By Vanessa Bullwinkle

Known as a clear voice for science, EarthSky specializes in reporting timely and compelling science news and information through short, daily radio shows. In just 90 seconds, hosts Deborah Byrd and Joel Block usually interview a scientist or resource manager on the air and always explain the day’s topic in easily understood language.

Since 2002, Project Learning Tree has partnered with EarthSky so teachers can “virtually” bring a guest scientist into their classroom by using Earth & Sky radio shows in conjunction with PLT activities. All PLT activities have connections to one or more Earth & Sky radio shows.

Teachers can find Earth & Sky radio shows and podcasts relating to a particular subject or PLT activity through a quick link on the EarthSky and PLT websites. Go to www.earthsky.org/teachers, or to the Resources section of PLT’s website to find a radio show specific to a PLT activity. There you can also watch an online tutorial to learn more about how to use this resource.

A New Series on Forests
The American Forest Foundation, the parent of PLT, has partnered with EarthSky to produce absorbing radio spots and podcasts about our nation’s forests, and what forest landowners are doing to manage their lands. Over the course of 2008, EarthSky producers interviewed forest experts, ranging from a Tree Farmer in Maine to the Associate Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, about threats to our forests, climate change, habitat loss, clean water and forest sustainability. Beginning April 9, a new series of radio shows focusing on forests, climate change, and energy conservation will air on over 1,800 radio stations in the U.S. The series starts with Janaki Alavalapati, Dean of Virginia Tech’s School of Forestry, discussing various aspects of using forests as a source of renewable energy.

You can listen to all the shows online and the programs and their transcripts are available for teachers to download. You can find a radio station broadcasting Earth & Sky radio shows in your area at www.earthsky.org/about/radio-affiliates.

Tips for Using Earth & Sky with PLT in Your Classroom
• Play a 90-second radio show to pique your students’ 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 EarthSky website to find shows related to specific issues.