Nature Smart: Paying Attention
Howard Gardener, a professor of education at Harvard University, developed his influential theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. That was just about the time I became interested in being an educator. Gardener argued that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, was far too limited; instead, he proposed seven types of intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in both children and adults. These included: linguistics (word smart), logical and mathematical (number/reasoning smart), special (picture smart), bodily-kinesthetic (body smart), music, interpersonal (people smart), and intrapersonal (self-smart).
Twelve years later, Gardener added an eighth intelligence: naturalist or nature smart. Charles Darwin, John Muir and Rachel Carson, (who happened to be the inspiration for a recent paper I wrote) are examples of this type.
“The core of the naturalist intelligence is the human ability to recognize plants, animals, and other parts of the natural environment, like clouds or rocks. All of us can do this; some kids (experts on dinosaurs) and many adults (hunters, botanists, anatomists) excel at this pursuit. While the ability to doubtless evolved to deal with natural kinds of elements, I believe that it has been hijacked to deal with the world of man-made objects. We are good at distinguishing among cars, sneakers, jewelry, for example, because our ancestors needed to be able to recognize carnivorous animals, poisonous snakes and flavorful mushrooms.” HG
“If a child is to keep alive his or her inborn sense of wonder … they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with them the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”
—Rachel Carson
Get excited about the great outdoors. We have an abundance of nature right here in our backyard. Stroll the park and smell the roses. Hike the Headlands and listen for the re-winged blackbirds or look for a bobcat. An early morning stroll in the Presidio might surprise you with a coyote or an owl! Keep a journal, but more important, keep your eyes peeled. You have more nature intelligence than you know!
Fabulous Five:
*World of Mushrooms, by Pauline Payen, helps create an understanding of fungi and their unique habitats and the important roles they play in nature.
*The Hike is a sketchbook story documented by three sisters: Wren, El, and Hattie. Alison Farrell has a way of making their world come alive through a very believable adventure into the woods. There are conversation bubbles, labels and lots of references to birds, plants and all things nature.
*Wings, Waves and Webs – Pattern in Nature. Did you know a that a snake meanders much like a river and that branching patterns repeat the same or similar shapes repeatedly in different sizes, much as in a bolt of lightning and ice crystals? Read more fun facts from Robin Mitchell Cranfield and take in her award-winning designs.
*A Seed Grows, a book for younger readers, whimsically tells the story of the life cycle of a sunflower through some pages of alliteration and rhyme and a stream of words that go on, avoiding punctuation until the very end, when the cycle begins again. This book has received two distinguished honors.
*Noticing by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. An artist enlightens a young observer, encouraging her to look deeply at the outside world but reminds her to also be observant of feelings and the shift that beauty and nature can have on oneself.
FOR THE GROWN-UPS – Last Child in the Woods. Saving our children from Nature – Deficit Disorder. By Richard Louv
Summer Camp!
There is one more spot for the small group “brush up” the week before school begins. Please email me or call for more details.
