Sharing Nature with Children » (ANNIVERSARY)

Kas Joseph Cornell's classic book reached its 20th anniversary, Cornell drew upon a wealth of experience in nature education to significantly revise and expand his book. New nature games - favorites from the field - and Cornell's typically insightful commentary makes the second edition of this special classic even more valuable to nature lovers world-wide. The Sharing Nature movement that Cornell pioneered has now expanded to countries all over the globe. Recommended by Boy Scouts of America, American Camping Association, National Audubon Society and many others.

Author Biography: Cornell is one of the most highly regarded nature educators in the world today. Being with him in nature is a memorable event because of his obvious joy being in nature and his love for the Earth. In the late 1970s, Cornell's book introduced ``nature games" in which nature is the teacher games that inform, inspire, and are just plain fun. Almost two decades later, with about 500,000 copies of Sharing Nature with Children sold in 15 languages, and many thousands of his other books, ``Sharing Nature" has become not just a book, but a worldwide approach to nature education. Cornell says, ``I wrote my first book, Sharing Nature with Children because I passionately wanted others to know about these wonderful games, and this exciting way of teaching. Since the book's publication, it's been a joy to see thousands of people embrace its activities and philosophy with enthusiasm equal to mine." Why such universal appeal? ``I believe it's because in addition to teaching ecology creatively," Cornell says, ``these games help people experience a profound sense of joy, serenity, and belonging to the natural world. Nature activities help people to tune into something very deep inside themselves. The games provide a wonderful glimpse into another way of being."

Today s Librarian

Imagine a book full of activities where kids can have fun and learn about nature at the same time. A classic when it was released 20 years ago, the book returns in a newly revised edition, courtesy of renowned naturalist Joseph Cornell. The book lists a collection of games (including eight not found in the original edition, that involve an interaction between children and the natural environment surrounding them. For example, the game "Find Your Age" challenges children to investigate different trees in a forest until they have located one that is their age. The games in the book involve groups of children, require few props and are an effective tool for creating a greater awareness and enthusiasm for the beauty of nature.

. . . Sharing Nature With Children is not just another book of facts, but is grounded in philosophy as well as information, which shares equal status with attitudes. Love of nature and sensitivity to the natural world are major forces motivating both nature study and conservation, and these attitudes can be developed in an authentic and lasting way by personal experience close at home, more than by watching videos about whales or the tropical rain forest. This low-tech activity-based approach has major implications for science teaching at all levels, standing in complete contrast to many current educational trends, which call for science activities to be highly structured, dependent on technology, and driven by objectives. Cornell's activities are responsive to what is actually happening in nature, rather than pushing for a desired outcome. Like nature itself, these activities always "work". There are no simulations here; the results are real, not planned in advance by another person. The children study the natural world on its own terms, just as scientists do. The guided observation approach can be especially beneficial for students who are so accustomed to "interactive" computer activities, that they have no desire to focus their attention on "unresponsive" nature. It would be a worthwhile challenge for science teachers to choose a similar orientation and develop activities like these using real materials for school science courses. (Science Books & Films - Catherine Reed, University of Minnesota)

Author Biography: Cornell is one of the most highly regarded nature educators in the world today. Being with him in nature is a memorable event because of his obvious joy being innature and his love for the Earth. In the late 1970s, Cornell's book introduced ``nature games" in which nature is the teacher games that inform, inspire, and are just plain fun. Almost two decades later, with about 500,000 copies of Sharing Nature with Children sold in 15 languages, and many thousands of his other books, ``Sharing Nature" has become not just a book, but a worldwide approach to nature education.Cornell says, ``I wrote my first book, Sharing Nature with Children because I passionately wanted others to know about these wonderful games, and this exciting way of teaching. Since the book's publication, it's been a joy to see thousands of people embrace its activities and philosophy with enthusiasm equal to mine."Why such universal appeal? ``I believe it's because in addition to teaching ecology creatively," Cornell says, ``these games help people experience a profound sense of joy, serenity, and belonging to the natural world. Nature activities help people to tune into something very deep inside themselves. The games provide a wonderful glimpse into another way of being."