Recent scholarship on children’s literature displays a wide variety of interests in classic and contemporary children’s books. While environmental and ecological concerns have led to an interest in ‘ecocriticism’, as yet there is little on the significance of the ecological imagination and experience to both the authors and readers – young and old – of these texts. This edited collection brings together a set of original international research-based chapters to explore the role of children’s literature in learning about environments and places, with a focus on how children’s literature may inform and enrich our imagination, experiences and responses to environmental challenges and injustice. Contributions from Australia, Canada, USA and UK explore the diverse ways in which children’s literature can provide what are arguably some of the first and possibly most formative engagements that some children might have with ‘nature’. Chapters examine classic and new storybooks, mythic tales, and image-based and/or written texts read at home, in school and in the field. Contributors focus on exploring how children’s literature mediates and informs our imagination and understandings of diverse environments and places, and how it might open our eyes and lives to other presences, understandings and priorities through stories, their telling and re-telling, and their analysis. This book was originally published as a special issue of Environmental Education Research.

With the power of stories you can generate student interest in nature and the environment while building skills across the curriculum! Using contemporary and classic children's literature as springboards to learning, this resource offers dozens of stimulating extension activities that engage young learners and teach them important concepts and skills in science, social studies, language, math, music, and art. You'll find puzzles, word searches, suggestions for computer projects, and more for such beloved titles as The Little House, Water Dance, and Brother Eagle, Sister Sky. Many of the activities are presented in reproducible format, so they're ready for the classroom. And lists of resources for further study are given for each book. Grades K - 4: (adaptable to higher levels).

This long-awaited revision of a popular book provides information and activities to assist educators and parents in exploring the local environment with children. Fact-filled essays introduce each subject, followed by field-tested, experiential activities that engage students in learning about the natural world. 115 illustrations.

Recent scholarship on children’s literature displays a wide variety of interests in classic and contemporary children’s books. While environmental and ecological concerns have led to an interest in ‘ecocriticism’, as yet there is little on the significance of the ecological imagination and experience to both the authors and readers – young and old – of these texts. This edited collection brings together a set of original international research-based chapters to explore the role of children’s literature in learning about environments and places, with a focus on how children’s literature may inform and enrich our imagination, experiences and responses to environmental challenges and injustice. Contributions from Australia, Canada, USA and UK explore the diverse ways in which children’s literature can provide what are arguably some of the first and possibly most formative engagements that some children might have with ‘nature’. Chapters examine classic and new storybooks, mythic tales, and image-based and/or written texts read at home, in school and in the field. Contributors focus on exploring how children’s literature mediates and informs our imagination and understandings of diverse environments and places, and how it might open our eyes and lives to other presences, understandings and priorities through stories, their telling and re-telling, and their analysis. This book was originally published as a special issue of Environmental Education Research.

In this intriguing book Harrington focuses on environmental science, offering a selection of unique programming ideas that not only entertain but also arm children and teens with information about environmental issues.

This book introduces the role of children′s literature in promoting reading for pleasure and creating lifelong readers. Focusing on a range of fiction relevant to the National Curriculum, it covers genres such as poetry, non-fiction, traditional stories and picture books. Concepts and terminology are explained through a wide range of examples. This revised edition includes -Investigative activities and practical exercises for personal or classroom use -Examples from world literature and work in translation highlighting the range of diverse material available for teaching inspiration -Coverage of social, cultural and political reading practices to increase understanding of factors that influence children′s reading experience -Coverage of disability and equality issues to help inform teaching strategies that overcome barriers to learning. This book is essential for students on PGCE, BEd and BA Education courses, and for teachers undertaking CPD in English, literacy or children′s literature. It provides useful support material for language coordinators and literacy consultants, and can be used to support distance-learning, as an aid to self-study, or as a course text.

Filling a crucial need for K-6 teachers, this book provides practical strategies for using nonfiction trade books in language arts and content area instruction. Research-based, classroom-tested ideas are spelled out to help teachers: *Select from among the many wonderful nonfiction trade books available *Incorporate nonfiction into the classroom *Work with students to develop comprehension strategies for informational texts *Elicit responses to nonfiction through drama, writing, and discussion *Use nonfiction to promote content area learning and research skills Unique features of the book include teacher-created lesson plans, extensive lists of recommended books (including choices for reluctant readers), illustrative examples of student work, and suggestions for linking nonfiction reading to the use of the World Wide Web.