Biology in forest environment : A survey study about how preschools with different accessibility to forest environment use this

This study investigates how preschools with different accessibility to forestenvironment use it while teaching biology. Questions like what and how preschool teachers educate has been explored as well as which possibilities andobstacles they perceive by using the forest as a learning environment. Themethod used in this thesis is a survey that has been sent to 56 preschool principals in the middle parts of Sweden who has passed on to their employees. 52preschool teachers answered the survey. The result showed that the majorityof the preschool teachers educate about animals, plants and the cycle of nature.They also educate about the human body but not to the same extent. The surveyshowed that the content of the subject taught was independent of the accessibility to the forest. How the preschool teachers taught was different. Some ofthem mentioned that they use different tools and also work cross curricularwith other subjects. Preschool teachers in preschools with close to the forestgo there more often compared to those who have a longer distance. They bringup the number of preschool teachers as the biggest obstacle for being able toeducate the subject in the forest. Some of the positive possibilities they mentioned was that the children develop empathy for all things who are alive, develop their imagination, joy of movement and also that several things from thecurriculum can be included in a forest environment