Tips for Getting Started

With schools around the world temporarily closing to slow the spread of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19, we’ve assembled this list of (free!) PLT activities that you can do at home—both inside and close-by in a safe space outside.

In recent years, there has been growing concern about rising temperatures across the globe. What is causing these changes in our climate? Why are we so concerned about it now?

As the temperature outside begins to drop, noticeable changes take place all around us. All living things, including humans, must adapt to their environment in order to survive. Let’s take a closer look at how plants and animals prepare for winter.

Some animals, insects, and organisms have evolved to produce light for various reasons. Capture your students’ curiosity and love of learning by using bioluminescence as a springboard into the world of luminescence. There are many ways of adapting glow-in-the-dark lessons to a variety of subjects and grade levels.

Bat Week is Oct 24-Oct 31! Use these free activities to celebrate and teach kids about the important role bats play in nature.

Plants help protect insects, and insects help plants pollinate and disperse seeds. Learn about some specialized symbiotic relationships that benefit both organisms involved.

An invasive species is any kind of organism that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm to the environment, economy and possibly even human health. Gypsy moths, Asian longhorned beetles, emerald ash borers, and woolly adelgids are among the growing list of invasive insects that threaten U.S. forests and urban landscapes.

Thirty-two percent of the plastics produced each year flow into our oceans. Here are a few ways you can encourage your students to reflect on how much plastic they use and how they can reduce their plastic consumption to protect the environment.

These experiments, games, and activities can help students in grades K-8 learn about the effect pollution has on the environment and inspire us to make a change.

Sloths, koalas, geckos, and opossums have found unique ways to live in tree-tops. Find out how these animals have adapted to life in the tree canopy.

Embrace the cold this winter and have some fun with these hands-on science experiments and activities.

Engage children in learning about trees and forests through music! Sing about the seasons, leaves, animals, and more with these fun and educational songs about trees.

These fun planter/pot activities for kids encourage artistic creativity, and many use recycled materials from around the home.

Videos are a great way to introduce some of the complex topics associated with climate change. Check out these 12 videos to spark discussion with your middle or high school students.

Inspire your students from Day One with advice like “Take Note of What’s Important”, “Set Your Sights High” or “Stay Balanced and Lean into Life’s Curves.”

These science games are an interactive way to get students learning outdoors. There’s so much to learn from going out and observing nature!

These stories will not only help students learn about trees, but more importantly, appreciate their significance and value. These books can help start a conversation about our relationship with nature, conservation, and life cycles.

One simple way schools can observe Earth Day is to take learning outside the classroom and have students interact with their environment. Here are some activities that will ensure your nature walks are an engaging and enriching learning experience for students of all ages.

These fun, educational apps focus on topics such as food webs, climate change, trees, conservation, and weather and they complement Project Learning Tree’s lesson plans.

Looking for inexpensive and interactive STEM activities for your classroom? Conducting science experiments with plants is an easy way to incorporate hands-on experiences to your curriculum.

The winter environment offers an abundance of learning opportunities for preschoolers, even in cold climates. Here are 10 winter activities that you and your preschoolers can enjoy outdoors.

Learning about trees is a great introduction to many subject areas – from science to music to geography. Here are some outdoor lesson ideas for students in any grade.

The best way to keep your students focused and learning during the lead up to trick-or-treat is to bring Halloween into the classroom.

If you have access to tablets, there are many educational apps that you can integrate into lesson plans. We’ve pulled together 12 science apps for middle and high school students on the topics of climate change, conservation, weather, and more.

Incorporating art projects into a lesson plan about temperate deciduous forests is a great way to make learning fun. Using recycled and waste materials can make these projects more eco-friendly.

Predators and prey animals use camouflage so they don’t attract too much attention. Here are examples of color matching, disruptive coloration, self-decoration, active camouflage, and mimesis.

Earth Day is about raising awareness about the importance of protecting our planet and taking action. Use these activities to inspire your students to take action this Earth Day, and every day.

Fun facts about 10 trees from around the world to incorporate into a lesson about geography, science, language arts, and art. Students can create tree profiles to demonstrate their new knowledge.

Give “reduce, reuse, recycle” a whole new meaning by incorporating this concept into many subject areas. Many of these hands-on project ideas can be adapted for any grade.

It’s critical we teach students about the role of pollinators. See how students of all ages can put their knowledge into practice and support pollinators.

Fall is a great time to teach young students about the changing seasons and the science of leaves. Check out over 50 ideas for incorporating science, math, art, and literature into your lesson plan about leaves.

There are tens of thousands of known threatened species. It’s critical to teach our children about endangered species because if we don’t know about the problem, we can’t take steps to find solutions.

From informative nonfiction reads to silly fictional tales, this list separated by grade level will help kids–and adults–stay on top of their reading.

Help students visualize and better understand the function of the inner parts of a tree trunk by creating this easy-to-make visual aid.

Ten years ago, my life changed. It happened when I met Pat Maloney, the Project Learning Tree State Coordinator in Maine.

With hundreds of social media outlets available, PLT highlights 4 social media platforms that have useful applications for teachers.

When parents take an active interest in their child’s education, students benefit. Here are 3 tested ways to engage parents in learning with their children.

Ready, set, plant! Tree planting tips for your class, community group, or family to use when planting trees.

Enthusiasm for learning. Empowered to make a difference. Improved health and academic performance. Just some of the benefits of EE for youth, educators, schools, communities.

Visible and invisible changes happen in leaves this season. Explore these changes and how to use a classic PLT activity to teach about fall colors.

Scout troop leaders and volunteers, and those who provide scout programs at nature centers, parks, and community recreation facilities, can quickly identify Project Learning Tree …

Pairing older and younger students to create a nature trail around a New York school’s perimeter provides learning experiences for both.

Download these six Project Learning Tree activities to support “teachable moments” related to this classic children’s book and film.

There are lots of reasons to learn outside. If you are thinking about trying out teaching in the outdoors, check out these tips.

There are lots of reasons to learn outside. If you are thinking about trying out teaching in the outdoors, check out these tips.

There are lots of reasons to learn outside. If you are thinking about trying out teaching in the outdoors, check out these tips.

Create your own painted lab coats! These powerful visual tools engage students in learning about science and the environment.

A successful service-learning project is more than just volunteering—it involves students applying knowledge and skills to make a difference in their communities.