teach the hope

In the last two decades or so, the number of instructional hours spent on environmental education has increased significantly.

All but four states have at least drafted environmental literacy plans that integrate environmental education into the curriculum with both classroom- and community-based lessons. These plans seek to transform children into environmentally literate members of society who coexist with nature in a sustainable, fair, and just way that allows us to meet our present and future needs. (NCSE, 2020)

But…

At the same time, climate-related wildfires, floods, droughts, melting ice, pestilence, ocean acidification — and politics — have put a spotlight on our climate crisis like never before. The overwhelming nature of these problems can leave children — and adults — feeling hopeless.

So, I coined the phrase Teach the Hope to offer educators and parents a way forward that inspires action, not anxiety.

According to a study about the psychological factors that foster hope concerning climate change, “Knowledge alone is not sufficient to promote positive attitude, efficacy, and enviroinmental engagement” (Environmental Educatation Research, 2017). We must feel effective to feel hopeful.

Effectiveness is the key. Therefore, the main goal of Teach the Hope is to increase a child’s feelings of effectiveness. They must see that their efforts can and do make a difference.

To accomplish this goal, I’ve identified three components of the Teach the Hope model:

#1 – Instill gratitude for nature

#2 – Celebrate our connections to nature

#3 – Read narrative nonfiction books featuring effective civic role models

A growing body of research tells us that we feel better when we’re outdoors. Connections to nature improve our physical and psychological health and define our cultural identities.

By developing a sense of gratitude for nature, we cultivate an apppreciation for the functions nature performs for us. Nothing in nature lives for itself. The survival of one species depends on the survival of all species within an ecosystem. Isn’t that an ideal goal for us too?

I have spent the last decade+ visiting classrooms across the U.S. sharing my passion for nature. During those visits students have shared their projects with me about the ocean and endangered species. I’ve toured school gardens, school-wide composting programs, and lunchroom audits for single-use plastic. These projects warm my heart, but I often wonder if they understand why nature is so important to them personally.

(For more on gratitude, read “What Does Gratitude Have To Do With the Environment?” in PLOS SciComm)

One study out of UC Berkeley defines gratitude as “recognizing that one has obtained a positive outcome and recognizing that there is an external source for this positive outcome” (Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, 2018).

With that definition in mind…

Understanding our connection to oxygen-making phytoplankton inspires gratitude for the air we breathe. Tracing the source of the seafood on our dinner plates encourages us to feel grateful for the many ocean habitats involved in feeding the world. A sip of cold water from a mountain stream connects us to the life-giving gifts the water cycle showers upon us.

Gratitude in conjunction with connection is an antidote to hopelessness and the key to empowerment.

Teach the Hope focuses on the successful environmental stories in our world that the headlines don’t share.

We humans thrive on story. When I choose a topic for a new book, I look for people who are sharing gratitude for and connection to nature. The people in my books and other narrative nonfiction stories are the hope because they are working in the field in meaningful and effective ways.

Using these or similar books, we can still teach ecological concepts such as ocean acidification, marine debris, endagered species, overfishing, and habitat loss, but we do so in the context of scientists and laypeople protecting our planet. This approach helps children assimilate the science and see effective solutions playing out in the real world.

These civic role models help students see beyond the gloomy headlines. There is good happening in our world. It’s about time we recognized it.

Teach the Hope is a collaboration between authors like me who write about environmental heroes, parents, educators, and children. And it begins with a book.

Start by sharing my titles with your students/children. You can find a title list here. Each of my titles also includes a free downloadable educator guide with hands-on activities that emphasize gratitude, connection, and civic role models.

You can find other hopeful titles on the Blueberry Award lists curated by founder Martha Meyer and her committee.

I am also compiling a list of titles that Teach the Hope which you can access here. If you find a new title to add to the list, please email me with the title and author.

Please share your experiences with me. I love to share them at conferences.