Our Curriculum

At Project Learning Tree, we grow stewardship student by student, and we’ve been doing so for over 35 years. Our award-winning curriculum resources help over half a million educators teach complex environmental issues. They can be integrated into lesson plans for all grades and subject areas to help students learn how to make sound choices about the environment. PLT curriculum resources in the classrooms helps today's educators teach tomorrow's decision makers about the environment.

Our goal is to teach students how to think, not what to think about the environment. Studies show that curriculums with an outdoor learning component drastically improve overall student performance, particularly in science and math, including test scores.

State & National Standards

Our education materials are designed to meet the common components of national education reform by using the constructivist approach to learning, whole language teaching, cooperative learning, problem solving, and authentic assessments.

In many states, the PreK-8 Guide and the secondary modules have been correlated to state learning standards. At the national level, the curriculum has been correlated to the National Science Standards, National Social Studies Standards, Excellence in EE Guidelines, and Girl Scout (badge) program activities.

PLT for Early Childhood

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood

Learning^® Magazine 2011 Teachers’ Choice^SM Award winner!

Our early childhood programs provide an introduction to environmental education, encouraging children to explore, discover and communicate in expressive ways. With over 130 experiences that engage children in outdoor play and exploration, it’s no wonder Learning® Magazine chose our Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood as their Teachers’ Choice^SM Award winner!

PLT for PreK-8
Environmental Education Activity Guide Ninety-six multi-disciplinary activities can be found inside the PreK-8 Guide – each one tailored to specific grade levels and learning objectives. Each activity is filled with opportunities to build critical thinking skills, incorporate technology, and use differentiated instruction.	Energy & Society Kit Developed for both formal and non-formal educators, Energy & Society helps students develop critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use. In addition to hands-on activities, Energy & Society integrates music and dance to enhance the study of energy issues.
Billy B Sings About Trees CD PLT and well-known children's performing artist and songwriter Bill Brennan have teamed together again to produce a new CD -- all about trees! A Parents’ Choice recommendation Billy B Sings About Trees helps teach children about the value of our woodlands through fun and entertaining music.

PLT for Grades 9-12
Biodiversity Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity was developed by Project Learning Tree in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. In this sixty-page module, students learn that decisions about growth and development, energy use and water quality, and even human health, all rest to some extent on perspectives about biodiversity.	Biotechnology Our Biotechnology Series is designed for high school and community college educators in the fields of Biology, Environmental Science, Social Studies, and Agriculture. A special effort has been made to construct activities that support instruction in AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Human Geography. This module was created as a supplement to the Focus on Risk curriculum.
Focus on Forests This module is designed to foster student understanding of- and appreciation for- the forested lands throughout North America. The module’s activities provide an opportunity for hands-on study of forest resources while addressing concepts in biology, civics, ecology, economics, forest management, and other subject areas.	Forests of the World Global Connections: Forests of the World was developed by Project Learning Tree in partnership with the World Forestry Center. The module activities provide students with opportunities to apply scientific processes and higher order thinking skills while investigating world forestry issues and conducting service-learning action projects.
Places We Live Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live, provides educators with a useful tool for place-based education to help create a bond between young citizens and their communities. Students will explore current and future community environmental issues, enabling them to make informed decisions about those issues.	Focus on Risk Through eight hands-on activities, students analyze, explore, discover, and learn about risk assessment, risk communication, risk perception, and risk management. There are also three special topics that encourage students to apply their knowledge real-life risk issues. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making are emphasized throughout the module.
Municipal Solid Waste This module uses hands-on experiences to show interrelationships among waste generation, natural resource use, and disposal. The activities guide students through waste management strategies and solutions while providing the necessary tools to make informed decisions and choices on waste management issues.