All Resources for Lessons

Students adopt the roles of community members to debate solutions to an issue related to forests and watersheds. They then plan to take action to …

Students investigate the history of their community and make map overlays to look for patterns in how its housing, water and wastewater systems, and green …

Students use maps to identify local watersheds and their forest cover. They evaluate the extent to which their community’s water supply is affected by forests. …

Students often want to do something to help solve an important problem. When their energy is channeled into meaningful, relevant community action projects, a variety …

In this activity, children explore the many products and benefits that trees provide. This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees …

In this activity, children explore how their community—and the trees within it—provide things people need. This is one of 12 activities that can be found …

In this activity, children discover how plants and animals depend on trees. This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees & …

In this activity, children make a tree costume and explore the parts of a tree. This is one of 12 activities that can be found …

In this activity, children compare trees and identify distinguishing features. This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees & Me activity …

In this activity, children explore twigs, buds, and tree flowers while they celebrate the coming of spring. This is one of 12 activities that can …

In this activity, children explore evergreen trees—and the season of winter—using their senses. This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees …

In this activity, children explore the signs of autumn and play with falling, changing, and dancing leaves. This is one of 12 activities that can …

In this activity, children explore trees and tree parts using their senses of smell and taste. This is one of 12 activities that can be …

In this activity, children explore trees and their parts using the sense of touch. This is one of 12 activities that can be found in …

In this activity, children explore the sounds of nature and imitate them using their own voices and instruments that they make together. This is one …

In this activity, children search for the shapes and colors that define both our natural and built environments. This is one of 12 activities that …

Students explore the environmental, social, and economic criteria of forest certification and consider possible benefits and limitations of certification for both forests and people. They …

Using data collected from Mauna Loa, students graph changes in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) over the course of several decades and identify possible …

Students model what happens to renewable and nonrenewable resources over time and discover why sustainable use of natural resources is so important. For the complete …

By examining trash, students can learn a lot about how and why they throw things away. Students find ways to reduce their community’s waste production …

Never underestimate the power of a tree! In addition to giving us an amazing array of paper and wood products, trees provide a host of …

Our nation’s forests are managed to support different outcomes. Students learn how forests can be managed to meet a variety of human and environmental needs …

Succession is a natural pattern of change that takes place over time in a forest or other ecosystem. Students read a story about succession and …

Trees come in many shapes and sizes. Students become familiar with tree structure and scale by using different methods to measure them and by making …

Students learn about the three elements a fire needs to burn and find out how this “fire triangle” can be used to prevent and manage …

Students model processes that can lead to species becoming rare or endangered. Then, they become advocates for rare or at-risk species of plants or animals …

Throughout history, people have intentionally and unintentionally moved plant and animal species to new environments. Some of these species have proved beneficial, but others invade …

Every living thing has a habitat—a place that meets its needs. Human beings’ habitat is the community in which they live. Students plan and, if …

Students play the role of forest manager for a 400-acre (162-hectare) public forest, exploring the complex factors that influence management decisions about forest lands. For …

Students gain an appreciation for how many natural resources they depend on in their day-to-day lives. By tracing the resources that go into making one …

Students conduct a field study of three different environments as they focus on sunlight, soil moisture, temperature, wind, water flow, plants, and animals in each …

The energy we use at home, school, or work enhances our lives, but it also often contributes to air and water pollution, wildlife and habitat …

The water cycle is the system by which Earth’s water is collected, purified, and distributed from the environment to living things and then returned to …

Students examine trees for signs of damage or poor health and investigate conditions that may cause trees and other plants to become unhealthy. For the …

By reading a story such as The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, students can examine the importance of conserving natural resources. For the complete activity and …

Tree species can be identified by looking at several different features: leaves, bark, twigs, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Even the overall shape of a tree …

By modeling the parts of a tree and creating a “tree factory,” students will learn about the structure of a tree. For the complete activity …

One way to learn about tree growth is to look at annual rings. Tree rings show patterns of change in the tree’s life, as well …

