Connecting with Nature: A Naturalist's Perspective

And so begins this amazing book an irresistible story of how one child fell in love with nature and your students can, too. Taking what he calls a nature-centred worldview, author Robert Stebbins blends activities, examples, and stories with his perspectives on the importance of dealing objectively yet compassionately with social and environmental problems. As thought-provoking as it is charming, Connecting With Nature includes: discussions of ecological illiteracy and the impediments that keep people, young and old, from bonding with nature; recommendations for establishing a nature-centred educational program and encouraging interest in nature at home; advice on doing accurate observations and field reports and understanding natural selection; and a captivating array of activities to capture the attention of students of all ages: imitating animal sounds, quieting lizards, tracking animals, photographing birds, and playing hide and seek with owl calls. Even a quick glance through Connecting With Nature will make you wish you could give your students the joy of a day in the hills with the author. Failing that, you can use his book to instill a love of nature in your students and rekindle it in yourself.