Now Online: Childhood and Nature
April 2008
"These approaches start from inside the child's world, recognizing children's inherent fascinations with nature and people, and then build from these starting points to create sturdy, community- valued knowledge. This is what I'm advocating for--an approach to education that simultaneously honors developing a child's love of the earth and developing a child's academic and social competence."
In his new book, Childhood and Nature, place-based education leader David Sobel describes how transcendent experiences in nature give children deeply rooted attitudes that fuel the pursuit of knowledge and a lasting commitment to environmental stewardship. Sobel provides the tools--seven principles--that will guide you as you design learning opportunities that make such experiences possible:
- Adventure
- Fantasy and Imagination
- Animal Allies
- Maps and Paths
- Special Places
- Small Worlds
- Hunting and Gathering
These principles are brought to life through a series of essays, each calling on one or more of the principles in describing vibrant programs or provocative curricula.
Read more about David T. Sobel.
