Grounded in research, this book offers a collection of stories, activities, and teaching techniques to empower children and teens to effectively handle bullying and conflicts, as well as avoid drug use and low self-esteem. Research clearly shows that our schools are often unhealthy social environments: 80 percent of middle school students report seeing arguments or fights every day at school. Almost three out of four (70 percent) of surveyed girls ages 8-17 report symptoms of low self-esteem. Even worse, most of these girls reported falling into patterns of dysfunctional behavior, such as bullying, disordered eating, or smoking or drinking when feeling badly. In this book, author Kevin Strauss has carefully laid out background information, traditional stories, and skill-building activities that will enable teachers to help their students master bullying and drug prevention, self-control, and conflict resolution, as well as establish healthy self-esteem and optimism. The "Story/Activity/Discussion" approach of this text makes the serious task of learning and practicing critical life skills fun for both teachers and students. This story-based approach also increases retention of building-block skills, especially for younger students. Includes over 80 traditional and adapted folk tales and stories from around the world Four annotated bibliographies that include fiction and nonfiction books on topics like bully prevention, drug abuse prevention, conflict resolution, and self-esteem Glossary listings are provided with stories containing unfamiliar words and difficult pronunciations

More than 60 multicultural tales from around the world combine with dozens of learning activities to help you convey key scientific concepts, such as adaptations, habitat, biodiversity, and interdependence, and to instill such values as conservation, cooperation, sustainability, and empathy, encouraging children to become responsible stewards of the earth. Thorough storytelling instructions are included, as are guidelines for teaching ecological concepts. The book presents more than 60 ready-to-tell stories about wolves, foxes, squirrels, birds, insects, the wind, and more; plus dozens of extension activities to use with the stories, or as part of educational programs focused on plants, animals, and the environment. Thorough instructions for the novice storyteller are included, as are background on and guidelines for teaching ecological concepts. You'll even learn how to create your own stories using environmental concepts, values, proverbs, and quotes. In addition, the book includes an extensive bibliography of stories to use in teaching about the natural world. Whether used in environmental programs in the library or in after-school programs; to enhance science units; in nature centers, zoos, or camps; or as a storyteller's resource for Arbor Day and Earth day celebrations; this is a valuable guide for librarians, teachers, storytellers, and other educators. Activities are coded for grade levels, with an emphasis on elementary and middle school; but most are adaptable to other levels.