Engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math with these suggestions for enriching activities found in Project Learning Tree’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.
STEM: Visit a Place Where
What measurable effect does a visit to a favorite park or green space have on you? These STEM enrichment ideas for one of PLT’s popular activities will take your students outdoors to learn more about a local park or open space near them, and how they might conduct a scientific research experiment to determine the ways in which being outside can improve a person’s mood, health, and wellness.
STEM: Pollution Search
When you hear the word “pollution,” what type of pollution do you think about? Knowing the characteristics of each of the five types of pollution, and what you can do to reduce the amounts, can make a positive difference for the environment.
STEM: Sounds Around
Have students discover the birds living in their backyard or on their block by using their sense of hearing with these STEM activities. How many unique bird species can you identify using only their song?
STEM: Nature’s Recyclers
Decomposers live off dead material and recycle nutrients into the soil for reuse by plants. These STEM activities teach students about producers, consumers, and decomposers.
STEM: Resource-Go-Round
Students identify some of their favorite and essential products that come from a renewable resource—trees!—and research how they are manufactured.
STEM: Tale of the Sun
Ideas to engage elementary and middle school students in science, technology, engineering, and math as they learn about history, tradition, and storytelling.
STEM: Picture This!
Why do some organisms live in many environments while others are only found in very unique places? These STEM activities teach students about species diversity.
STEM: Watch on Wetlands
Use these ideas to engage middle school students in STEM as they explore wetlands and learn about why they are important.
STEM: Plant a Tree
There is much to know before planting a tree. These STEM lessons help students learn how to plant the right tree in the right place.
STEM: Living With Fire
Use these STEM lessons to teach students the difference between a wildfire and a prescribed fire, and how fire can be beneficial to forests when it is planned and managed.
STEM: Trees As Habitats
Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as they explore why snags make excellent habitats for birds, mammals, insects, fungi, amphibians, and reptiles.
STEM: Invasive Species
Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as they learn about the impact invasive species have on ecosystems and biodiversity.
STEM: Tree Lifecycle
Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as they learn about a tree’s lifecycle.
STEM: Poet-Tree
Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through the power of the written word. Try these enrichments for Project Learning Tree’s Poet-Tree activity.
STEM: Looking at Leaves
Engage students in STEM to examine the physical characteristics of leaves and investigate how they can be used to identify trees with Project Learning Tree’s Looking At Leaves activity.
STEM: Field, Forest, and Stream
Students investigate the interactions between living and non-living components in three local ecosystems with Project Learning Tree’s Field, Forest, and Stream activity.
STEM: Signs of Fall
Engage students in STEM teaching and learning as they investigate the variables that cause leaves to change color with PLT’s Activity 78: Signs of Fall.
STEM: Have Seeds, Will Travel
Whether floating on the air, getting carried by animals, or catching waves, plants use many techniques to send their seeds far and wide. Use this STEM focused PLT activity to teach about plant reproduction and seed dispersal.
STEM: Web of Life
Discover how plants and animals are connected by taking a closer look at your local ecosystem to examine the interdependence of living organisms.
STEM: A Look at Lifestyles
Use this PLT activity to examine products in today’s technology-based world and reflect on present, past, and future attitudes toward natural resource consumption.
STEM: Improve Your Place
Help students use Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math applications to identify ways they can improve their school or neighborhood.
STEM: Every Drop Counts
Help students cut back on water waste using these Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math applications.
STEM: Bursting Buds
Spring is here! Flowers are beginning to bloom and new leaves are growing on the trees. Have your students take a closer look at trees to identify where leaves come from and how changing conditions affect leaf growth.
STEM: Adopt a Tree
Encourage a greater understanding of your local environment and a tree’s place in it using this STEM focused activity.
STEM: Pass the Plants, Please
Show your students how many of their favorite foods come from plants and engage them in real-world STEM learning.