Students explore differences in soil types and what those differences mean to people and to plants. They also investigate the role soil organisms play, both …

Students will look for signs of autumn and conduct an investigation to discover why the leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall. For …

Writing and sharing poems gives students an opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in creative and artistic ways. You can do this activity …

Nearly everything we buy comes in some sort of package. Students examine the pros and cons of different packaging and design an “ideal” package. For …

All kinds of people work in the forest—from foresters, to loggers, to scientists. Everyone depends on properly managed forests for recreation, essential products, wildlife and …

Regular and frequent time outdoors is beneficial for emotional, mental, and physical health, as well as for creativity, learning, and child development. In this activity, …

It’s amazing how many things live in and on rotting logs. In this activity, your students will become familiar with some of those organisms by …

This fun and active modeling simulation reviews the conditions that trees need to live and grow, while also demonstrating that trees must compete to meet …

It’s easy to waste water and even easier to take water for granted. Water pours out of our faucets as though it were endlessly available. …

Students are often surprised to learn how many different products we get from trees. Use this activity to help students learn just how much we …

From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide habitat for a host of plants and animals. Students will inventory the plants and animals …

Students learn about the papermaking process by trying it themselves. Students will find out that they can make their own paper and that their product …

A plant is a biological system that needs sunlight, water, air, nutrients, and space in order to survive and thrive. Students conduct inquiry-based experiments to …

A plant is a biological system containing processes and components that enable it to grow and reproduce. By observing, collecting, and classifying seeds, students examine …

Students observe differences over time to learn that change in the environment can occur quickly, slowly, or not at all. For the complete activity and …

In early spring, many trees sprout bright green leaves. Where do the leaves come from? How do they form? Students investigate these questions by observing …

Camouflage is an essential survival strategy in the natural world. Students discover the value of protective coloration as they pretend to be birds in search …

Every organism needs food, water, shelter, and space. A place that meets all these needs is called a habitat. Students will explore a nearby habitat—their …

Students discover that trees have life stages that are similar to those of other living things. They discuss a tree’s role in the ecosystem at …

By conducting research and modeling a food web, students take a close look at a forest ecosystem and discover ways that plants and animals are …

Students explore the amazing diversity of life on Earth and discover how plants and animals are adapted for survival. This activity helps students understand why …

Students imagine that they are visitors from outer space, viewing life on Earth for the first time. By describing in minute detail all the life …

Even though students may be very familiar with trees, they may not have thought much about the actual structure of a tree. In this activity, …

Students select individual trees to observe over time, deepening their awareness of tree changes and developing a greater appreciation for their local environment. To get …

Students explore their sense of smell and discover why smell is important to animals, including beetles and humans. To get this activity, purchase it from Shop.PLT.org as …

The trees in our communities provide many benefits: they improve air quality, store carbon, and conserve energy. Trees also enhance human health by reducing blood …

Everyone has an equal right to a healthy environment—but does everyone have a healthy environment? In this activity, students propose actions to resolve various scenarios …

Decisions about community land use are complex and often involve many people in many ways. In this activity, students use trees as a backdrop to …

Activity 4 description: Learners explore the concept of sustainability by examining the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, while also taking a look at some …

Activity 3 description: Through a variety of health indicators, learners assess the health of a forest area and see how soil scientists, wildlife biologists, arborists, …

Activity 2 description: Acting as foresters, learners grapple with decisions about how to manage a forest sustainably while serving different needs. To get PLT’s Green …

Activity 1 description: As an introduction to some of the people who work in and on behalf of forests, learners research different forest sector careers …

There is a wide array of jobs related to forests, offering opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds, skills, interest areas, and personal qualities. To get …

Students will apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired from the activities and special topics as they identify a risk in their school or …

We encounter many types of risks every day. What is meant by the term risk? What types of risks do we encounter daily? Are all …

Students will apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired from the activities and special topics as they identify a risk in their school or …

