A growing number of educators emphasize the need to foster learning that prepares youth for the ecological challenges facing our planet. While social and emotional intelligence extend students' abilities to see from another's perspective, empathize, and show concern, "ecoliteracy" applies these abilities to an understanding of natural systems and an empathy for all of life. This thoughtful article presents five practices developed by the Center for Ecoliteracy that "plant the seeds for a positive relationship with the natural world that can sustain a young person's interest and involvement for a lifetime."
