Project Learning Tree

Today I attended a workshop called Project Learning Tree (PLT), a product of the American Forest Foundation. This is one of the premier environmental education programs in the world, using hands-on, interdisciplinary activities to help students think about environmental issues. The activities are great because they can be adapted for a wide array of grade levels (PK-8) and many incorporate several academic subjects such as language arts, social studies, math, science, art and music.

For our participation in the workshop, we received the amazing Project Learning Tree Pre-K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. This activity guide is full of 96 different activities, each with detailed, step-by-step information on conducting the activity in the classroom as well as grade level recommendations, subject areas, materials needed, background knowledge, time considerations, ideas for enrichment, literature connections, ideas for differentiating instruction and technology connections. The activities are organized into five overarching themes: diversity, interrelationships, systems, structure and scale, and patterns of change.

We actually got to participate in some of the activities ourselves during the workshop including Tree Cookies, To Be a Tree, Make Your Own Paper and A Peek at Packaging. Most of these activities did not require a lot of expensive or complicated materials, but were great in that they got students up and moving and thinking about trees and the environment in different ways. Many activities also allowed students to go outside for a very hands-on approach to learning, such was the case in The Closer You Look, The Fallen Log, and Birds and Worms.

I am looking forward to use Project Learning Tree's lesson plans and resources in the future! To find out how PLT correlates to your state standards, click here!

Homemade Paper from the Make your Own Paper activity
Paper Bag Tree Vest from the To Be a Tree activity