Not Just a Walk in the Park: Case Study of a Greek Preschool Located on an Educational Farm

Authors

  • Eugenia Iskos Perrotis College
  • Stella Karakosta Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of a private preschool in Thessaloniki, Greece. The school, located at the unique setting of an educational farm, has a curriculum focus on environmental education. An analysis of teacher interviews and lesson plans in the span of three years presents insights into the barriers teachers faced in implementing their environmental education curriculum, and the developments that occurred within this timeframe. Environmental education was found to not just be "a walk in the park," but a personal growth journey for the teachers and the school as a whole. Teachers' experiences implementing environmental education did not only improve their teaching methodology overall, but created a community of practice within the school.

Author Biographies

Eugenia Iskos, Perrotis College

Eugenia Iskos is an adjunct lecturer in the Food Science Department of the Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece. She teaches Biological Sciences. She has a B.S in both Microbiology and Genetics and Cell Biology (GCB) from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with an M.Ed in Curriculum Design from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. In addition, she has a B.A degree in English from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Stella Karakosta, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Stella Karakosta is a kindergarten teacher and a Doctoral Candidate at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Early Childhood Education. She has a MSc in Environmental Educationa and has worked as an Environmental Education Instructor and Coordinator

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Published

2017-05-07

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Section

Articles