Naturalistic Learners

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him. Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV)

              Jeremy lived close to the river. Every evening, he and his father walked along the water’s edge identifying insects, plants, reptiles, and animals. When he arrived in my class each morning, there was always a story of some magical adventure from the night before. His third-grade face lit up when he talked about different plant species using correct scientific vernacular or identified trees that I didn’t know we had in our area.

              The excitement passed from this father to son became even more amazing when I learned that his father couldn’t read. And neither could Jeremy. Both had a processing disorder that made decoding letters nearly impossible. When this reality hit me, I didn’t know whether to beam with amazement or cry in disbelief. Both Jeremy and his dad had amazing brains and an understanding of the world around them unlike anyone I had ever met. But they could not read about it.

To me, this painted a perfect picture of the Naturalistic Intelligence. Jeremy’s dad didn’t allow reading to remain an obstacle for learning in his life or the life of his son. His love for outdoors, science, and God’s creation won over his feelings of defeat in the academic setting. For the rest of the year, I tested Jeremy audibly and his grades, especially in science, soared. He excelled in hands-on projects and often educated the class on new creatures he and his dad found by the river. The kid was a genius—but I had to find a new stick to measure with.

Our classrooms are filled with Jeremys. Maybe not to the extent of his situation, but there are some kids who thrive in nature. They spin in the wind and catch leaves as they fall. The sounds of outside are automatically paired with their owners and creatures create calm instead of fear.

These kids need to be outside; it’s not just a want. Their bodies come alive with the tickle of a fresh breeze, and their souls are invigorated by the random designs in the sky. Classroom walls feel like literal prison cells and often cause these students to shut down.

So how do we reach these students? Open the windows and let in the sounds of nature. Take the long way back to class through the outside courtyard. Transfer an activity to the picnic tables outside on occasion. Make science come alive through documentaries, virtual reality, and hands-on activities involving items from our natural world. Remember, these are our future park rangers, biologists, farmers, botanists, conservationists, and veterinarians. But they could also be agricultural missionaries, geologists, and community garden tenders.

Are you fostering a classroom environment where this Intelligence will prosper?

Do the Heart Work

1.      In what ways do you include nature in your classroom?

2.      Which of your students would benefit from including more outside activities?

3.      Has nature every impacted your learning? In what ways?

Digging Deeper

              The Psalms are filled with writing about God’s hand in nature. Romans 1:20 (ESV) states, For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. Creation itself is proof of the existence and majesty of God. Read Psalm 8 (ESV), then think about and tell God thanks for your favorite parts of creation that make you smile.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of our fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

If You Get Spare Time 

              Sit outside with a notebook and pen. Look around and soak in the scenery. Think about God’s creation and write your own Psalm to God. Here are a few questions and sentence starters you can use to formulate your verses.

1.      What attribute of God are you aware of right now?

2.      Describe a scene you are witnessing.

3.      List your favorite parts of God’s creation.

4.      What truths about God come to mind in nature?

5.      List 5 creations of God you are most thankful for and tell why.

6. Tell God what you are especially grateful for.