Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom [Paperback]

Jeff Danelian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2009

With science becoming more and more tied to math instruction, students can be left thinking of science only in terms of formulas, vocabulary words, and lab reports. Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom offers teachers a guidebook for teaching naturalism in the science classroom, allowing their students to discover the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

In this lively, practical book, teachers will learn how to help their students become naturalists. Through units involving in-depth study, research, fieldwork, and discussion, students will be challenged to think creatively, solve problems, and present their work to a real audience. Several lessons tie in with language arts and social studies subject areas, making them ideal for multicurricular connections. Written by a teacher who has refined this curriculum over several years, Enriching the Young Naturalist will bring exploration and discovery back into your science classroom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The book chronicles the growth of a child from enjoying the wonders of nature to employing the rich observational skills of a researcher and intuitive expression of an artist. Danielian has a unique ability to maintain a dynamic among the rigors of academic performance, artistic expression, and connection with nature.

With the recent addition of environmental literacy to the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Enriching the Young Naturalist provides a timely reference to ensure that students not only understand their world as naturalists, but have the ability to use these skills to sustain their corner of the planet as well. --Susan Duncan, interpretive naturalist, science teacher, and doctoral student at Portland (Oregon) State University


A young interest in nature is something to be nurtured. Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom is a guide for science teachers and other educators who want to help young would-be scientists with their interest in the natural world. With simple tips and advice, and plenty of activities, author Jeff Danielian doesn't fall short in giving everything one needs to know to teach youngsters about nature. Enriching the Young Naturalist is a top pick for educational collections. --James A Cox, Midwest Book Review - August 14, 2009

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press, Inc. (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593633777
• ISBN-13: 978-1593633776
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,472,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A top pick for educational collections, August 14, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom (Paperback)

A young interest in nature is something to be nurtured. "Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom" is a guide for science teachers and other educators who want to help young would-be scientists with their interest in the natural world. With simple tips and advice, and plenty of activities, author Jeff Danielian doesn't fall short in giving everything one needs to know to teach youngsters about nature. "Enriching the Young Naturalist" is a top pick for educational collections.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for use with kids of all ages, May 23, 2009

By 

Lorel Shea (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Enriching the Young Naturalist: The Nature of a Science Classroom (Paperback)

Enriching the Young Naturalist - The Nature of a Science Classroom is an excellent resource for both homeschooling parents and classroom teachers. It is a step by step guide intended to assist kids of all ages in becoming young naturalists. Lessons can quite easily be used for kindergarten up through high school students. Not many guides can cover such a broad age range, but five year olds and fifteen year olds alike can appreciate a trip to observe tidal pool life or a birding expedition. All lessons are aimed at teaching children to observe and document the natural world through fieldwork. The author, Jeff Danielian, suggests that the students utilize real field journals used by professionals, and includes information on how to purchase them. Kids will be encouraged to choose a specialty such as botany, zoology, entomology, ornithology, or geology, and to become "experts in their field" through careful research and discovery. Information is well presented and easy to follow, with book recommendations, charts, and reprintable worksheets for the instructor's use.

This book contains ten chapters and just over 120 pages. It is not terribly long, but every page has valuable advice on how to keep young people engaged and excited about their investigations. They can act as professional scientists, conduct research, take part in focus based seminars, and produce naturalist art in the form of poetry, essays, and visual arts such as paintings and sculptures. Tools required are the same used by professionals- binoculars, magnifying glasses, sketchbooks, journals, cameras, etc. Nothing needs to be terribly expensive. City kids can get in on the nature observation without traveling by visiting a natural history museum, aquarium, or zoo. Museum collections can be quite extensive and augment what a child has learned through outdoor fieldwork.

I am really thrilled with this book, and recommend it highly! It's quite easy to see how anyone from an average student to a highly gifted one could enjoy and be enriched by this program.