Student teams review what they have learned in this module by compiling a report of the future of forests in Southeast US. Students can share …

In this group activity, students assess a series of facts to understand how to manage a plantation forests to maximize the removal of atmospheric carbon …

After a debate where students compare products, students develop a set of life cycle questions that con be used to guide their consumer choices. This …

By performing a play through group presentations, students investigate life cycle assessment (LCA) data for three types of outdoor dining furniture (plastic resin, cast aluminum, …

Through a simulated shopping activity, students learn about life cycle assessments and the potential impact of their consumer choices on the environment. They explore questions …

Students measure trees near their school and calculate the amount of carbon stored in individual trees. Students compare the carbon sequestration potential for land-use types …

Students imagine they are a carbon atom and take part in a simulation that allows them to cycle through biological and physical systems. Group work …

Students use growth data from loblolly pine forests to identify genetically different populations and project where trees with certain characteristics are likely to thrive in …

This activity allows students to explore the connection between forests, climate change impacts and management strategies for creating resilient forests. Students draw these connections in …

In small groups, students learn about research that is helping forest managers monitor and respond to climate change using new tools and management techniques. This …

Students use the online resources, the Climate Change Atlas from the US Forest Service to explain the effects of climate change on the future distribution …

Students learn about the scientific evidence supporting climate change, use this information to evaluate and improve conclusions some people might draw about climate change, and …

The activity provides an overview of the connections between forests and climate. Students create a timeline of climate science over the past 200 years and …

Students are challenged to apply what they’ve learned as they role-play being land managers. Students also gain skills in communicating and presenting scientific information. Through …

Students participate in a field study as they identify, measure, and assess the health of trees. They calculate the dollar value and ecosystem services of …

Students become aware of the many products we obtain from trees, how we all depend on trees in our daily lives, and the value that …

This activity helps students to develop an understanding of municipal solid waste management, its importance, and the role it plays in their community. Students will …

Student will learn about the importance of source reduction, or of generating less waste in the first place. They will look at household hazardous waste …

By conducting field research, students will determine the extent of recycled and recyclable products available in their community. They will also consider market forces of …

Students will explore the value of composting as part of a community solid waste management program and learn about the chemical reactions that occur during …

Students will learn how a waste-to-energy facility functions by using a case study approach. Participating in a democratic decision making process, students will discover the …

Students will create “miniature landfills” to simulate the movement of leachate in a landfill and demonstrate the importance of liners. By experimenting with different soil …

Students will consider the waste management program of a typical municipality, then will study their own community’s program. Through exchanging data with students in another …

Students will analyze and try to improve their own waste generation habits. In addition, they will develop and implement a plan to reduce waste generated …

We encounter many types of risks every day. What is meant by the term risk? What types of risks do we encounter daily? Are all …

Students will identify their perceptions of the relative degree of risk associated with technologies, environmental hazards, and everyday activities. They will also have the opportunity …

The concept of probability, or chance, plays an important role in risk assessment. In this activity, students will conduct a series of experiments, such as …

When attempting to determine the degree of risk associated with an event, experts rely on a variety of tools of the trade to generate a …

Understanding risk is an integral part of the risk management process. It is critical that risk information is communicated effectively to all interested parties. This …

Managing risk includes deciding which option is best for reducing risks. The process requires incorporating the data obtained from risk assessments plus the social, ethical, …

In this activity, students will develop and apply decision-making skills to various environmental risk scenarios, including wildland fires, natural hazards, and threats to coral reefs …

Students will apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired from the activities and special topics as they identify a risk in their school or …

In this activity, students will learn how traditional methods of artificial selection and modern methods of bioengineering have been used in an attempt to improve …

Biotechnology plays a role in human health. Examples include using biotechnology to diagnose disease, prevent disease through the use of vaccines, and treat disease (e.g., …

In this activity, students will learn how living organisms have been used traditionally to process materials or to produce certain products or results. Students will …

In this activity, students will explore artificial selection, as well as learn how advances in science are allowing increasingly specific methods of genetic manipulation in …

