The Development of a Resource Guide that will Integrate Children's Literature with the Minnesota Department of Education's Environmental Education Learner Outcomes into a Whole Language Curriculum

Abstract

If environmental education is going to become a valued part of an already overcrowded curriculum, methods of integration are imperative. The Natural World and the Natural Word, A Resource Guide of Children's Literature and Environmental Education Activities was developed to promote the integration of environmental education into an existing language arts curriculum. There are a multitude of children's tradebooks on the market as well as curriculum resource guides available to educators. This study critically reviewed and evaluated trade books and environmental education curriculum sources to develop this Resource Guide. The Resource Guide identified five themes based on the State of Minnesota's Goals for Environmental Education. For each theme a list of the following is provided: reviewed children's literature, recommended children's literature, literature response activities and environmental education activities. Referenced books were put into alphabetical order by author and title. Resource books were divided into whole language curriculum sources and environmental education curriculum sources and were alphabetized by author. Several workshops were presented to introduce literature, show examples of students work, participate in an activity and to receive an overview of the Resource Guide. Survey results from workshops showed high interest in using children's literature to teach environmental education concepts and that the Resource Guide was potentially a valuable reference.