The current crisis in geography education has spawned several new books on mapmaking, many of which advocate either recitation and drill or a conceptual top-down model that ignores children's interests. Mapmaking with Children presents an inspired alternative. Maintaining that there is no substitute for hands-on experience, David Sobel places the initial emphasis on local projects--projects that begin in students' own backyards and communities, projects that provide a sense of place. 
As Sobel explains, "In the beginning, children's maps represent their experiences of beauty, secrecy, adventure, and comfort. With these affective endeavors as a foundation, I then gradually start to focus on scale, location, direction, and geographic relationships. The development of emotional bonds and cognitive skills needs to go hand in hand in my approach to developmentally appropriate social studies and geography." To that end, his book identifies each stage of development, presenting relevant theoretical issues and several appropriate projects. 
In the beginning, students stay close to home, mapping their known world. Gradually, they move on to their neighborhood, developing a sense of place, scope, and perspective. Eventually, once students are older, they explore the nation, the world, even the solar system, creating raised relief maps and contour maps to develop visual literacy and spatial reasoning skills. Vivid illustrations of the students' work are provided throughout to let you observe each stage of development. 
Mapmaking, as Sobel uses it, has relevance across the curriculum. In addition to appealing to social studies teachers, this book will be of interest to science teachers, language arts teachers, and math teachers looking for new ways to invigorate the curriculum.

Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years

Education & Teaching

David Sobel

Schools & Teaching

Heinemann

Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities, With Index

Orion Society

This collection of 12 essays has been assembled out of a concern that many young people in America have little contact with the world of nature. The essays aspire to awaken in readers the wish to assist young people by guiding them to what lies outside their front door or in a local park or woodland, and that true nature experience will come to replace what is surely a powerful form of addiction, a dependency on text messages, e-mails and videos and a torrent of unreal, virtual images. A challenge stands squarely before us: How can we begin to address the malaise of indifference to nature so widespread among our young people?

Children & Nature: Making Connections

Richard Louv

Scott Russell Sanders

Kelly McMasters

Richard Lewis

Medicine Grizzlybear Lake

Lowell Monke

Stephanie Hanes

George K. Russell

Pattiann Rogers

James E. Higgins

Carolyn Jabs

The Myrin Institute

A valuable new kind of prescription for health and well being. It offers easy-to-understand practical advice on improving physical health and leading a happier, more productive life. This book not only explains the important benefits of a healthy mind and body in simple, understandable language, but gives you practical ways to improve how you feel today. From how to manage stress, moods, and illness to communicating effectively, this book offers guidance that can make a positive impact on your life now and in the future.

The Healthy Mind, Healthy Body Handbook

Robert Ornstein

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Ishk Book Service

The Healing Brain presents an easy to read, amusing, entertaining – yet highly authoritative account of how our brain "minds" our body – actively guarding and defending our health and well-being. Robert Ornstein, a neurologist, and David Sobel, a physician, highlight the themes most important to understand this fascinating science. They explain that, contrary to many of our assumptions about the main purpose of our brain – that it evolved primarily for "higher-thinking" – in fact, the brain works tirelessly to adapt to the changing world around us. This essential reference book helps us understand our brain as the original "health maintenance organization"– giving us the understanding we need to help our brain do what it does best – guarding our health, and helping us to heal.

The Healing Brain: Breakthrough Discoveries About How the Brain Keeps Us Healthy

Psychology & Counseling

Malor Books

Beyond Ecophobia speaks to teachers, parents, and others interested in nurturing in children the ability to understand and care deeply for nature from an early age. This expanded version of one of Orion's most popular articles includes descriptions of developmentally appropriate environmental education activities and a list of related children's books.

Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education (Nature Literacy Series, Vol. 1)

Teen & Young Adult

Nearly every environmental change-maker in history was shaped by a strong connection to the particular place or landscape he or she called home. But many children today are glued to screens or stuck prepping for another standardized exam, while nature education and unstructured time outdoors have fallen by the wayside. If children are not given opportunities to connect with the natural world, who will be the stewards of the future? The authors featured in this collection are part of a movement that proposes a radical reconnection of children and nature through education. By nurturing this connection, they argue, we build a society of better citizens-citizens empowered to fight for the places and communities they have come to love.

Leave No Child Inside (English and Italian Edition)

Brenda Peterson

Anne Valley-Fox

John Elder

Robert Michael Pyle

Erik Reece

Belle Boggs

Elise Rymer

Stephen Talbott

The Orion Society

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Books by David Sobel