The child’s excitement for the new and unknown and for the process of discovery is a gift to be nurtured - a gift that will sustain humanity and the health of the planet on which it depends.


Stories of the Earth

Fragile – Handle with Care by Ronn Akins

Stories of the Earth

is a collection of language-based, illustrative learning activities built on the child’s inherent fascination with living things. Research supports strengthening the child’s connection to nature with daily interaction and exploration outdoors; and bringing nature indoors through an everyday, integrated curriculum that supports and extends the young learner’s interests and discoveries. The Stories of the Earth collection is an integration of natural science and language concepts. Each activity notes read alouds that enhance the child’s wonder-filled connection to the natural world, and spark dialogue between adult and child.

Our literature base – The human brain loves story. Using works of fiction and creative non-fiction as classroom read alouds engages the child’s interests, bringing information and knowledge to life for young learners. To that end, at least one work of fiction or creative non-fiction is suggested for each of the Stories of the Earth activities.

Read-aloud suggestions
  • Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
  • Sunflower House by Eve Bunting
  • Under Ground by Denise Fleming
  • The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi
  • The Beeman by Laurie Krebs
    Available from Barefoot Books
  • Raven and River by Nancy White Carlstrom
  • On Meadowview Street by Henry Cole
  • In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
  • Swimmy by Leo Lionni
  • Wave by Suzy Lee
  • Redwoods by Jason Chin
  • The Sea, the Storm and the Mangrove Tangle by Lynne Cherry
  • Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
  • Water is Water by Miranda Paul
  • Coral Reefs by Sylvia A. Earle