"Jag försöker vara flexibel, men..." : En kvalitativ studie om förskollärares arbete med undervisning utifrån läroplanen på förskolans gård

The aim of this study is to examine how preschool teachers conduct teaching in the preschool yard and how they implement the preschool curriculum. The idea behind this study is based on the idea that outdoor activity should be a place where children have the right to teaching and education as well as free play. Our research questions are: How do preschool teachers interpret and incorporate outdoor activity in the curriculum? Which of the elements of the curriculum are implemented in outdoor activities? How is the outdoor environment and its materials used educating preschool children in the preschool yard? To collect the empirical data, we have chosen to use qualitative interviews that we analyzed from thematic analysis, curriculum theory and framework factor theory. The results of this study show that since the preschool curriculum is an interpretable control document the preschool teachers highlights different parts from it to implement in the yard. All of the teachers taught natural science outdoors. The results of the study suggest that learning in this environment provides the ideal setting for spontaneous curiosity and discovery as well as planned learning outcomes. Physical activity was another topic implemented at most preschools. The results also show that varying framework factors affect the preschool teachers' work. The number of children spending time together in the same setting is a critical factor affecting education and learning in the preschool yard. Another is time for reflection and planning and collaboration between different groups at the preschool. Even the design of the yard was a factor that affects the outcome and possibilities of education and teaching. Furthermore, the results implied that although free play was widely acknowledged as valuable time in the preschool yard most preschool teachers felt limited and dissatisfied with the teaching and education carried out in there.