Elementary (K-2)

An adult and a child wearing gloves work together to plant a young tree in the soil, surrounded by grass.

Learning by Giving Back

We’ve compiled various activities and resources you can do and share with your learners to inspire them to make a difference.

See You at the 2025 Green Schools Conference!

PLT is headed to the Green Schools Conference this March 3-4 in Orlando, Florida! The annual Green Schools Conference (GSC) brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus on those leading their schools and school systems toward whole-school sustainability. We’re excited to be back in person and learning about the newest trends and innovations in providing healthy, sustainable learning environments and education for students, teachers, and school communities.

Jina Jeong: Project Nature

In the book, Jina Jeong: Project Nature, a young girl named Jina realizes this very fact when she’s out for a hike with her family. However, upon visiting the nature center, she learns that many children don’t have access to parks and have never been hiking or camping. This lights a fire in her belly to help more children spend time in nature.

9 edible soil recipes

9 Edible Recipes to Introduce Students to Soil

Creating an edible soil activity featuring the different layers of soil—organic layer, topsoil, subsoil, parent material, and bedrock—is a fun way to engage participants in learning about the structure of soil and how it supports plant life.

thermometer-sticking-out-of-snow

Activities to Explore Winter Ecology

Winter ecology studies the inter-relationships between animals, insects, and plants with their habitat in the winter. Explore the plethora of adaptations trees and other living things have to survive winter conditions.

A Family Tree Written by Staci Lola Drouillard and Illustrated by Kate Gardiner

Celebrating Nature through Literature by Indigenous Authors

As we honor and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ history, culture, and contributions during Native American Heritage Month (also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month), PLT compiled a collection of books about nature that you can read to your learners.

A family of four taking a gratitude walk in the forest

Take a Gratitude Walk

As the holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to get outside to refuel and recharge yourself by taking a gratitude walk! A gratitude walk helps us pause, reflect, and give thanks to every person and living thing in our natural world.

monarch butterfly resting on leaf

Max and the Milkweed

Max is a young boy who strikes an unlikely friendship with a monarch butterfly named Lilly, who asks him to plant milkweed so she can lay her eggs on it the following spring. In a world filled with instant gratification, this book highlights how change happens over time and that we sometimes must wait patiently for those changes to occur.

Cassius Cash and a group of young people smiling for a photo on a nature walk in the forest

Mentorship: Nurturing the Next Generation of Green Leaders

Mentors profoundly impact the lives of others. Whether you’re a 5th-grade teacher, a university professor working with preservice teachers, an executive director of a nonprofit, or a natural resource professional, you can nurture relationships with the next generation of green leaders and make a positive impact.