Live / Designing for Curiosity: How Playground Landscapes Can Support Early Science Learning

Includes a Live Web Event on 03/04/2026 at 2:00 PM (EST)

Early childhood represents a critical window of curiosity, when children’s natural drive to wonder, explore, and question the world is largely unhindered by testing and standardized assessments. Research shows that early curiosity is closely tied to foundational science learning, including observing, experimenting, exploring cause-and-effect relationships, asking questions, and constructing knowledge through hands-on interaction. This webinar explores whether intentionally designed playground landscapes can nurture these curiosity-driven behaviors to advance early science learning. Drawing on recent interdisciplinary research, the session examines how supportive outdoor settings create conditions for inquiry and discovery. While the benefits of nature-rich play environments are well documented, the mechanisms linking landscape design, curiosity, and science learning remain underexplored. This webinar translates emerging scientific findings into practical landscape design principles that activate curiosity and support early science learning in playgrounds.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe the role of early childhood curiosity in supporting foundational science learning and concept development.
Identify observable curiosity-driven science behaviors in young children that are influenced by outdoor play and learning environments.
Analyze how specific playground landscape features and spatial configurations support inquiry, experimentation, and cause-and-effect learning.
Apply evidence-based landscape design principles to the planning and design of playgrounds that intentionally support curious behaviors and associated early science learning.

Dr. Kimberly Clevenger, PhD, MPH

Director of Research and Resources and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science

PlayCore and Utah State University

Dr. Kimberly Clevenger, PhD, MPH is PlayCore’s Director of Research and Resources and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science at Utah State University, where she leads research on promoting and measuring children’s physical activity. Her research explores how built environments—like schoolyards and classrooms—influence free-play, specifically how play behaviors vary across time and space. With a PhD in Kinesiology from Michigan State University, an MPH in Quantitative Methods from Harvard, and postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute, she brings a rich interdisciplinary foundation to her work.

Dr. Muntazar Monsur, PhD

Assistant Professor Landscape Architecture

Texas Tech University

Dr. Muntazar Monsur is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Texas Tech University and an engaged scholar specializing in environment–behavior research focused on early childhood environments. His research and funded projects (over $2.7M) examine how play-supportive landscapes advance children’s health, well-being, curiosity, creativity, and early learning. He leads Texas Tech’s XR Lab, exploring the use of immersive technologies (VR/AR/MR) to enhance design research and education, and created the graduate studio Landscape for Learning, where students partner with communities on design-build and research projects. Dr. Monsur’s work has earned multiple teaching and engagement awards and is featured in Landscape Architecture Magazine.

This session will offer the following credits:


0.1 IACET CEU	1.0 AIA HSW LU	1.0 LA CES HSW PDH

CEUs for a total of 1.0 Professional Development Hours (0.1 IACET CEU / 1.0 AIA HSW LU / 1.0 LA CES HSW PDH)will be provided to learners meeting the following requirements:

Be present for 95% of the duration of the learning event;
Participate in activities and discussion throughout;
Complete assessment with 80% mastery of learning outcome;
Complete feedback/evaluation survey.

CEUs can be applied toward NRPA CPRP/CPRE renewal. To obtain your CEU, please visit the "Event Details" tab above to complete the associated components for this event.

Instructor(s) Disclosures:

The instructors of this training webinar are employed by PlayCore and disclose an interest in attendees partnering with PlayCore on their play and recreation initiatives.

Speakers Disclosures:

The opinions of the speakers in these events do not necessarily reflect the views of PlayCore and its brands.

Notes:

For any questions or to request a copy of the written transcript for this session, please contact core@playcore.com

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