When Learning Comes Naturally

Aired on public television, this fourth entry in the Learning Child Series (produced in association with the Child Development Institute at Sarah Lawrence College) focuses on the benefits of introducing kids to the natural world, examining educational efforts that turn the outdoors into a classroom. At Seth Boyden Elementary in Maplewood, NJ, students learn about slugs and worms, use math to map out a garden, and vividly explain their findings as part of the Strawberry Fields elective program. At the Beczak Environmental Center in Yonkers, youngsters catch and examine Atlantic silversides from the Hudson, while students from the Central Park East urban school in Harlem sketch park scenery and wildlife. At Louisboro Elementary in South Salem, NY, second graders find inspiration for writing poetry from walking a nature trail and fourth graders explore the subject of decomposition while looking at rotted logs. At the San Francisco School, younger kids play on a natural playground and recite a hand-clapping game showcasing Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, while eighth graders engage in a debate about global warming. When Learning Comes Naturally couples these vignettes with commentary from teachers, administrators, and students who praise the stimulation of creativity that comes from hands on, real-world applications of science, math, and language arts. Also included is a companion guide for parents and teachers. Other titles in the series include From Pictures to Words, When a Child Pretends, and Values Go to School. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, J, P. (J. Williams-Wood)