Katharine Burke was asked by a student, “Miss, do you think we are going extinct?” She recognized a growing malaise in response to the climate crisis and asked herself, “How do we teachers help these capable, yet vulnerable young people develop the ecological literacy and personal resilience they need?” She provoked her students to think and act ecologically. She then invited other teachers to participate in action research for developing nature connectedness with their students. Earthwards shares these transformative stories, concepts and methods of connecting with nature for life.
Earthwards shifts the lens from using nature as a throwaway object to understanding nature as a living organism. This crucial paradigm shift comes through peak experiences of nature. The educator’s job is both to create the conditions for such transformative ecological experiences and then to bring out the observations, feelings, thoughts and questions of students. Educators can use innovative action research to engage with students in a variety of settings - including classrooms, clubs, volunteer groups, outdoors, gardens, forest experiences, camping and hiking. Sharing these learning stories helps build the culture of a real eco-school.
Each chapter includes the story of practical learning projects from primary through secondary school; ecological principles, a reflection section for educators, a ‘curriculum connections’ section to bring those principles into practice, and suggestions for multiple age groups. Helpful resources, a comprehensive bibliography, index and sharing website offer further help to educators.
Katharine Burke is an educator, teacher trainer, workshop leader, primary, secondary and college level teacher who holds a MEd in Nature, Ecology and Sustainability. She is a Regenerative Design Practitioner and a Permaculture farmer. She teaches Nature Connectedness sessions for Rudolf Steiner University College, Oslo, and guest lectured on the Environmental Humanities course. She founded the Small Earth Institute in 2017 for school ecological awareness and action, offering workshops for teachers and for the sustainable development of schools. She is newly retired from Skagerak Primary and Middle School, Sandefjord Norway, where she taught for 21 years. She hosts the website EARTHWARDS: https://earthwards.mn.co
Addresses the dread and anxiety of students facing the climate crisis by offering practical hope.
Useful and inspiring ecological learning resource for teachers
How to deepen students’ profound experience of nature e.g. with sit spots, observation, reflection, survival challenges, gardening, and outdoor experiences.
Practical examples from classes 1 to 12, starting with burning questions about how to develop ecological awareness.
Informs students’ analytical skills with systems thinking through units on cycles, paradigm shifts in viewing nature, embodiment exercises, imagination, and exploring deep time.
Useful theory, principles, resources and action research methods
Access to a global interactive, resource sharing website being built by a community of Earthwards educators.
