Teaching in Nature's Classroom

in Teaching in Nature's Classroom, Nathan Larson has shared with us a philosophy of teaching in the garden. Rooted in years of experience and supported by research, he has outlined fifteen guiding principles for garden-based educators. These core principles can provide us with guidance to unlock the phenomenal potential of a garden for children and to keep in mind, as we work with children in our own gardens and in our own communities, the beautiful and vital larger picture of which each of us is a part.

~ Whitney Cohen, Education Director, Life Lab; author of The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 

101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun

Teaching in Nature's Classroom seamlessly weaves beautiful artwork, practical applications and children's voices to evoke the learning garden. Nathan Larson's book will serve anyone already working with children in the garden, and inspire others to find their way there. Teaching in Nature's Classroom is a wonderful addition to the emerging field of 21st century garden-based learning.

~ Jane Hirschi, Executive Director, CitySprouts; author of Ripe for Change: Garden-Based Learning in Schools. 

larson's book is a great resource for the school garden movement! investing kids in growing their own food has proven health benefits. this beautifully illustrated how-to celebration of children growing food is vivid, engaging, educational and fun.

~ Aaron Carrel, M.D., Medical Director, University of Wisconsin Pediatric Fitness Clinic

nathan larson has created a wonderful resource for educators, parents and farmers to use as a guide to promote children's learning in a garden setting. his advocacy of letting children use the garden on their own to explore and learn is a highlight for me. the evidence-based practice section after each core principle will be most helpful for those educators who need to prove that you can learn in the garden!

~ Linda Wellings, Director of School Programs and Early Childhood Education Coordinator, Shelburne Farms

Teaching in Nature's Classroom is a beautifully illustrated and written resource for garden-based educators everywhere, providing deep insight into the art of outdoor education. However as one reads on they soon discover that this book is much more than that, the practices discussed are just plain good teaching period and are just as valuable to classroom teachers as non-formal educators.

~Sam Ullery, School Garden Specialist, Division of Health & Wellness, Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Nathan Larson has worked in the fields of nature-, farm-, and garden-based education since the dawn of the 21st century. Over the past two decades, he has enjoyed and felt deeply grateful for many opportunities to work with students, educators, colleagues, and community partners to establish and grow vibrant garden-based education programs and networks. He currently leads the Cultivate Health Initiative, a joint public health project of Rooted and the Environmental Design Lab at UW-Madison to grow and sustain the school garden network and movement in Wisconsin. He also serves on the advisory council for the national School Garden Support Organization Network and on his local school district's Wellness Advisory Council.

acknowledgements

foreword by Whitney Cohen

introduction

let the garden be the teacher

make it hands-on

let kids be the gardeners

build self-efficacy: setting kids up for success

build learning communities

cultivate a sense of wonder

engage the senses: listen, watch, smell, taste, feel

engage kids in meaningful fitness

immerse yourself in nature

make connections to home and community

engage with worms, bees, chickens and other animals

work and Play in the Garden

utilize an integrated curriculum

cultivate a connection to food

cultivate a sense of place

epilogue: growing hope

a note on collecting evidence

references

about the team