September 8, 2016

Dear Cheetah Families,

As you may already know, I am a graduate student in the Department of

Early and Middle Grades Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania,
working toward my M.Ed. in Early Childhood. As part of my Masters degree
program, I will be conducting a classroom action research assignment to
understand childrens experiences as they engage in nature-based play.
For the next eight weeks, I would like to include your child (and all of my students
in the Cheetah room) in my research project on the integration of nature-based
curriculum in our afterschool classroom.

During the eight-week period, your child will spend four weeks learning about
biomes in a classroom setting using technology, books, pictures and discussions of
personal experiences. The last four weeks they will revisit those biomes but the
learning will take place outdoors using tangible items, natural resources and
visitors. The children will be asked to complete a brief survey of their learning
experiences and which style they preferred best and how they can be integrated to
fit both settings.

All data that I collect (observations, interviews, curriculum, family surveys)

will be kept confidential and no references to childrens names or family members
names will be used in my work.

I do not anticipate any risk greater than normal school life. Your child's
participation in this project is completely voluntary. All children in our room will be
engaged in nature based curriculum. Those children who are participants in my
research will be observed and interviewed as they engage in nature based play. If
you choose for your child to not participate she or he will simply not be
interviewed and observations of her/his experiences during nature based play will
not be recorded or used in my research and course work. The choice to participate

or not will not impact your childs status at St. Paul CELC in any way. You may
withdraw your consent for your child to participate at any time, with no penalty.

All information that is obtained during this research project will be kept
strictly secure and will not become a part of your child's school record. Your childs
name and any other information concerning his/her identity will be deleted from the
research information. Your childs confidentiality is most important and every effort
will be made to ensure that this research remains confidential at all times.
The results of this study will be used for an online website that is required in my
course, Early Childhood Researcher, in the College of Education at WCU.
Pseudonyms or codes will be substituted for the names of children and the school.
This helps protect confidentiality. The website is a private site, viewable by myself,
my classmates and my professors only. I will be constructing a summary of my
research project that will be available online to all, however, childrens/family
names and the name of our school will not be included in the summary of my
research.

In the space at the bottom of this letter (or on the permission form located
on the bulletin board leading down the stairs), please indicate whether or
not you allow your child to participate in this project. Participation includes
the use written observations about your childs experiences during nature
based curriculum and informal interviews with your child about her/his
experiences. Simply return your survey if you wish to allow your responses
to be included in my research. Simply discard the survey if you choose not
to participate.

Please return one copy of this completed form as soon as possible. If you
have any questions about this research project, please feel free to contact
me. Please keep a copy of this form for your records.

Sincerely,

Heidi Heim

******************************************************************

________ I agree to allow my child to participate in the interview and observations

of her/his experiences during nature-based play. I understand there is no risk to my
child and that I may withdraw my consent at any time, without penalty.
________ I would rather my child not participate in the interviews and
observations. I understand that this decision will not negatively impact my childs
status or participation in school experiences.
Parents signature and date:

__________________________________________________________________