Module 1 Discussion 1: Primal Landscapes and Young Children
Resources Discussion 1 and 2:
- Stacylynn12. (2011, November 1). My primal landscape. Lusting for WanderLinks to an external site..
- Lefevre, K. (2013, June 7). The neurobiology behind a sense of placeLinks to an external site.. Brain Blogger.
- Beck, J. (December 30, 2011).The psychology of home: Why where you live means so muchLinks to an external site.. The Atlantic.
- Peterson, N. (2015, August 31). The changing “primal landscape.”Links to an external site. Deeproot.
- Measham, T. G. (2007). Primal landscapes: Insights for education from empirical research on ways of learning about environmentsLinks to an external site.. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 16(4), 339–350.
- Brillante, P., & Mankiw, S. (2015, July). A sense of place: Human geography in the early childhood classroomLinks to an external site.. YC: Young Children, 70(3), 16–23.
- Penn State Extension. (2016). Creating a sense of place: Considering routine, ritual, and belongingLinks to an external site.. The Pennsylvania State University.
- Fanguy, W. (2018, July 18). 4 essential steps to designing with empathyLinks to an external site.. InVision.
Recall a special place in your childhood where you felt safe, secure, loved, important, powerful, brave, smart, and happy. Consider how this special, primal landscape felt, looked, sounded, and even smelled. As you remember it, were there other people with you, or were you alone? Why did you go to this special place, where was it, and when did you go there? Did your special, primal landscape and the memories of childhood impact where you like to be and/or who you are now as an adult? Why is it important for early childhood professionals to think about their primal landscapes and the power these landscapes/environments hold?
Note: If you would rather not think about your own childhood primal landscape/special place, consider asking a friend or family member to describe their primal landscape.
**Post your Kaltura video, narrated PowerPoint presentation, or Adobe Spark presentation that brings to life the following points:
- What the concept of primal landscape means to you
- A description of one of your special, primal landscapes including such details as how you felt in this place, who joined you there or if you were alone, how it made you feel to be there, and the sounds and smells of this special place
- How your experience of this primal landscape affected you as a child and throughout your life
- The importance of early childhood professionals thinking about their primal landscapes and the power these landscapes/environments hold Note:
- If you would like to create an Adobe Express presentation, please go to to an external site. and review the instructions for creating webpages and short videos. This may be most accessible by signing up for a free account.
- Adobe Express does require you to sign in with your personal email to create an account. However, Walden does not require, support, or ensure the security of this software.
- Enhance your presentation using quotes, personal/professional experiences, photos, drawings, etc. to convey the essence, energy, and messages that respond to the bullet points above. However, if you choose to use personal photographs of children, make sure their faces are not identifiable.
Module 1 Discussion 2: The Potential Place
- Walden University, LLC. (2021). The potential place [Video]. Walden University Canvas.
The PowerPoint presentation “The Potential Place” can be found in this week’s Learning Resources. Dr. Duncan begins the presentation with the following:
The purpose of this presentation is to offer a new perspective on designing early childhood environments. This new perspective is a holistic view of improving early childhood environments with an emotion-based framework vs. an institutional-based approach. The Potential Place views young children’s environments as heart-centered places vs. intellectually based spaces.
Review what you are being asked to post and then watch “The Potential Place.” Consider how and why each concept—Spatial Conditions of Emotion, Potential Place, and Sense of Place—is key to creating emotionally connected environments for young children.
**Post your response to the following:
· What does it mean to create early childhood environments with a Sense of Place, and why is this critical to children’s healthy development and learning?
· What is the relationship between Sense of Place and emotionally connected environments?
· How can the environment help to promote positive, caring interactions between early childhood professionals and the children in their care?
· Explain the connection between the Spatial Conditions of Emotion, Potential Place, and Sense of Place, using examples as needed.
