Making Maps as Creating and Constructing Experiences in a PreKindergarten Forest Classroom

Children are constantly working to make sense of themselves, their experiences, and their worlds. One way that children tend to do this is through creating artifacts. By engaging in discussions around, and interacting with these artifacts, teachers and educators are able to gain further insight into the experiences of children. Through observing children create and participating with them in discussions about their artifacts, the educator/researcher assembled a framework for understanding children’s connection to created artifacts. The potential of mapmaking and artifact- based discussion to offer insight into experience are discussed.https://naturalstart.org/sites/default/files/journal/6._final_grady.pdf