Publications school children
Theoretical framework
The theoretical framework describes the Dreaming and Doing competencies to connect with nature for children aged 5-12.
Manual
With this manual reach out to all teachers and pedagogues who want to use ‘nature as a teacher’ to enrich the quality and impact of education programmes for primary school pupils. This manual gives special attention to and guidance for incorporating nature in the formal school setting. It is available in English and also in Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Practice brief
This practice brief gives a summary of the content of the theoretical framework and the manual for teachers and nature educators who work with school children. It is available in English (concept version, see left pane) and will soon also be available in Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.
NQ test
This test document will help you to gain insight into the nature intelligence profiles of children in your class or group. It consists of two tests with each 18 statements for young children aged 5-8 and older aged 8-12. The test for young children needs to be filled in by an adult (teacher, educator, parent) who knows the child well. Older children can fill in the test themselves. The tests are available in English, Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.
Nature pedagogical training course
This report presents a Nature Pedagogical Training Course for school teachers. The four-day training included hands-on, outdoor learning experiences for school teachers from Italy and Portugal. Teachers explored how to foster children’s Nature Intelligence through sensory games, nature rituals, storytelling, and creative activities. The training combined theory with direct experience and was hosted by Struin in the Netherlands and co-developed by German partner Gröninga. Evaluation results showed that the training inspired confidence and provided practical tools for applying nature pedagogy in diverse school contexts. Available in English only.
Collaborative action reseach
This report documents the testing phase of the Nature Intelligence approach in schools across Germany, Italy, and Portugal. Using a Collaborative Action Research method, teachers co-developed and tested nature-based learning activities tailored to their own school settings. The activities focused on fostering children’s emotional and embodied connection to nature, following the Dreaming and Doing model. The report includes a detailed implementation guide and practical templates for schools. Results showed increased student engagement, wellbeing, and creativity, as well as strong professional learning among teachers. Available in English only.