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Educating Children Outdoors is a resource for educators interested in spending extended periods of time in nature with their students. Bringing over two decades of experience working outdoors with teachers and students, Amy Butler offers curricular guidance on nature-based lessons that align with K–12 education standards and build on the innate curiosity and wonder children have for the natural world. This book will help the educator:- Learn successful routines and practices to make learning outdoors safe and engaging- Understand protocols for real and risky play- Draw inspiration from real-life stories from other teachers about learning in nature- Meet NGSS and Common Core standards outdoors with seasonal lessons that are child-centered- Be part of the movement to support children in becoming reconnected with the natural world and the places they call homeWith twenty-five lessons in five units of study spread out across a seasonal school year and appendixes that offer templates for learning, Educating Children Outdoors is essential for educators looking to harvest the benefits of a nature-based curriculum.

The connection between place and education has always been complicated and in recent decades has mostly been ignored during the standardization era of education. This book provides a different lens to view this connection between place and education as one that is not optional, but inherent to all education. Furthermore, place is looked at not as an ingredient in educational practice, but as an outcome of education. Instead of merely considering how communities and landscapes can be incorporated into teaching practices, The Worlds Educators Create explores how educators can contribute toward the creation and meaning of the places themselves. By incorporating lenses from many fields of study, this book aims to create a unifying perspective of place beneficial for educators across content areas and grade levels. In so doing, educators are able to see the true impact of their work in shaping the places around them. Ultimately, The Worlds Educators Create calls for education to not merely occur in places, but contribute toward making the places themselves more just and equitable.

Place-based education is on the rise. Tired of “teaching to the test,” educators are looking for authentic ways to connect their curriculum to real life. The place-based approach brings students into their communities to learn necessary content and skills by working to meet the needs of local agencies and organizations. Students are more engaged because they know they are doing real work, teachers are reinvigorated by creating exciting learning opportunities, and the school takes on a more active role in the community. At the heart of this process is the place itself: the land, the history, and the culture.Bringing School to Life: Place-Based Education across the Curriculum by Sarah Anderson offers insights into how to build a program across the K-8 grades. Anderson addresses key elements such as mapping, local history, citizen science, integrated curricula, and more. Additionally, Anderson suggests strategies for building community partnerships and implementation for primary grades. This book goes beyond theory to give concrete examples and advice in how to make place-based education a real educational option in any school.