Focusing on outdoor education in a broad sense, this book comprehensively provides elementary school teachers with rationale, planning guidance, and specific ideas for using the outdoors to enhance the development of the whole child through the stimulation of both right and left hemispheres of the brain. Part I presents a definition, rationale, and set of goals for outdoor education. The thematic unit approach to planning integrated outdoor experiences is fully explained and outlined. There is an annotated bibliography of 69 resources to use in unit development. Nine "exemplary" resources are described in detail. Effective strategies are identified for planning outdoor experiences, managing children and teaching effectively outdoors, and evaluating the experience. Part II describes over 130 interdisciplinary activities from the four possible theme categories: processes, concepts, persistent problems, and natural or man made phenomena. Most activities are designed for specific environments (school site, urban area, water environments, desert, forest); some are appropriate for any site. Basic information for conducting the activities is presented on perforated pages. Appropriate grade level is noted. The book is also suitable as a supplement to undergraduate or graduate level methods courses. (SB)