This article reports how Swedish teachers' aims and practices were modified by an ecosystem services development project that introduced insect hotels, bird boxes and planting to ten preschool yards. Teachers' understanding of ecosystem services, human--nature relationships and the impact of these on nature connectedness showed that their…

More-than-human refusal, as an expression of agency, plays an active role in constructing boundaries. In this article, I address what kind of environmental education is made possible by the productive constraints of respecting more-than-human boundaries and refusal. This is intertwined with how humans can practice being attentive to the…

It is noted that insects (insecta), which constitute an important group of invertebrate animals, can be used in the field of environmental education. It is also thought that the use of insects in the classroom in the field of environmental education will have a positive effect on the insect intrinsic motivations (BIM) of the students. In the…

Hands-on activities are considered to be particularly suitable for generating long-term knowledge that increases environmentally friendly behaviour. Appropriate flagship species in a respective curricular context can enable high-quality education. We have developed a teaching concept and material for hands-on activities with bumblebees. This…

This article explores the kinds of children's books--literary and informative--that can help young readers concern themselves with ecological matters; also the extent to which children's literature can be employed for the development of an ecological awareness in young readers. Can children's literature, beyond its inherently anthropocentric…

This paper presents findings from a research study exploring the effectiveness of three environmental education programs. The first was an interpretive program where visitors learned to safely interact with and 'pet' bees (control group), the second was the same interpretive program with the addition of post-visit action resources (interactive…

This article highlights three key features that appeared to add value to young people's experience of a school-linked environmental education initiative built around conservation activities. The three features -- close-up encounters with other species, working with external experts, and a degree of informality -- were identified through a…

The decline of biodiversity and natural habitats, and the lack of progress in society's behaviour towards conservation, has prompted research into effective educational programs. Studies have shown that positive emotions towards nature, particularly in relation to the innate human predisposition towards the natural environment, can encourage…

This article details the approach taken to a recent study in an environmental education context, with a focus on the writing and analysis of ethnographic fieldnotes. This approach drew upon aspects of new materialist theory and multi-species ethnography for the writing of fieldnotes, and Situational Analysis for their analysis. These approaches…

Plastic waste and the bee population are two topics often discussed in relation to the environment. A practical activity in a primary school classroom linked to these areas can help to fulfil some of the requirements of the science curriculum. A study of the life of bees shows the importance of pollinators and highlights the concern many people…

In this qualitative study, the author investigated nature as a context for language development. Participants included 15 toddlers and their caretakers who enrolled in a series of environmental education workshops on the topics of grass, butterflies, spiders, and leaves. Using field notes and photographs, the study sought to investigate elements…

To meet the challenges of the 21st century, education cannot be restricted to reading and writing. Innovations that support our students' development as leaders and responsible citizens and stewards of the environment are also needed.

Sustainable use of freshwater is globally important. Yet implementation of changes in water management is poor, especially in developing countries. This is an indication that, despite our dependence on freshwater, we lack awareness of the need to protect these systems. Here we promote dragonflies as an easy-to-learn tool in environmental education…

It takes a special kind of teacher to enlist in a Bush Blitz TeachLive expedition: camping; long days hiking or wading through marshland; catching arachnids, lizards and insects; and all the while managing to remotely teach students back in the classroom. The latest instalment of Bush Blitz TeachLive sent five Northern Territorian teachers to…

Currently there is no urban forestry and natural resources curriculum available to Louisiana K-12 students. In addition, there has not been any assessment of the perception, willingness of teachers and or students in Louisiana for Urban Forestry. This study assessed the above gaps in urban forestry and natural resources education and addressed the…