Recommended Reading

Discovering the Naturalist Intelligence: Science in the Schoolyard
by Jenna Glock, Maggie Meyer, and Susan Wertz
Zephyr Press, January 1999
ISBN: 1569760896

Hooray, hooray for Jenna Glock's, Maggie Meyer's and Susan Wertz's new book, Discovering the Naturalist Intelligence: Developing Science Skills Through Adventures in the Schoolyard ! It is a treasure trove of ideas for any elementary teacher wanting to expand his/her science and environmental education program and include Dr. Howard Gardner's eighth intelligence: the naturalist. The authors of this book make this intelligence easily accessible to the classroom teacher and creates yet another opportunity for students to grow and develop essential science process skills. The authors have included a well defined checklist for identifying the characteristics inherent to a well developed naturalist intelligence, as well as a comprehensive list of learning and teaching strategies designed to encourage the development of this eighth intelligence.

This delightful and easy to use book encourages teachers to take a more in-depth approach to science while using the outdoors for a learning environment. Each lesson/activity is based on a process skill and are linked to the National Science Standards. The book is divided into five chapters which focus on a separate process skill. These include: Observation, Data Collection, Prediction, Analysis and Communication.

One of the unique aspects of this book is its emphasis on using the outdoors for the learning environment. The authors firmly believe that you increase awareness about the environment when learners develop an appreciation for the outdoors. It is obvious that this happens in the context of nature. Discovering the Naturalist Intelligence provides excellent tips for taking your class outdoors, from behavior and environmental ethics to safety issues.

Each chapter provides a variety of hands on activities to build and strengthen each of the identified process skills. All activities have a field component, many of which can occur on school grounds. The activities are well organized and thorough. The handouts are highly relevant and can be used as an evaluation tool. Perhaps the organization and format of each activity is what makes this book so relevant to the classroom teacher. Each activity follows the same format:

Process Skills:	Identified
Purpose:	Clear and concise
National Science Standards:	Identified
Grade Level:	Identified
Duration:	Specified
Materials:	Clearly stated
Multiple Intelligence:	Most activities address four or more intelligences.
Literature Entry Point:	Relevant literature is specified for each activity with an annotation.
Background:	Relevant information for the concept being taught is provided.
Before you leave the classroom:	Information to prepare students before engaging in the outdoor experience is provided - includes review, relevant information and a set to engage learners.
In the field:	Clear instruction for what the students are to do in the field.
Return to the classroom:	An activity for students to conduct when they return to the classroom to make sense of the experience and further extend their understanding.
Curriculum Extensions:	Excellent ideas for integrating across a variety of content areas and as well as transferring learning.
Checking for Understanding:	Concrete activities for students to demonstrate their learning and understanding.
Reflection Prompts:	Questions to help students reflect and integrate their learning.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to embellish, augment and enhance their approach to science and environmental education. Bravo!!

 

Reviewed by Micki McKisson Evans

---

Copyright © October 1998 New Horizons for Learning, all rights reserved.
http://www.newhorizons.org
E-mail: info@newhorizons.org

For permission to redistribute, please go to:
New Horizons for Learning Copyright and Permission Information