NHB100G Nature, health, and movement

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Bachelor's Programme in Pre-school Education

Teaching language

Norwegian

Course contents

The knowledge area 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 of 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 sensuous and bodily in their behaviour, and this forms the basis for exploration, wonder, conversation, play and learning. Social relationships between children, and between children and adults in kindergarten, are partly related to play, meal situations and physical experiences.
An important part of professional competence is to be able to observe, analyse and understand the development and physical play cultures in children, and to use this to inspire and motivate children. The kindergarten teacher must be confident in nature and see and master the opportunities that lie in educational work outdoors. The work with the knowledge area will help the students gain a basis for becoming conscious role models. The kindergarten teacher should be aware of public health challenges and should be able to help ensure that children's mental and physical health is well taken care of. Meals and cooking should give 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 get a good starting point for contributing to sustainable development. Norwegian traditions within views on nature, food culture and physical activity may seem strange to many. Therefore, the education must emphasize how to achieve good meetings between different cultures. Sami culture is part of the national culture and should be visible in education.
The work with the knowledge area will to a large extent be practical and the teaching is profession-oriented and research-based. Each semester there are practical training periods. These are 100% compulsory and are based on the learning outcomes for the knowledge areas included in the semester in question. A more detailed description of the content and progression of the practical training periods in which NHB100 is included is given in the description of practical training for the 1st and 2nd semester of 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 how to create space for this

• the importance of outdoor activities and nature experiences

• physical phenomena in the atmosphere and on earth

• the most common plants, insects and animals found in the surrounding area and about the interaction between these, 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 and children's health and life skills, including national guidelines for health-promoting and preventive measures

• food, the origin of food, cooking and meals as educational resources

 

SKILLS

The candidate is able to

• explore nature and experiment and reflect together with children

• choose and use materials, raw materials, techniques and tools in practical work with children and make use of the local environment's 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 together with children and facilitate children's coping

• assess the risk of the play environment and handle accidents in an appropriate manner, as well as facilitate children's risk assessment

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

 

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The candidate

• is able to reflect on different views of nature and take into account different cultural perspectives, including Sami, in their work with food, health, nature and movement

• is instrumental and inspiring together with children in their movement play, nature experiences and meals

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

Examination requirements

Students must have approved

• Participation in compulsory teaching

• Work requirements

Students must have passed

• Practial traning

For details see Canvas.

Teaching methods

Nature, Health and Movement is a field of knowledge with a lot of practical work and the following work 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 located outside the university. Digital tools are part of the work methods.

Practical teaching is compulsory and requires 100% participation.
Other teaching requires a minimum of 70% participation.
The estimated student workload is 540 hours over two semesters.

See more information in Canvas.

Evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Assessment methods and criteria

One final grade is given based on the following examinations:

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

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

• Part 3 - 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.