the early planning stages to the de- velopment of the habitats and outdoor explorations, this is a thorough guide. Activities progress from creating the habitat to introducing and observing organisms: worms and snails first, followed by fish and mosquito larvae. Included are materials lists (with sug- gested alternatives), sourcing informa- tion (U.S. only), detailed lesson plans, worksheets and cross-curricular con- necting activities. Aquatic Habitats is intended as a flexible teachers’ guide for grades 2–6, but would need to be simplified for younger students. – (JH)
Lawrence Hall of Science, 1998, ISBN 0-924886-01-3, 136 pp., US$23 from Lawrence Hall of Science/University of California at Berkeley, (510) 642-7771, .
A Child’s Garden Reminding us of the vital connection between children and the natural world, author Molly Dannenmaier describes how to create complex garden environments that nurture and excite kids. Natural play structures, digging sites and vegetable bowers that double as playhouses are among the many examples she
presents in A Child’s Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children. Successful gardens are featured throughout the book, and Dannenmaier identifies the elements within each that attract children, such as wild creatures, secret refuges, dirt and having room for movement. Lavishly illustrated with striking photographs, this book will undoubt- edly inspire parents, educators and gardeners to include special places for children in their gardens. – (JH)
Timber Press, 2008, ISBN 13-978-0- 88192-843-3, 176 pp., US$19.95 from Timber Press, (800) 327-5680, , C$26.95 from Thomas Allen & Son, (800) 387-4333.
Vermont Farm to School kit Changing to a healthier, more sustain- able food system at school just got easier. Vermont FEED has released three uniquely practical resources to guide the rest of us in doing what they do: connecting farms, schools and
communities. In A Guide for Using Local Foods in Schools, teachers, administrators and cafeteria staff will find ideas for incor- porating local foods into school lunches, case studies of suc- cesses and chal- lenges and tips for working with the farmers and gaining support from the com- munity. Student- friendly recipes are also included. A Guide for Con- necting Farms to Schools and Communities helps farmers think about using
their farms as learning environments. It offers suggestions for contacting schools, hosting class visits and inter- acting with students of different ages. A collection of thoughtful lesson plans is included to ensure that class visits are interactive and educational expe- riences. The 23-minute DVD titled Grow Up Fresh shares many stories about connecting farms to schools. We meet teachers who plant and harvest vegetables and develop recipes with their classes, and hold school-wide taste tests. We meet children who are excited about being involved in their food choices. We also gain insight into the benefits to farmers, the changes pos- sible in cafeterias and the possibility of producing healthy food that students will enjoy. – (JH)
Vermont FEED, 2007, 110-page guide books US$15 each, DVD US$10, from Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shel- burne, VT 05482, (802) 985-0333, . The two guides can also be downloaded free from .
The Story of Stuff Annie Leonard’s 20 minute Story of Stuff video has racked up over 7 million views on the internet since 2007. Its popularity is not surprising. Leonard offers a no-nonsense explana- tion of the complex supply chain of the everyday the stuff we buy, showing how everything ultimately comes from
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the earth. As our demand for stuff increases, we are quickly depleting the natural resources needed for the production of these goods, but we’re also undermining the prospects of a healthy life for all. Illustrated with animations that are both whimsical and scathing at the same time, this is a compelling, educational and thorough- ly watchable short film that would make a great addition to a unit on sustainability at the high school level. You can download the video for free or order a hard copy for $10, which includes free international shipping. The website also includes an annotated script citing sources for the statistics referenced in the film, as well as a comprehensive bibliography. – (JK)
Tides Foundation & Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consump- tion, no ISBN, 20-minute DVD, US$10 via check/money order addressed to “Tides Center – Story of Stuff” at: The Story of Stuff, 1442A Walnut Street, #272, Berkeley, CA 94709 USA, .
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting
with Nature Co-written by Jon Young, Ellen Haas and Evan McGown, Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature is a remarkable mentor’s manual and activity guide. In the first half, the authors provide mentoring strategies built on ancient practices that help expand young people’s awareness and foster a deeper relationship with the world around them. The focus is on meeting learners where they are, at the “edge of what they can person- ally appreciate and relate to in a memorable way.” These are places
where the learner may be physically uncomfortable, or lack information or experience. A variety of strategies is provided for mentors to coach learners to stretch their edges, creating new levels of comfort and building aware- ness and knowledge. In the second half of the book, the authors present dozens of activities and games that show how to bring this learning to life. For example, Sit Spots takes advantage of children’s natural interest in playing hide-and-seek by asking them to lie still in a leaf pile for a long period, trying not to be found. As they wait
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