Features
Environmental Education is a Must by David Suzuki
Guest editorialist David Suzuki argues that environmental
education is more important than ever; as young people continue
to be increasingly targeted by marketing campaigns, it is
critical that they be also exposed to an ethic of conservation,
not just consumption.
Helping Students Go Feral by David Kowalewski
Through identifying and using wild plants as food, students
acquire not only botanical theory but also hands-on experience in
securing their own free nutrition and health care. David
Kowalewski introduces readers to his highly successful
undergraduate course "Wild Edible and Medicinal
Plants", explaining the rationale, course content and how he
addresses the safety issues.
Literature and Environmental Studies
by Louise Conn Fleming and Linda Webb Billman
Realistic fiction can connect students to the environment through
powerful stories of real-life issues. This article suggests
suitable fiction, for students in grades 6-8, that help to
enhance units on prairies, forests, the Arctic, rivers and
wetlands.
Waste-Free Lunches by Amy Hemmert
Parent and elementary school teacher, Amy Hemmert offers tips and
suggestions for starting a waste-free lunch program at your
school. Includes Web resources, and a guide to conducting a lunch
trash audit.
Walking into Wonder
by Cynthia Rothschild
Through observation walks, such as "sensory walks",
"human impact walks" "wildlife walks" or
"mapping walks", urban students discover the
extraordinary in the ordinary and develop personal connections to
the world around them.
Teaming with Nature
by Mark Baldwin
Developed by the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, "Teaming
With Nature" is a place-based outdoor education program unit
that shows educators how a one-square kilometre area around their
school can be used as an open-air, real-life laboratory for the
study of natural and human systems in their communities. Mark
Baldwin describes how you can start such a program in your school
or nature centre.
Inquiry-based Learning Through Animal
Tracking
by Mark D. Jordahl
Tracking engages every part of the brain - and reaches into every
area of the curriculum. Mark Jodahl shows how tracking can
inspire lots of good writing, math, music, art, science and
computer literacy.
Science Libraries in the Classroom
by Rebecca Grant
Having access to a comfortable classroom science library can turn
kids on to science and reading at the same time. Rebecca Grant
shares her experience slowly building up a science library in her
middle school science classroom. The article also suggests
"great picks for a science library" to help you get
started.
The Song of Life Sings in Us All
by Brian "Fox" Ellis
Celebrated children's storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis
spent a weekend conference with a group of children aged 6 to 12,
helping them create an animal action poem and skit that
celebrated the web of life. He describes how you can use the same
activity with your students.
And as
always, over 20 new educational resources are profiled and
evaluated in this issue of Green Teacher.
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