A park ranger describes a program designed to teach preschoolers in a Head Start classroom about bugs, park rangers, and drug awareness. The program was an outgrowth of a vandalism incident at a national park bordering a low-income housing complex. Lesson plans revolve around storybooks with bugs as characters. The program finale brings the…

The mind/body split internalized in Western culture does not acknowledge the body's role in learning. Three environmental education teachers' techniques for engaging all the senses to enhance other ways of knowing include: a comfortable classroom environment, experiencing the natural environment, playfulness, imagination, storytelling, crafting…

Describes two parallel studies conducted shortly before the Kyoto conference on climate change: (1) an examination of media portrayals of global warming and the certainty with which information was reported; and (2) a telephone survey to assess public knowledge and attitudes about global climate change. Findings do not support a hypothesis that…

Profiles a number of projects and activities enacted during the 1996 Summer Colloquium, "Art and Ecology: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Curriculum." Participants created ecologically sensitive structures for pond life at a nearby wetland and attended a dramatic presentation about early mound dwellers performed on the site. (MJP)

Uses three case studies to examine philosophical and pedagogical issues surrounding the use of laptop computers in outdoor education. Discusses the relationship between nature and technology and the use of computers in education lead to a call for greater recognition of the value of field education, especially in science. Presents criteria for…

A young woman educated in North America who came to Chile to teach experiential environmental education realized that she would have to reconcile her educational ideals with the reality of Chilean culture, which does not support questioning, critical thinking, gender equality, democratic participation, or self-directed learning--the underpinnings…

A complete education must integrate the development of mind, body, and spirit without violating the separation of Church and State. The four main parts of a curriculum for the development of the soul would be the arts, community service, outdoor environmental education, and human development. Other components would be leisure time, space for…

Describes an urban environmental stewardship project undertaken by students at a Seattle public school in an effort to make their school more beautiful, their environment more healthy, and their learning more tangible. In partnership with neighbors and the community, students transformed a section of the school grounds into a garden refuge.…

Contends that science education researchers should devote more time to creating and studying models of intergenerational and community-based science education. Argues that such inquiries have the potential to provoke new thinking that could expand basic conceptions of what it means to learn and practice science. (WRM)

Data loggers use sensors to collect environmental data that can be graphed instantly via computer software. A study used four groups of British elementary students to determine the educational benefits of data logging in field situations. Results indicate that data loggers excited the pupils and saved them time recording temperature readings. That…

Until about the 1940s, schools and universities considered observation and direct experience of one's natural surroundings to be a worthwhile educational endeavor, leading to a nature-literate citizenry. Now, lab-based biological studies and environmental education in the classroom have mostly replaced nature study, reducing the possibility of…

Outlines initial steps toward education for a sustainable future in the Asia-Pacific Region. Presents results from over 10,000 secondary students in 13 countries on environmental interest and attitudes and willingness to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Describes an international program to support teacher educators as they reorient teacher…

The purpose of this exploratory article is to illustrate the worldview, epistemology and relationship with the natural world from a Nehithawak (Woodlands Cree) perspective. The contents of the article represent a personal narrative of an educator of Woodlands Cree cultural heritage from the Reindeer Lake area of northern Canada. A brief history of…

The RAFT technique (Santa 1988) is a writing strategy that helps students understand their "Role" as a writer, the "Audience" they will address, various "Formats" for writing, and the expected "Topic" or content. This article discusses the RAFT writing strategy used by the students to address land development issues. The authors facilitated…

Recent reviews of environmental education (EE) research converge with pedagogical trends in the education literature to situated and constructivist learning and the need for greater researcher reflexivity about the assumptions and conduct of research. These trends also elaborate the need in EE and education for sustainable development and related…