Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-02-2019 12:14 PM
    Hi!  I'm in the process of creating a free lending library of nature based books for early childhood educators.   Would love to hear your favorites.  Anything from how to start a nature based preschool and the benefits of nature based education to curriculum and guides on how to create a great outdoor learning play space.  Thank you!!!

    ------------------------------
    Melissa Sheppard
    owner/teacher
    Star Child Nature School
    Shamong NJ
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-03-2019 09:34 PM
    I like David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia and William Crain - Reclaiming Childhood (where he has a chapter called "Child as Naturalist"). Rusty Keeler has a new book published by Gryphon House and Exchange Press has many good articles on demand on this topic.

    ------------------------------
    Carol Murray
    Bard Nursery School
    Red Hook NY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-04-2019 08:54 AM
    I love Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods and Eric Nelson's Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms.

    ------------------------------
    Sherrie Rose Mayle
    Director/Teacher
    Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
    Campbell, CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-04-2019 09:31 PM
    I am a fan of Discovering Nature with Young Children by Karen Chalufour and Ingrid Worth. This book is one of the Young Scientist Series books.

    ------------------------------
    Hilary Laing
    Teacher
    Orono Discovery Center
    Orono MN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-13-2019 10:36 AM
    I asked a friend, Sarah Glassco who is an early childhood educator and naturalist, for her recommendations and she echoed some and had a few others to suggest:
    Here are some books that I have found helpful:  Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens by David Sobel,(with contributions from Patti Ensel Bailie, Ken Finch, Erin K. Kenny and Anne Stires).  This book traces the history of nature-based schools and describes the difference between schools started by nature parks and other nature schools that don't have a park associated with them.  There is a difference--with a foot in both camps I have observed it. 

    Bringing the Outside In by Sandra Duncan and Jody Martin.  My program has used this one extensively to make indoor spaces more natural.

    Wild Play, also by David Sobel, is written for parents, but it is also helpful, describing different phases of relationship with nature that children go through at different ages.

    ------------------------------
    Peggy Ashbrook
    Early childhood science teacher
    Alexandria, VA
    NSTA The Early Years columnist, Science and Children
    Early Years blogger, www.nsta.org/earlyyears
    Author: Science Learning in the Early Years, and
    Science Is Simple
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Great books on Nature Based Education

    Posted 03-14-2019 11:38 AM
    Hi,
    Here are a few ideas, including some newer books:


    Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget     Paperback – December 11, 2018

    by Julie Powers and Sheila Williams Ridge 

    Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning
    by Rachel A. Larimore  | Mar 1, 2019


    Learning Is in Bloom: Cultivating Outdoor Explorations     Paperback – June 1, 2016

    by Ruth Wilson (Author)



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Williams Ridge
    U of MN Lab School
    Roseville MN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message