Customer Reviews

Earthways: Simple Environmental Activities for Young Children

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a homeschooling mother, I'm always looking for simple, easy learning activities that can benefit my children from preschool age to late elementary. Earthways is one of the best books I've seen on this topic. The activities are geared toward younger children (preschool/early elementary), but even my pre-teen enjoys the varied activities.

While this book is chock-full of ideas which any homeschooling family can use, or anyone who spends time with small children for that matter, I think its best fit is for the preschool teacher in a traditional classroom. I bought it after having quite a library of Waldorf books and didn't find it as useful, but after having read through it several times over, I can definitely see its niche -- and it does a tremendous job once you have it in the right slot. If you are already working with children and have decided to gradually transform your classroom into a Waldorf environment, this book is absolutely the one to buy. Combine it with A Child's Seasonal Treasury by Betty Jones and you'll have a Waldorf kindy classroom in a bottle. (Betty Jones includes lots of verses, rhymes, fingerplays, and other movement activities plus art and recipes but doesn't give much of a context for how they are done -- while this book covers mainly handwork projects but gives more help with making the transition. They complement each other perfectly.)

Carol Petrash, a warm and inspiring writer, takes you by the hand at the beginning of Autumn. With ideas for how to gradually transform your classroom environment, she introduces each season and has you start making changes -- first a little in Autumn, then more ideas for Winter, continuing on with new changes in Spring, and so on -- and shares her ideas for "Bringing Nature In" (self-explanatory) and "Supplying the Missing Links" (which focuses on re-establishing connections that children are missing with the natural world, such as how butter is made), both recurring categories throughout the book.

She also gives general craft ideas organized by season throughout the book (such as Wheat Weaving, Leaf Crowns, Lanterns, Star Windows, Finger Knitting, May Baskets, Shooting Star Streamer Balls, Walnut Boats, Paper Birds) but "Bringing Nature In" and "Supplying the Missing Links" are the real heart of the book -- and what makes it such a gem. Some examples are Creating a Seasonal Garden, From Wheat to Bread, Pumpkins, Indian Corn, Beeswax, Butter, Wool, Gardening with Children, Building Playhouses Outdoors, Berries, and Basket Weaving. For each, she gives several ideas so you really get to explore the topic. Instead of just one activity, it is more like a "weekly theme" on Berries, perfect for how a classroom teacher would use this book. She even includes a sample field trip slip.

If you're familiar with Waldorf there's not a lot here that will be new, but if you are just starting out, this books covers a lot of ground at a very reasonable pace -- and a reasonable price. Instead of tearing your hair out trying to replace all your children's toys at once and learning how to bake from scratch, etc., try this book and let it slowly help you find your way. Enjoy this year of change, and by the summer you'll be proudly observing the transformation in your home and in your lives and you will take much pleasure and pride in watching your children grow, learn, and flourish.

This is such a Wonderful Book! It has Easy and Fun ideas for crafts to do with children! Everything from making a small fairy garden with real grass, to Easter crafts, to interesting Harvest time crafts! We have had this book for a few weeks now, and have enjoyed making three of the projects so far! My seven year old daughter adores sitting and reading this book to get ideas for us to work on together next! We own several craft books...But this one is by far the easiest and most creative for children to use! I love the fact that everything is nature based! A must buy, for nature loving families!

I just recently got this book, and we love it is much. There are loads of great seasonal craft ideas. All of my kids love this and they range in age from 13 to 6 months. (Ok so the 6 month old doesn't do anything yet... but the other 4 do)
I would recommend this book to every family.

H

This is a must-have book for any parent and child who loves nature, or wants to include nature in their child's life. It is well written with realistic arts and crafts projects that will actually work--not frustrate your child. It also has a very deep Waldorf flair to it for any parents who are looking for ideas to do at home. LOVE this book!

This is a wonderful, lovely book with some very nice ideas in the Waldorf-tradition style. It is not, however, necessary to own it, especially as there are some books that are still in print that contain much of the same ideas. The Children's Year, by Stephanie Cooper et al, is one such book. But this book does have very lovely ideas and descriptions to go along with much of the content, she discusses many of the activities and crafts (and the "why" of those) more than any other book I've seen. So I'm glad I have it, but if you're on a budget or looking for something with more ideas, then I suggest looking at something else.

Nurture a sense of wonder and curiousity in your child by allowing them to discover nature. I have a 3 1/2 year old and this is the wonderful book to help her discover and explore her world. There are a wide range of natural, fun and simple activites that range from age 2 to age 5. The projects are easy to follow and are clearly illustrated and shown through each season.

Fall activities include: leaf crowns, leaf banners, nature's people, laterns, apple drying, baking apples, wheat to bread, harvesting pumpkins, making corn husk dolls and grating the cobs. Winter activites include: star windows, nutmeg grating, finger knitting, sewing gnomes and yarn dolls. Spring activities include: wing wands, streamers, pinwheels, kites, dish gardens, butterfly mobiles, flower crowns, pressed flower cards, making flower necklaces, butter making, wool preparations and gardening with children. Summer activites include: shooting star streamer balls, butterfly crowns, walnut boats, bark boats, parachute people, paper birds, bean tepee, berry picking, making berry cobbler and basket weaving.

In addition to seasonal activites, Earthways also includes: making children's cloth aprons, creating a seasonal garden or a nature table, recycling, discussion of toys from nature and creating a more natural outdoor play space. There is also a section of various gift and candle making activites.

Aside from being a great introduction to Waldorf, the book offers wonderful activites for the family to create, explore and discover together. Quality family time at it's best.

For parents wanting to learn more, the book has a tremendous resource section of suppliers, organizations and environmental books. There are resoures for teachers. I absolutely love the seasonal picture book resource section, it's 4 pages long!

Would you like to incorporate more natural, independent, or creative play? I encourage you and your family to grab a basket and go on a nature walk to collect nature objects. Collect some shells, rocks, pinecones, acorns, twigs, flowers, leaves, seed pods and display them on a low shelf or table in your house. See how your child's imagination and creativity take flight, as your child comes to the table to plays with these objects. I was amazed when my daughter stood up 3 pinecones to represent our family and began to play with them.

I have many books. Lots of them sit on the shelf and come out as needed. This is one that does not even go back on to the shelf. It sits at my computer with a couple of "must haves" and I refer to it several times a week. You will not be disappointed with this book!

I love that this book teaches how to do things yourself, from drying apples and churning butter to making your own simple toy ribbon wands and leaf crowns. Rather than having to rely on a store for something new, this book encourages teachers to instruct children on how to do it themselves. Many of the activities use natural materials that could be acquired during a short nature walk.

NB: Check this out at the library, but do not pay the exorbitant price ($100) for a used copy, especially since the author has a similar, reasonably price book in print called Earthwise.Earthwise: Environmental Crafts and Activities with Young Children

Such beautifully simple projects in this book. Designed for younger children (3-7-ish), this book is divided seasonally so if you follow a seasonal rhythm you will be sure to have some wonderful environmental activities for your children. Many of the ideas I enjoy myself like sewing gnomes, making butter, making suet for birds.....


Waldorf-oriented or not - I highly recommend this book!