Earth & Sky

Thanks to a partnership between PLT and Earth & Sky, all PLT activities have connections to Earth & Sky podcasts.  Teachers can use Earth & Sky radio podcasts in conjunction with related PLT activities to virtually bring a scientist into their classroom. 

Known as a clear voice for science, Earth & Sky has been reporting science news and information for nearly 20 years. 

Earth & Sky podcasts:
• feature interviews with real scientists from around the world
• provide educators with access to accurate, reliable, and understandable scientific research and data
• captivate students with cutting edge science content on the latest scientific topics

The shows air on over 1,900 radio stations in 167 of the world’s 194 countries, and are heard 14 million times daily.  You can find a radio station broadcasting Earth & Sky podcasts in your area at www.earthsky.org/about/radio-affiliates.  You can also listen online or download podcasts and their transcripts at www.earthsky.org and through iTunes.

* The Earth & Sky correlations to Project Learning Tree curriculum materials have been updated as of January 2010. A list of related Earth & Sky shows is now included on each PreK-8 activity resource page online, as well as on the activity resource pages for all secondary modules (under PLT for secondary educators).

An Earth & Sky tutorial is also available to help teachers learn more about this resource.

Forest Series
Learn more about a special series of Earth & Sky radio shows focusing on forests and climate change, habitat loss, clean water, and forest sustainability produced in partnership with the American Forest Foundation, the parent of Project Learning Tree.

Tips for Using Earth & Sky with PLT in Your Classroom

• Play a 90-second radio show to pique student interest in the topics you are teaching.
• Download the radio show and its transcript from EarthSky.org before class, or connect to the internet during class to listen online.
• In Earth & Sky radio shows that answer specific questions, play only the question … and ask kids to think about the answer. Then play the whole radio show, with both the question and answer, before class ends.
• Choose from 30 different categories in the Teacher’s Section of the Earth & Sky website to find shows related to specific issues. 
• Use an Earth & Sky radio show in conjunction with a PLT activity to enhance your teaching.

“Within a matter of minutes, I was using [Earth & Sky]…Kids are thrilled to listen to someone’s explanation, not just read it.”
– Bonnie Bowmer, 4th grade teacher, Colorado
Her students listened to an Earth & Sky program called “Winter Trees” and then did the PLT PreK-8 Guide activity “Signs of Fall.”

“Earth & Sky shows immediately make the PLT activities even more meaningful and relevant.”
– Shawna Crocker, Colorado PLT Coordinator

NOTE: Funding to correlate Earth & Sky radio shows to PLT activities was provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.  Correlations and resources are continually being added and the website updated.