role models. The kindergarten teacher should be aware of public health challenges and should be able to contribute to the well-being of the child's mental and physical health. Meals and cooking should give the children a basis for developing food enjoyment and contribute to an understanding of the food's origin. Furthermore, the knowledge area includes how children through experimentation, wonder and challenging play in different environments can take care of themselves, each other and nature, so that they have a good starting point to be contributors to sustainable development. Norwegian traditions in the field of nature, food culture and physical activity may seem strange to many. Therefore, the education must emphasize how to get good encounters between different cultures. Sami culture is part of the national culture and should be visible in education.

The work on the knowledge area will largely be practical and the teaching is professional-oriented and research-based. Each semester there are practice periods. These are 100% compulsory and are based on the learning outcomes for the knowledge areas that form part of the relevant semester. A more detailed description of the content and progression in the practice periodes, which include NHB, is given under the description of practice for the 1st and 2nd semesters in www.uia.no/praksisblu.

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE

The candidate has knowledge of

• children's use of their body and senses in play and learning, and on how to create space for this

• the importance of outdoor life and nature experiences

• physical phenomenon in the atmosphere and on the earth

• the most common plants, insects and animals found in the immediate area and about the interaction between them, man and the environment

• sustainable development, environmental challenges and how kindergartens can contribute to increased environmental awareness

• the human body and motor skills

• health promotion as well as children's health and life skills, including national guidelines for health promotion and preventive measures

• food, food origin, cooking and meal as an educational resource

 

SKILLS

The candidate can

• explore nature and experiment and reflect together with children

• select and use materials, raw materials, techniques and tools in practical work with children and take advantage of the local opportunities and local natural resources

• facilitate physical activity, rest, good hygiene and varied meals in accordance with national guidelines

• create and use different environments for play and learning with children and facilitate children's coping

• assess the risk of play environment and handle accidents appropriately and facilitate children's risk assessment

• observe and assess children's movement skills and facilitate children's motor development

 

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The candidate

• can reflect on different views of nature and take into account different cultural perspectives, including Sami, in the work on food, health, nature and movement

• is contributing and inspirational with children in their movement play, nature experiences and meals

• can discuss ethical issues related to the area of ​​knowledge, including the UN's sustainability goals

 

Examination requirements

Students must have approved

• attendance requirements must have been met

Students must have passed

• field practice

• course requirements

See more information in Canvas.

Teaching methods

NHB is a knowledge area with a lot of practical work and the following teaching methods are used: lectures, supervision, project work, practical teaching, field and lab work as well as practical work with children. For practical reasons, some of the teaching will be placed outside the university. Digital tools are included as part of the teaching methods.

Compulsory teaching (100% participation) is stated in Canvas / the semester plan.

The estimated student workload is 540 hours over two semesters.

Evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.

Assessment methods and criteria

One final grade is given based on the following parts:

• part 1 - An individual portfolio assessment at the end of the first semester - counts 25%.

• part 2 - An individual assignment that is assessed at the end of the second semester - counts 25%.

• an individual 5 hour written exam at the end of the second semester - counts 50% of the total grade.

See Canvas for more information on the exam.

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course	Reduction of Credits
NHB101 – Nature, Health and Movement	20