This book contains three essays on teaching outdoors about the natural world and engaging students in the natural and cultural history of their communities. An introduction, "To Learn from Wood and Stone" (Ann Zwinger), discusses the opportunities that arise when a teacher makes connections between the classroom world and the world outside. "Writing as a Window into Nature" (John Tallmadge) outlines a process for teaching writing as a way to help students discover the hidden life of places. A section on getting started covers the nature and difficulty of writing, the role of imagination, the use of freewriting to access the unconscious, and the study of exemplary nature writing. Moving into the field, and techniques of observation and note taking, are discussed, along with exercises to engage the landscape and practice various writing techniques. A final section describes processing the raw material of notes and memories into finished essays and stories. "Teaching Nature Journaling and Observation" (Clare Walker Leslie) describes how field sketching, with an emphasis on journal-based work, can strengthen relationships with local places and develop environmental awareness. "Reading the Landscape's History" (Tom Wessels) discusses a process that allows students of any age to more deeply connect with their local landscape. This process effortlessly integrates the studies of nature, history, and self into a unified foundation for a place-based curriculum. Each essay contains references, activities, and information resources. (SV)