Realizing the Child's Perspective

Given the rate of environmental change in the U.S., it is important to understand how children think about and relate to, the environment. This book investigates young children's ideas of land use in the context of an environmental science class in Indiana, using interviews, drawings and photographs. It provides an introduction to learning theories, explains how children make sense of the world, and develops a mental model of children's relationship to the environment. These findings reinforce the need to apply the fundamental nature of children's ideas in environmental education as well as research in order to develop a land ethic and environmental literacy. The book is written for both researchers and practitioners in education. It is especially helpful for those interested in using visual methods to develop a deeper understanding of how schools and society shape children's ideas.