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.
Education Level
Spider-Inspired Classroom Activities for Halloween
Are you ready to add some spooky science to your fall lesson plans? We have gathered a whole cauldron of creepy, crawly spider science activities to enhance your lessons. Try these 11 Halloween activities inspired by our eight-legged friends. Examine spider webs outdoors, build a spider habitat, consider how a spider would adapt to life in space, and more!
New PLT Activity Collections: A Theme-Based Series for Educators
Discover Your Urban Forest is the first in a new series of theme-based PLT activity collections. It features three brand new PLT activities for educators of students in grades 6-8 that invite learners to explore their urban environment and investigate environmental issues that affect their urban community.
Where’s Rodney?
Rodney can’t seem to sit still. At school, he is always more interested in what is happening outside the window than what is going on inside the classroom. Learn how a park visit can transform Rodney’s perspective. Use this text to explore learning styles and personal characteristics with young readers.
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
Growing Plants in Small Spaces With Students of All Ages
You don’t need a schoolyard or backyard garden to observe plants grow—you can do it inside your classroom or kitchen. Growing plants indoors, even in small spaces, is much easier than you may think.
Activities to Do With Children Outdoors
Spending time outside is one way we can boost our resiliency while quarantining at home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Bookmark a few of these free PLT family activities to try in your backyard, at a local park or trail, or another nearby safe space outdoors.
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.
Composting Experiments, Tips, and Resources for the Classroom (and at Home)
Composting can take place in your classroom, kitchen, backyard, neighborhood, or community. Learning about compost can be a hands-on activity, and you don’t need much space to get started.
Recommended Children’s Books Featuring BIPOC Protagonists
Looking for some great summer reading choices? Encourage the children you teach to curl up with one of these riveting reads featuring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) protagonists to learn about the natural world.