Tips for Doing PLT Activities

Fallen tree in a forest

What Happens to Trees that Fall in the Forest

In dying, a tree plays an essential role in sustaining life around it. Here are some classroom activities to explore decomposition and how a fallen tree provides for other life in the forest.

child-photographing-the-autumn-woods

Virtual Makeover: The Closer You Look

Colorado PLT Coordinator Danielle Ardrey shares how to adapt the PLT Activity “The Closer You Look” for remote instruction. Students will go outdoors or view pictures to take a closer look at trees and their parts.

young-boy-listens-outdoors

Virtual Makeover: Sounds Around

Learn how to adapt our “Sounds Around” student activity for remote instruction, allowing students to tune in to the everyday sounds of nature from home or a nearby outdoor space.

Virtual Makeover: Looking at Leaves

Many PLT activities are easily adapted to virtual learning, as we illustrate in this new monthly feature in the Branch. Check out this adaptation for Looking at Leaves from Colorado’s PLT Coordinator

Two female foresters in uniform overlooking a lake with mountains in the background

Green Jobs and Careers in Conservation

There are many “green” job opportunities in traditional fields such as forestry, wildlife conservation, fisheries management, soil and water conservation, and environmental law. There are also career opportunities with nonprofits and for-profit businesses that can help the Earth.

Wooden toy, apple, book, baseball bat, and colored pencils

Using PLT in the New Normal

Did you know that you can adapt many of PLT’s activities to present virtually or assign to your students for independent exploration? “We All Need Trees” is a great example.

Two people standing on cracked ice floats.

What Is Causing Changes In Our Climate?

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?

popcorn representing the world's resources and calculator estimating value of trees

7th-9th Grade Activities for Budding Environmental Scientists

As a 7th grade Environmental Science teacher, I often turn to PLT for ideas and inspiration. So when my state adopted new environmental science content and guidelines earlier this year, I took a deep breath and opened my trustworthy PreK-8 Guide for inspiration. It’s helped me through previous curriculum and standards changes in years past, and not surprisingly, I found more than 15 engaging activities to strongly correlate with the new state guidelines.