The time children spend indoors with nature-based children's literature is as important as the time they spend outdoors. Children's literature traditionally has been replete with pastoral, animal, and wilderness stories that nurture a sense of wonder and excitement about the world we share. Such literature encourages a high regard for the…

This article discusses iBiome-Wetland, the first educational game from the author's company Springbay Studio. It invites children to build virtual wetland ecosystems, learn about 54 species living in wetlands, experience biodiversity, and conduct experiments to find out how food webs work. The game has received five awards from prestigious…

As environmental education and sustainability education play a fundamental role in training citizens who are more aware of global change and more environmentally responsible, organic learning is a recommended alternative learning experience for young children. This article describes how one kindergarten class in South Korea applied organic…

In gatherings facilitated by Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools staff, fellows have the chance to connect, collaborate, and support each other; to draw inspiration from invited speakers, ranging from artists to climate scientists; and to have dedicated time to work on their own projects. Participants find the program to be…

Traditional values in many cultures prioritize a deep respect for the environment and a recognition of the interdependence between humans and the natural world. They can help to broaden children's thinking about their choices, inform their decision-making, and help ensure children develop a closer connection with nature and pursue sustainable…

Eco-Schools is the largest global sustainability school program, with over 59,000 schools that engage 20 million students and 1.4 million teachers across 93 countries. The program was developed in response to the needs identified at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro in…

A valuable goal for transformation of education is to become a catalyst for developing individual and community values and fostering an ecological culture.

Recognizing the valuable role nature plays in human development as well as humans' responsibility toward the earth is critically important when considering how to transform education for the betterment of the individual and society. In this article, the author views nature as a force or phenomenon of the metaphysical world. As such, she suggests…

The organizers of the Decade for Childhood have formulated Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood as basic requirements for an optimal childhood. The pillars can be used to analyze the quality of childhood in homes and nations, and to guide policies and practices related to the experience of childhood. In this article, the author shall illustrate, pillar…

Teachers often wonder how to add social justice and care for the environment to an already packed curriculum. Books and the ensuing conversations with children are a way to re-imagine the curriculum, rather than adding to it. Fiction and nonfiction books allow children to travel beyond what they know and live into the lives of others. This article…

An appeal for schools to embark on a comprehensive environmental education program. (WY)

Introduces the nine articles on children's ecological awareness in this special issue. Ways to promote ecological awareness in the early childhood, elementary, and middle grades are described, and a reading list is provided. (LB)

Parents can help children acquire ecological awareness through the use of varied inventories that focus on their family's ecological practices, and through the restructuring of such practices to promote conservation and recycling. Lists specific activities in which preschool and elementary school children can engage. (MDM)

Describes two conservation education programs that target local primary schools and use national parks in Malaysian Borneo (Kinabalu Park) and central Brazil (Morro do Diabo Park). Both were designed using a comprehensive systems evaluation model and both resulted in cognitive and affective gains for students. (LB)

Demonstrates the ways in which the arts can be used to express ecological concerns and promote responsible environmental stewardship. Focuses on a play and a video produced by elementary school students with the assistance of their teachers and professional artists. (MDM)