Have you been searching for summer reading for your students that focuses more on the environment and the natural world? Sonia Satov provides five book suggestions for engaging your students.
As teachers, summer is a time to take a well-needed break, and hopefully become refreshed and reinvigorated to start a new year. But of course, even during treasured time relaxing and adventuring in the beautiful outdoors, we never really stop thinking like teachers.
I often find myself reflecting on how I can best bring my love of nature into my classroom. So next time you head to the beach or the cottage, why not bring a book or two to help inspire and motivate.
Here are some summer reading suggestions that incorporate nature:
- Connecting Children with Nature?
- Last Child In The Woods by Richard Lou
- Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Bharat Cornell
WHAT THEY?RE ABOUT: Louv?s award-winning text on the importance of environmental education provides research on the modern divide between children and nature. Cornell focuses on concrete ways to engage children with nature, including a wide range of worthwhile nature games.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ THEM: One of the best things we can do is to help children develop deep personal interest and connection to the world around us. Louv?s book is truly inspirational. Its description of the ?disconnect? is motivational, but advocates without preaching. Cornell?s practical organization of activities are well categorized (eg. reflective vs. experiential) and have corresponding quick reference cards.
- Gardening with a Purpose?
- Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the Garden and Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children?both by Sharon Lovejoy
WHAT THEY?RE ABOUT:? Theme-based gardening. These books contain beautifully worded information about plants and kid-friendly garden basics. Each theme-garden (e.g., ?pizza patch?) includes careful instructions for planning, planting and care. Accompanying activities are fun and easy.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ THEM:? Themes provide purpose, structure and motivation to engage kids in gardening. These books are written in student-friendly language but aren?t ?dumbed down?, and provide enough details to be a teacher-resource.
- Worms, worms, worms?
- Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
WHAT IT?S ABOUT: Touted as a ?definitive resource for setting up a vermicomposting bin? this book covers everything you need to know, from types of bins to what do with the soil produced.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: It?s easy to engage kids in projects with worms, whether for the ?gross factor? or to be nurturers. Worms connect well with curriculum (e.g., living organisms, soils). There are many complementary kid-friendly resources, such as Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer (the life of worms underground) and Earthsearch by John Cassidy (soil science and related social issues).
- Environmental Inquiry?
- Natural Curiosity: Resource for Teachers?by The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study
WHAT IT?S ABOUT:? Environmental inquiry is described within their four-branch approach (inquiry-based learning, integrated learning, experiential learning, and stewardship), and real teachers share examples from their classroom that include all these elements.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: It is clearly written so that teachers can be both inspired and guided as they endeavour to try environmental inquiry in their classroom. In this spirit, there are several complementary resources available online. It can be purchased or downloaded for free at http://www.naturalcuriosity.ca/.
- Place-Based Education?
- Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities by David Sobel
WHAT IT?S ABOUT: David Sobel has championed ?place-based education? and written several books. This book provides many examples of how to bring community and environment into the classroom.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT: An approach to environmental education that includes a more socially-driven perspective. The merits of connecting children to their community (rural or urban) has a clear impact on their interest to understand, respect and preserve the world around them.
Obviously this is just a small sampling, both of topics in environmental education and in corresponding supporting resources. Please feel free to post comments about any books that you love and recommend. And of course, consider taking these books out from your local library or sharing them with a friend?buying less is always a great way to be a bit greener!
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Do you have any environmental educations books on your summer reading list that you?d like to suggest? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Related:
Summer Reading for 24/7 Educators
What the Neuroeducation Means for Private Schools
Teach With Your Heart: Book Review
21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times
Related posts and articles:
Source: http://www.dialogueonline.ca/summer-reading-five-books-environmental-education/8124/
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