Educator Resources
www.PLT.org - The National PLT site has a variety of resources to support and enhance PLT lessons.
Student Worksheet: TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE—TOGETHER
This guide, produced in partnership by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), will help energize a large-scale nationwide force of advocates to encourage school officials and educators to apply a portion of these funding resources to the effective use of outdoor classrooms. Learn more about how to advocate, why outdoor spaces are so beneficial, and what to consider when planning and designing an outdoor classroom.
Guide to Curriculum for Teaching About Climate Change
As leaders in environmental education, Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD have produced a handy guide that lists activities from each of our respective areas of expertise to help you teach about climate science and the impacts of climate change. Use our “Teaching About Climate Change: Water, Trees, and Wildlife” guide to help plan a series of lessons that fit with your teaching situation to teach about the impacts of climate change on water, forests and biodiversity.
Listed below are some additional resources for use with PLT activities.
193 countries agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This new PLT worksheet helps students learn about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and offers some guiding questions for students around climate change to help them understand how the Goals are interconnected and address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty and inequality.
Resources related to Trees and Forestry
Tree Identification: a simple, easy to use pictorial dichotomous key by 4-H
What Tree Is That?: another simple dichotomous key by the Arbour Day Foundation
Dendrology at VT: an outline with many links to learn dendrology through classes, databases and tree ID
Forest Communities of the Eastern US: interactive map to learn more about the forests in your county
VA Department of Forestry Education: educational resources for families and educators
Trees Virginia: a focus on urban trees and forestry with resources and educational materials
VA BIG Trees: learn more about the remarkable Big Trees of VA – the type, size, location and age
iTree: for middle and high school students; activities to explore how trees provide ecosystem services (free download on PLT)
Put a Ring on It (Grades 3-5) - What can we learn about a tree’s life and history by examining tree rings? In this recorded session, students will learn how to analyze tree rings and how dendrochronologists use tree-ring research to improve our understanding of past climate and environment.
Smokey Bear: all things Smokey – the story and history, the pledge, wildfires, educational resources for children, parents and educators
Resources related to the Study and Investigation of the Natural World
Virginia’s Natural Resources Education Guide: background information and activities related to all Virginia’s different natural resources (agriculture, air, wetlands, forest, minerals and energy, native plants, soil, wildlife, waste management)
The North American Conservation Education Strategy: A Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence: many different tool kits with resources and educational activities on a variety of topics
Children and Nature Network: resources for families and educators and ways to become an advocate for children spending time outdoors
Bringing Nature Home: benefits of planting natives, books and lectures, and an active database to find what you should plant in your area
Resources related to Watersheds and Watershed Studies
2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement: a copy of the Agreement among the Chesapeake Bay states with the goals and objectives listed
MWEE 101: online course for understanding what a MWEE is and how to develop and implement one (free from NOAA)
An Educator’s Guide to the MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences): a guide to walk you through the process of planning and implementing a MWEE for your class, grade level, school or community
Watershed Education - Historical Aerial Photographs: for students to use in land use change over time activities and projects
Forests on the Water’s Edge: info about riparian buffer zones – what, why, how, where
Virginia Save Our Streams: water quality and macroinvertebrate sampling and studies; resources for doing both
Leaf Pack Network: study of macroinvertebrates through the use of Leaf Packs
Resources related to Environmental Literacy
Mid-Atlantic Elementary and Secondary Environmental Literacy Strategy: a guide with goals and outcomes for students, educators, schools and communities to become environmentally literate
Guidelines for Excellence: Best Practices in EE: guidelines for early childhood, K-12, nonformal programs, EE materials, PD for educators, and communities (free download)
Challenge by Virginia’s Governor
Governor’s Conservation Classroom Challenge: Executive Order by Governor McAuliffe that challenges teachers to take their students outside for lessons and projects. Teachers can report at this site and be recognized.
Visit the subpages in this section for additional resources.