Students will develop an understanding of some of the costs and benefits of using pesticides and of how those products affect biodiversity. They will research …

By analyzing case studies and describing some of the challenges and conflicts, students will learn about the importance to biodiversity of protected areas. This is …

People have intentionally and unintentionally moved plant, animal, and other species to new environments. Many of those species cause environmental—and sometimes economic—harm. In this activity, …

Students investigate a regional issue as they adopt the roles of shareholders and debate solutions to the depletion of North America’s largest aquifer. This is …

Students develop graphic organizers and creative presentations to illustrate how individual decisions can impact the local environment, as well as distant communities. They also measure …

Student teams develop and present a vision for the future of an area in their community. This is one of 8 activities that can be …

Students investigate green infrastructure and native plant communities at the neighborhood, community, and regional scales. They also explore the dual needs to accommodate population growth …

Students explore the current layout of their neighborhoods, critically evaluate a variety of development options, and formulate ideas for guiding further growth in their communities. …

Student teams investigate the social, cultural, economic, aesthetic, and environmental components of their community to create map overlays and reports describing the development of their …

Students explore community character and investigate ways that communities, including their own, are responding to growth and development pressures. This is one of 8 activities …

Students investigate and report on their connection with a special place and with their greater community. This is one of 8 activities that can be …

In this activity, students will explore their connections to the world’s forests by researching a forest in another country or region and by creating a …

Using paper as an example, students will analyze the life cycle and consumption patterns of forest products, and they will identify the international dimensions of …

In this activity, students will conduct a simulation in which countries use their forest resources to “manufacture” products and to sell them to an international …

In this activity, students will consider possible indicators that a forest is sustainable, and they will learn about one international initiative for monitoring forest sustainability. …

In this activity, students will analyze the effects of different ways that people use the world’s forests and will determine which effects may be sustainable …

Natural forces and human activities can change forests in a variety of ways. In this activity, students will analyze factors that can change forests by …

Identifying, documenting, classifying, and accurately mapping the diversity of forests found around the world is an active, ongoing process. A holistic system of global ecological …

Dozens of official definitions of the term forest are in use throughout the world. In this activity, students will analyze various definitions of this term …

Students will create and conduct a survey to help them determine how they and others view themselves as linked to forests around the world. This …

The writings of different environmental authors reflect the views of their time periods, as well as their own personal feelings toward forests. In this activity, …

Students will use a carbon footprint calculator to analyze their personal effect on carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere, will calculate the amount of …

Students will consider what makes invasive species a problem for forest ecosystems, will work in teams to present different methods of controlling an invasive species, …

Forests provide a variety of ecosystem services and help to maintain a clean and plentiful water supply. In this activity, students explore the connection between …

Students will learn about the role of fire in forest ecosystems, will examine issues of fire in the wildland-urban interface, and will conduct a wildfire …

We expect forests to provide various ecosystem services, beautiful surroundings for hiking and recreation, wildlife habitats, clean water, and steady supplies of wood and other …

One of the most critical challenges facing America’s forests today is changing forestland use and ownership. In this activity, students will research forest ownership in …

Students will learn about succession by studying the reestablishment of ecological communities following the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens and by setting up …

Students will conduct a forest health checkup of a local forest area, will take forestry measurements, and will evaluate the ecological services provided by trees …

In this activity, students learn about gasoline, then explore fuel conservation and energy efficiency by simulating the distance they can travel on a set amount …

Students will review energy concepts and information through the use of a game similar to Jeopardy!® This is one of 6 activities that can be …

Students will examine transportation systems vital to their community. They will use the What powers the move? poster to identify transportation methods and design a …

Students will identify the different forms of energy and construct an “energy chain” showing how different energy forms change. This is one of 6 activities …

Using the Where is the energy? poster, students identify various renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. They research one energy resource, and create a poster that …

Students explore the Where is the energy? poster and then search their classroom for energy connections. They record the ways they use energy throughout a …

