Preschool teachers' perceptions of biology teaching : Biology teaching in an outdoor environment from the child's perspective

Abstract: Abstract This study is about preschool teachers' perceptions of biology teaching in preschool. The study examines three questions based on the purpose of the study that focus on preschool teachers 'perceptions of biology teaching in preschool, the child's perspective as a starting point in biology teaching and preschool teachers' reasoning about the importance of the outdoor environment as a learning environment for biology teaching. The study is based on previous research results that highlight preschool teachers' lack of subject knowledge and uncertainty in science teaching at preschool. In addition, both the preschool curriculum and research studies emphasize the child's perspective in teaching. Learning environment in the form of both indoor and outdoor environment in accordance with previous research studies is a contributing factor in children's learning and development. In this study, the learning environment is highlighted as an outdoor environment in the form of the forest, nature walks and the preschool yard. The study results are based on empirical data collected based on semi-structured interviews with six preschool teachers in two different municipalities in western Sweden. Interviews are then analyzed based on a phenomenographic methodological approach. The results show that preschool teachers' perceptions of the subject of biology and its teaching in preschool are mostly linked to nature, animals, plants, and the human body. The results also show in different ways where the preschool teachers take care of children's questions and perspectives and set it as a starting point in the planning of biology teaching. This is done by planning the teaching with the children where the children get a chance to talk about what they want to learn and do in preschool. Finally, the preschool teachers explained that the learning and teaching environment as an outdoor environment in the form of the forest, walks and the preschool yard has an important role in children's learning in biology.