Stelley, Hannah M2024-08-282024-08-282024-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/265213A Plan B Project submitted to the faculty of the University of Minnesota by Hannah M. Stelley in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Education, August 2024.This study examined how nature-based practices affect preschoolers’ receptive and expressive vocabulary. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Expressive Vocabulary Test were administered to 134 children from 11 preschool classes at the beginning and end of the 2022-2023 preschool year. Results suggest that nature-based practices that are integrated into preschool programs support significant vocabulary growth, but that effectiveness varies by public versus private setting and children’s socioeconomic status. This study adds to the literature surrounding effective practices for supporting vocabulary development. It also adds to the growing body of research that incorporates the impact of nature play on children’s overall development and school readiness.en-USreceptive vocabularyexpressive vocabularyvocabulary developmentnature preschoolnature-based early learningnature playnatural environmentsMaster of Environmental EducationCenter for Environmental EducationCollege of Education and Human Service ProfessionsUniversity of Minnesota DuluthPlan Bs (project-based master's degrees)Scholarly Text or Essay