Each day trees provide many benefits for all people. Through these experiences, children will explore the many products and benefits that trees provide. This is …

From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide habitats for a diverse variety of plants and animals. Through these experiences, children discover how …

Trees are a lot like people—with limbs, trunks, and skin. Through these experiences, children make a tree costume and explore the parts of a tree. …

Tree species can be identified by looking at their bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, and twigs. Through these experiences, children will compare trees and decide …

In most areas of the United States, spring is a time of growth for trees and other plants. These experiences help children explore twigs, buds, …

Evergreen trees offer a sensory overload! Through these experiences, children will touch, smell, see, hear, and taste the season of winter. Many of these experiences …

Through these experiences, children will explore the signs of autumn and will play with falling, changing, and dancing leaves. This is one of 11 activities …

Trees are filled with aromatic woods, savory spices, smelly twigs, or yummy fruits. In these experiences, children will explore trees using their noses and mouths! …

In these experiences, children will explore trees and their parts by using the sense of touch. They may feel rough bark, spongy moss, sharp thorns, …

Through these experiences, children explore the sounds of nature and imitate the sounds using their own voices and instruments they make in class. This is …

In these experiences, children will search for the shapes and colors that define both our natural and built environments. This is one of 11 activities …

Human attitudes and values, and therefore behavior, with regard to the environment can change over the course of generations. In this activity, students express their …

Each living thing has a habitat–a place to live that suits its needs. For human beings, the community they live in is their habitat. In …

In this activity, students will study changes in their local environment over short and long periods and will identify patterns of change. This is one …

Throughout history, people have depended on natural resources for survival. The availability of food, water, and other resources has generally determined where humans have settled …

Humans have always had a strong need to record the events of their lives. From cave painting to writing paper, humans have preserved their history …

By examining the historical attitudes of American Indians and American pioneers toward the environment and natural resources, students can reflect on their own lifestyles, and …

Patterns of change can be observed in human uses of natural resources. In this activity, students read three different statements attributed to Chief Seattle and …

By reading fables such as The Lorax by Dr. Seuss or The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, students can examine the importance of …

Patterns of change can be observed in the diversity of species on Earth. In this activity, students will become advocates for endangered species of plants …

Children are naturally curious about their environment. They should be encouraged to explore the out-of-doors, while having respect for living things and their habitats. In …

Patterns of change are evident in the Earth’s global systems, particularly as they relate to both energy and resources. To help students see how changing …

In this activity, students keep a log of their family’s transportation for a week, learn how petroleum is refined, and then explore fuel conservation and …

Using data collected from Mauna Loa, students will graph changes in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 46-year period, and identify possible reasons …

Nearly everything we buy comes in some sort of package. Packaging, made from a variety of renewable and nonrenewable resources, is necessary to protect an …

This activity gives students the opportunity to explore a variety of natural resources and products that people depend on every day. They learn about product …

Students learn about the three elements a fire needs to burn and find out how an understanding of this “fire triangle” can be used to …

Succession is a natural pattern of change that takes place over time in a forest or other ecosystem. In this activity, students will read a …

In this activity, students will discover that trees have a lifecycle that is similar to that of other living things. They will investigate a tree’s …

In temperate regions, people can observe the annual change of seasons. In this activity, students will look for signs of autumn. They will also try …

Like humans, trees can become weak and unhealthy, suffer injury, and die. People have learned to read the symptoms of unhealthy trees to help them. …

One way to learn about tree growth is to look at annual rings. Tree rings show patterns of change in the tree’s life as well …

Whether it’s a 100-room palace or a small hut made of branches, all human shelters serve the same basic purposes: they provide privacy, shelter from …

By taking a closer look at their community, students can gain an appreciation for its structure and complexity. In this activity, students will develop a …

Energy seems easy to use, but obtaining it is often not easy on the environment. When we reduce the amount of energy we use, we …

Did you know that the air in our homes, schools, and offices can sometimes be less healthy than the air outside? In this activity, students …

