More than four million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico during the 87-day period following the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010. The environmental and social effects of the Gulf Oil Spill will continue to draw the attention of educators for years to come as scientists continue to learn more about The Deepwater Horizon blowout and its impacts over time. Help teach your students about this event using PLT activities.

Learn a few symbols from the sign language with the help of these images.

Try this variation on the Art experience “decorate binoculars.” It uses small plastic bottles instead of cardboard tubes to make binoculars. They are sturdy and provide a great reinforcement to recycling.

Moving plant and animal species to new environments can be beneficial, but can often cause environmental and economic harm.
The next time you are outdoors, introduce the term invasive species to children and discuss its meaning by asking:
• How would this area look different if a family of elephants lived here?
• What impact would the elephants have on the plants and animals nearby?
• Where do elephants live in the wild? Why don’t elephants live here?

Evergreen green offer a sensory overload! Through these experiences, children will touch, smell, see, hear and taste the season of winter. Consider trying these experiences year-round in areas with or without snow.

The students will discover the characteristic of local forested areas, which may include woodlands, urban forests, school yards, and/or tree farms, and compare these characteristics to the forested areas of another region.

Select a tree to study and determine its species. Visit the Tree Benefits website (http://www.treebenefits.com) to determine the ecological services that your selected tree provides.

Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity was developed by Project Learning Tree in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. In this sixty-page module, students learn that decisions about growth and development, energy use and water quality, and even human health, all rest to some extent on perspectives about biodiversity. Educators and students step back from biodiversity issues and specific species to examine broader concepts and larger connections—not just biological, but political, cultural, ethical, and economic as well. Educators can download the complete Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity module at no cost.

The word “biotechnology” usually conjures images of modern techniques and topics of controversy such as cloning, stem cell research, and genetically modified organisms. However, the practice of manipulating organisms to create a product has long been used by human societies. Our Biotechnology Series is designed for high school and community college educators in the fields of Biology, Environmental Science, Social Studies, and Agriculture. A special effort has been made to construct activities that support instruction in AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Human Geography. This module was created as a supplement to the Focus on Risk curriculum. Educators can download the complete Exploring Environmental Issues: Biotechnology module at no cost.

Students will learn about succession by studying the reestablishment of ecological communities following the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens and by setting up experimental plots to observe successional changes over time.

Damage to trees by disease, air pollution, weather, or human activities can affect the health of forests and can also be an indication of overall forest health. Count all the trees in the plot, marking the trees with colored chalk to help you keep track. Note trees that have one or more signs of disease or damage (see below). To count it as diseased or damaged, 10 percent or more of the tree should be affected. Calculate the percentage of all trees in the plot that have such signs.

No matter where you live, you depend on forests. They provide charcoal, firewood, fruits, lumber, medicines, nuts, paper, turpentine, and other resources that make up more than 5,000 commercial products. Many people use forests for fishing, hiking, hunting, and other recreational activities, as well as for their beauty and solitude.

Learn about the shape of different leaves, such as ginko, elm, mapple leaves and more.

Through this activity, students investigate the papermaking process by trying it themselves. Students are thrilled to find that they can make paper and that their product is practical, as well as beautiful.

This will be a fast paced introduction to fun facts and plant stories guaranteed to enrich your workshops and pique your participant’s interest! Expect a plethora of ideas, activities and extensions for PLT activities including historic uses, facts and mathematical explanations.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax presents an opportunity to have a conversation about the inherent value of forests and importance of sustainable management. Students read (or watch!) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and examine the importance of the sustainable management of natural resources. Watch the movie or read the book with your students, and discuss the inherent value of forests and importance of sustainable management by using the package six (6) activities designed to help students understand the importance of working forests and other topics related to the movie.