An action study on outdoor learning experiences in preschool education: "Bahçe Çocuk'ta Öğreniyorum"

For children of pre-school education age, nature contains unlimited discoveries. Nowadays, the increase in the time spent in closed spaces increases the importance of bringing children together with the open air in preschool education. The teacher, who is a researcher, wanted to make garden activities more efficient in order to provide outdoor learning experiences of children in preschool education. This research, designed as an action research, was carried out with 21 children and their parents in an independent official kindergarten. The process of outdoor learning experiences was examined in terms of children, teachers and parents. In order to reveal the experience of the teacher, convenience sampling was chosen and he applied the research with his own class. The mosaic approach was used in the data collection process with children. Researcher diary, semi-structured interview, observation, video and audio recordings are data collection tools. The data were analyzed with a systematic analytical analysis approach. A total of 6 cycles (practice) were carried out in the application called "Bahçe Çocuk'ta Öğreniyorum". When the application was completed, individual interviews were made with the parents. As a result, children are happy to be in the garden and they prefer large areas without borders; It is important or the teacher to create garden activities systematically and to include them in education plans regularly; In terms of parents, it has emerged that the practice of "Bahçe Çocuk'ta Öğreniyorum" should be preferred in non-cold weather even though it contributes to their children and themselves.