illustrated with photographs, the book shows some of the most innovative entries in the competition — dollhouses that incorporate renewable building materials such as bamboo and cork, eco-features such as green roofs and graywater harvesting, and furnishings made from found objects. There are many “Fun Facts” about green build- ing, and the final three chapters give ideas and instructions for creating and furnishing your own green dollhouse. A creative teacher could useGreen Doll- house in an interdisciplinary thematic unit on home design in Grades 6–12 that combines art, science and technol- ogy. The resource is a bit pricey, but still a valuable reference. – (JK)
Ecotone Publishing, 2005, ISBN 0- 9749033-3-7, 70 pp., US$19.95 plus $5 s&h from Ecotone, PO Box 7147, Kan- sas City, MO 64113, (250) 274-4444, <
www.ecotonedesign.com>.
Cultural Uses
of Plants Subtitled “A Guide to Learn- ing About Ethnobotany,” the inspired sci- ence curriculum Cultural Uses
of Plants by Gabriell DeBear Paye weaves natural and cultural history into nine inquiry-based units for middle and high school grades. The units provide background information on plant science and the various ways in which human societies make use
of plants, followed by laboratory and other activities that combine biology, chemistry, anthropology, medicine and economics to bring this cultural history to life. Students learn how to propagate and preserve plants for study purposes; determine the useful- ness of plants as sources of paper, dye, feedstock, fragrance and construction materials; and test their antibacterial, antifungal, cytoxic, nutritional and medicinal properties. Additional units on experiment design and plant ecolo- gy round out the curriculum, while the back of the book contains an extensive glossary and profiles of 54 useful and interesting plants from around the world. In DeBear Paye’s experience, ethnobotany is “an excellent way to encourage students of diverse ethnic backgrounds to get excited about sci- ence,” and this excellent curriculum provides teachers with a means of doing just that. – (BB/GL)
Botanical Garden Press, ISBN 0-89327- 422-4, 2000, 222 pp., US$18.50 from New York Botanical Garden Press, 200th Street and Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458- 5126, (718) 817-8721, <
www.nybg.org>.
Self Design SelfDesign: Nurturing Genius through Natural Learning is a valuable re- source for homeschoolers and other educators interested in exploring stu- dent-individualized practice. Based on successful strategies developed over the years at their Wondertree Founda- tion for Natural Learning, authors Brett Cameron and Barbara Meyer
present a teach- ing model that can “assist learners in sup- porting their unique designs for learning and living.” For them, education is self-author- ship, or “Self-
Design,” a guided attention to one’s natural genius. It is a methodology and philosophy that focuses not on content but on the process of acquiring knowl- edge and the mental and emotional states that influence learning. The chapters of the book follow a spiraled format, first exploring the concepts of “authentic self” and natural, holis- tic learning, then circling through SelfDesign strategies, mentoring and learning communities. Each chapter intertwines education research and theory with thought-provoking and en- gaging stories of the authors’ personal experience with learners. – (NM/TG)
Sentient Publications, 2006, ISBN 1- 59181-044-2, 212 pp., US$16.95/C$21.95 from Sentient Publications, (866) 588- 9846, <
www.sentientpublications.com>.
Educating Citizens for Global
Awareness In Educating Citizens for Global Awareness, Nel Noddings is joined by eight other authors in asking and answering important questions such as: What is global citizenship, and is the love of place compatible with it?
Three Tall Trees by David Weale,
illustrated by Dale McNevin In rich, expressive rhyme, Enigma the crow recounts the tale of three tall trees that share one root system. Although they “fight and feud and squabble all day,” there is no getting away from the fact
that they are really parts of the same tree. Their quarrel- some ways disturb the entire forest until the trees learn about brotherhood and connectedness. McNevin’s playful watercolor illustrations and expressive characters give this book a folktale-like appearance. Ages 3–8. – (JH)
Acorn Press, 2004, ISBN 1-894838-13-0, 22 pp., US$6.95/ C$7.95 from University of Toronto Press, (800) 565-9523, <
utpress.utoronto.ca>.
Rachel Carson Winner of Learning’s 2005 Teachers’ Choice Award for Children’s Books, Rachel Carson: Preserving a Sense of Wonder is a picture book that captures Carson’s love of nature and her contribution
to the environmental movement. Poetically written by Joseph Bruchac and stunningly illustrated with paintings by Thomas Locker, this book will inspire readers to think about their own relationship with nature. It would be a perfect book for classes to read together in an environ- mental or science unit in Grades 3 to 5. – (KG)
Fulcrum Publishing, 2004, ISBN 978-1- 55591-482-9 (hc), 31 pp., US$17.95, Teacher’s Guide, ISBN 978-1-55591-525-4 (hc), 22 pp., $9.95, from Fulcrum Publishing, (800) 992-2908. <
www.fulcrum-books.com>.
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