If a duck can paddle in it, it’s a wetland. If a duck can waddle on it, it’s not. If only wetlands could be defined …

In this inquiry-based activity, students will explore differences in soil types and what those differences mean to people and to plants. This is one of …

In this activity, students will role-play managing a Tree Farm. By using a piece of land as a Tree Farm, they will begin to understand …

Tree species can be identified by looking at several different features: leaves, bark, twigs, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Even the overall shape of a tree …

Trees come in various shapes and sizes. In this activity, students will measure trees in different ways and become familiar with the tree’s scale and …

In this activity, students sharpen their math skills by comparing their local trees to the world’s tallest tree, the coast redwood, and to the tree …

In early spring, the tiny, bright green leaves of many trees burst forth. Where do the leaves come from? How do they form? In this …

By acting out the parts of a tree, students will learn about the structure of a tree. They create a tree factory. This is one …

By making a tree costume, your students will gain an awareness of a tree’s structure and functions. This is one of 96 activities that can …

All students, no matter how young, have an idea of what a tree looks like. But many are unfamiliar with the actual structure of a …

Students will plan and conduct a service-learning project, and obtain skills in using media to inform others in the community about their project. This activity …

Newspapers keep the community informed about current events and trends. In this activity, students will examine articles from different sections of the newspaper, comparing and …

In democratic societies, citizens have the power to influence the lawmaking process. In this activity, students examine why and how groups develop rules, find out …

Democratic systems depend on the involvement of citizens in policy making and decision making. This activity will help students learn about the roles and responsibilities …

When certain people decide how to use a particular piece of land, the decision can involve and affect many people in many ways. Therefore, groups …

A human community is a system of facilities, services, resources, and human relationships that enable people to live in a particular place. In this activity, …

Students will develop an understanding of the value of recreational areas and facilities, and why these areas are established nationally and locally. By working on …

Students will compare various transportation methods for getting to and from school, and research transportation systems used in their community. This is one of 96 …

Aluminum is a nonrenewable, but recyclable, natural resource that we use every day. In this activity, students sequence the steps that go into making aluminum …

Students investigate the papermaking process by trying it themselves. Students are thrilled to find that they can make paper and that their product is practical, …

In this activity, students will play the role of managers of a 400-acre (162 hectare) piece of public forest. Through this role, students will begin …

While tropical rainforests and the temperate forests of North America operate on many of the same ecological principles, they differ greatly in their climates, and …

In this inquiry-based activity students will conduct a field study of three different environments as they focus on sunlight, soil moisture, temperature, wind, water flow, …

Look closely and you will see that a vacant lot is not so vacant! Plants of all kinds thrive in vacant lots, along with a …

Every organism requires a place to live that satisfies its basic needs for food, water, shelter, and space. Such a place is called a habitat. …

By conducting research and simulating a food web, students will take a close look at a forest ecosystem and discover ways that plants and animals …

The water cycle is the system by which Earth’s fixed amount of water is collected, purified, and distributed from the environment to living things and …

A plant is a biological system. Its systems, processes, and components enable it to grow and reproduce. By observing, collecting, and classifying seeds, students are …

This activity introduces students to photosynthesis, the process that enables trees and other green plants to use sunlight to manufacture their own food. Students will …

A plant is a biological system that needs sunlight, water, air, nutrients, and space for functioning and growing. In this inquiry-based activity, students design experiments …

Never underestimate the power of a tree! Besides giving us an amazing array of paper and wood products, trees provide a host of other benefits …

If your community is like most others, it’s now quite a bit different than it was 100, 50, 25, or even five years ago. By …

There are different sources of energy. Some are renewable; some are nonrenewable. In this activity, your students will learn about the different sources, advantages and …

It’s easy to waste water and even easier to take water for granted. Water pours out of our faucets as though it were endlessly available. …

By taking a look at their own trash, your students will learn a lot about how and why they throw things away. Students will also …

