When children are allowed to experience stories and activities that help them to care for, and take care of other people and the Earth, they develop a conservation ethic. A collection is presented of carefully chosen North American Indian stories and hands-on activities that promote understanding and appreciation of, empathy for, and responsible action toward the Earth and its people. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 offers thoughts and suggestions for facilitating the use of stories and activities. Part 2 includes 21 stories and legends on 10 different topics. The stories are designed to be used as introductions to the subjects explored in the activities. Each story is followed by a section that summarizes the story and a discussion section that provides background information on the topics it introduces. Relevant questions bridge the stories and activities. Chapters end with suggestions for extending the experience. Each activity is keyed by its objectives and the location for the activity. In addition, goals are explicitly stated, and detailed procedures are given. Topics considered include: (1) "Creation"; (2) "Fire"; (3) "Earth"; (4) "Wind and Weather"; (5) "Water"; (6) "Sky"; (7) "Seasons"; (8) "Plants and Animals"; (9) "Life, Death, Spirit"; and (10) "Unity of Earth." The accompanying Teacher's Guide expands, in chapter 1, on the educational philosophy linking the telling of Native American stories with experiential environmental activities. The tenets of environmental education and their synthesis with the study of native cultures, teaching positive social and environmental skills, and a look at several ongoing programs that use this approach are discussed. In chapter 2, traditional stories are placed in the context of their native American cultures, past and present. How the stories are used for teaching, entertaining, disciplining, and praying is described in a discussion which focuses on traditional story-telling techniques. Suggested readings are included for each of the chapters in the book with separate recommendations for children and for adults. Eighty-three additional resources are divided into four categories: environmental studies, story telling, values education, and North American Indians. (CW)