(Athman) Ernst, J., & Stanek, D. (2006). “The prairie science class: A model for re-visioning environmental education within the National Wildlife Refuge System.” Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 11(4), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200600803010
This study showed that students exposed to learning in nature rather than the same lesson in the classroom were more engaged with the hands on experience and performed academically better at the end of the lesson.
Bates, S. (2021, September 28). Drought makes its home on the range – climate change: Vital signs of the planet. NASA. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3117/drought-makes-its-home-on-the-range/
This resource discusses the impacts droughts are having on farms in the United States related to climate change.
Bilton, H., & Waters, J. (2016). “Why take young children outside? A critical consideration of the professed aims for outdoor learning in the early years by teachers from England and Wales.” Social Sciences, 6(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010001
This journal article is about a comparative study between Wales and England to better understand how outdoor learning and play contribute to better develop in four and five year olds.
Childhoodbynature.com (2021, August 13). Nature Journaling For the Mini Naturalist. Childhood By Nature. https://www.childhoodbynature.com/nature-journaling-for-the-mini-naturalist/
This resource explains what nature journaling is and how to get children started with this process. The basic steps include finding a quiet spot to observe, draw and write.
Climate Change Impacts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2021, August 13). https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts#:~:text=The%20impacts%20of%20climate%20change%20on%20different%20sectors%20of%20society,availability%2C%20and%20limit%20worker%20productivity
This resource discusses the effects of climate change on ecosystems and the complexity it is causing.
Holcombe, R. M. (2022, March 9). Welcome to NatureYear! Common Ground- High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center. https://commongroundct.org/2018/03/welcome-to-natureyear/
This resource provides information about the NatureYear program offered at Common Ground High School in New Haven, Connecticut.
Kuo, Ming. (2019, June 7). “Six Ways Nature Helps Children Learn.” Greater Good Magazine: Science Based Insights For a Meaningful Life. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_nature_helps_children_learn
Ming Kuo researched and discovered six ways nature helps children learn and do better in school. These six ways include restoring children’s attention, relieving stress, developing more self-discipline, making them more engaged and interested, increasing physical fitness and promote social connection and creativity.
Laws, J., Tan, A., & Lygren, E. (2020). “Sit Spots.” In How to Teach Nature Journaling: Curiosity, wonder, attention (pp. 154–157). essay, Heyday. https://howtoteachnaturejournaling.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Sit-Spot-H2TNJ.pdf
This chapter gives insight to sit spots while writing and how it can change the journaling experience for young writers.
Lewis, G. (2017). Nature Writing Tips for Children from Award-Winning Author Gill Lewis. YouTube. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff8jdk8zECE
This short video clip has author, Gill Lewis, explain how she uses nature and her five senses when writing her books about nature.
National Geographic Society. (2022, June). All About Climate. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/all-about-climate
This resource discusses the climate classification system created by Russian-German scientist Wladimir Köppen. It also explains how climate influences humans, plants and animals.
National Geographic Society. (2022, May 20). Drought. National Geographic Society. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/drought
This resource discusses how below-average precipitation affects the amount of moisture in soil as well as the amount of water in streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
National Geographic Society. (2022, May 20). Köppen Climate Classification System. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/koppen-climate-classification-system
This resource takes a deeper look into the Köppen Climate Classification System.
Rillero, P. (1999). “Haiku and Science- Observing, Reflecting and Writing About Nature.” Journal of College Science Teaching; 5(28), 345–347. file:///Users/michelleromanelli/Desktop/ovserving%20nature.pdf
This article describes how students observed nature and wrote poems after reflecting on their observations.
Robbins, J. (2020, January 16). Regularly immersing yourself in nature can help health and Wellbeing. UrbanUW. https://urban.uw.edu/news/regularly-immersing-yourself-in-nature-canhelphealthandwellbeing/#:~:text=In%20a%20study%20of%2020%2C000,several%20visits%20%E2%80%94%20were%20substantially%20more
This study that proved that regularly immersing yourself in nature can help a human’s health and well-being.
Stone, R. C., & Meinke, H. (2006). “Weather, climate, and Farmers: An overview.” Meteorological Applications, 13(S1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1350482706002519
This journal discusses how weather and climate are impacting farmers and their decision marking when it comes to their crops and managing their farm.
Strich, D. (2013, April 5). “Reflective Sit Spots.” Green Teacher 95: Education for Planet Earth, 22–24. https://www.deceptionpassfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Reflective-Sit-Spots.pdf
This article explains how sit spots can be practiced in non-formal education settings and standard school settings. It shows how connecting with nature can increase scientific inquiry, personal growth and reflection among young children to young adults.
Walsh, J. E., Ballinger, T. J., Euskirchen, E. S., Hanna, E., Mård, J., Overland, J. E., Tangen, H., & Vihma, T. (2020). “Extreme weather and climate events in Northern Areas: A Review.” Earth-Science Reviews, 209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103324
This resource surveys work on various types of extreme events in northern high latitudes, addressing the evidence and changes occurring due to climate.
Weather Systems and patterns. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2011, February 1). https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/weather-atmosphere/weathersystemspatterns#:~:text=They%20can%20be%20indirectly%20observed,warm%20air%20replaces%20cold%20air
This resource describes how the local weather that impacts our daily lives results from large global patterns in the atmosphere caused by the interactions of solar radiation, Earth's large ocean, diverse landscapes, and motion in space.
Wilson, C. (2011, June). Effective Approaches to Connect Children With Nature. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/getting-involved/students-and-teachers/effective-approaches-to-connect-children-with-nature.pdf
This resource emphasizes the importance of children connecting with nature by developing conservation knowledge, values and skill to make a difference.