Here’s a way for your students to take a closer look at pollution: what it is, what its sources are, and what people can do …

National parks are the treasures of any nation. Yet national parks today struggle with serious dilemmas. By looking at problems in America’s national parks, students …

All kinds of people work in the forest—from foresters to loggers, from scientists to naturalists. Everyone depends on properly managed forests for recreation, essential products, …

Few issues, if any, have simple solutions—and resolving them usually involves compromise. In this activity, your students will learn about some of the effects that …

Privately and publicly owned forests are often managed to provide many different resources. In this activity, students will learn how forests are managed to meet …

It’s easy to take for granted both trees and the many benefits they provide. In this activity, students picture how their community would be different …

Rainfall, sunlight, and temperature are important factors influencing where plants can grow and, in turn, where animals can live. In this inquiry-based activity, students will …

Plants play a part in every breath we take. Use this activity to help your students understand the process of photosynthesis, and how people depend …

Try this active simulation to give your students an understanding of the conditions that trees need to live and grow and to help your students …

Organisms in an ecosystem depend on each other for food. But they may also depend on each other for protection, transportation, or shelter. In this …

Camouflage is an important survival strategy in the animal kingdom. In this activity, students will discover the value of protective coloration as they pretend to …

It’s amazing how many organisms live off dead organic material and recycle those materials back into life. In this inquiry-based activity, your students will devise …

It’s amazing how many things live in and on rotting logs. In this activity, your students will become familiar with some of those organisms by …

From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide a habitat for a host of plants and animals. In this activity, your students will …

Students “adopt” a tree, deepening their awareness of individual trees over time and encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of their local environment. This is …

Preparing an environmental exchange box will give your students a chance to learn more about their own region and the things that are special about …

Here’s a way to give your students a better appreciation for how many natural resources they depend on in their day-to-day lives. By tracing the …

Spaghetti. Fried rice. Tortillas. Vegetable soup. Thanks to plants, these and many other favorite foods are ours to enjoy. This activity will get your students …

To the Mbuti of Africa, the Pesch of Latin America, and other peoples around the world, the forest is home. More than just a place …

Every culture in the world has stories that are part of its history and tradition. These stories reveal information about the environment and perspectives of …

This activity is designed to get students thinking about and expressing their views and to listen to those of their classmates. It helps students explore …

Students often do not know which resources are renewable and which are nonrenewable, or which are recyclable or reusable. In this activity, students will learn …

Students are often surprised to learn how many different products we get from trees. Use this activity to help your students learn just how much …

Throughout history, people have intentionally and unintentionally moved plant and animal species to new environments. Some of these species have proved beneficial, but others invade …

A beetle that drinks fog. A flower that smells like rotting meat. A fish that “shoots down” its prey. Are these plants and animals for …

Students will explore the amazing diversity of life on Earth and discover how plants and animals are adapted for survival. This activity provides a basis …

In this activity, students will pretend they are visitors from outer space, viewing life on Earth for the first time. By describing, in minute detail, …

Through a read aloud, students will take a “shrew’s-eye-view” of life in the woods to gain an appreciation for the variety of living things that …

By becoming “habitat pen pals,” your students will learn about the diversity of habitats around the world and will write letters from the perspective of …

Students learn about the diversity of life on Earth by looking at different pictures of plants and animals from around the world. This is one …

Writing and sharing poems gives students an opportunity to express their thoughts, values, and beliefs about the environment and related issues in creative and artistic …

Our ears are constantly being bombarded with sound—so much so that we automatically “tune out” a lot of it. Some sounds are “music to our …

In this activity students will explore their sense of smell and discover why smell is important to animals, including themselves. This is one of 96 …

By way of trees in the neighborhood and a mystery box, students will explore their sense of touch and discover different shapes and textures in …

As humans we depend on all of our senses—touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing—to gather impressions of our environment. Our brains sort out the diversity …

Are leaves ever hairy? Do they have teeth? In this activity, your students will take a closer look at leaves and find out more about …