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Children, place and sustainability

Max is a teacher who is passionate about the conservation of the Morwell River wetlands in Australia. Through initiatives such as a Community Frog Census, his place-based science teaching champions the importance of protecting and understanding the dynamic relationship between humans and the wetlands. In the preface to the book, Somerville and Green profile the work of Max and vignettes like this one characterise the nine chapters which address Somerville’s and Green’s sustainability learning research with primary school children (aged 3–12 years) and environmental educators within Australia. Rich descriptions of pedagogical approaches appear throughout a series of research case study chapters associated with sustainability learning programmes in schools. Central to them is a discourse on children’s active participation and ‘voice’ within research and sustainability education. There is a strong emphasis on affirming children’s views and engaging them in decisions about projects. Key questions driving Somerville’s and Green’s approach are: