The Meaning of Happiness Experienced by Children in Natural Ecology-Based STEAM Education

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of infants through natural ecology-based STEAM education using narrative inquiry, and to understand the meaning of happiness experienced by infants through natural ecology-based STEAM education. Methods A total of six children from 3-year-old K class at G daycare center located in I city, and three children and three girls were selected as participants in the study. Data collection will be conducted 30 times for 9 weeks from August 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022, before the interview on July 29, and after the interview on February 10, 2023 Field texts (interviews, field notes, research journals, observation data, memory boxes) were collected by data methods. Data analysis was Clandinin in accordance with the procedures of narrative exploration through participatory observation, a qualitative research method, from September 30, 2022 to October 30, 2023 & Connelly's five steps were analyzed in consideration of the narrative inquiry research procedure and the three-di-mensional inquiry space. Results Children's experiences in natural ecology-based STEAM education include ‘we (time) at a certain point’ and ‘me and you, I'll hit.’, ‘It appeared as a story (sociality)’ and ‘a place (place) where you’ and ‘I faced each other’, and it was experienced by young children through natural ecology-based STEAM education. The meaning of hap-piness was ‘Lalala heart! (positive/emotional)’, ‘one cross! (immersive/achievement)’, and ‘We fell in love! (relationship/meaning)’. Conclusions Based on the results of this study, we propose the development of STEAM education based on the natural ecology of infants and how the meaning of happiness experienced by infants in STEAM education should be fused with the 2019 revised Nuri curriculum and the center of play.