Project Learning Tree

05/22/2026

Biodiversity is the spice of life! Did you know that biologists estimate that Earth’s current biodiversity is somewhere between 10 million and 1 trillion different species? And they’ve only just scratched the surface, classifying only about 1.7 million species.

For International Day for Biological Diversity, check out PLT’s Biodiversity Blitz activity collection and these accompanying resources: https://www.plt.org/activity-resources/grades-3-5-activity-charting-biodiversity/

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

🌱Big ideas start in the classroom - that's why we're excited to see applications open for the 3rd Annual Green Educators Accelerator from The Educators' Lab in partnership with The Earth Foundation!

At Project Learning Tree, we know educators are powerful changemakers and programs like this help turn ideas into meaningful local action. Through microgrants, coaching, storytelling support, and a global educator community, this accelerator empowers teachers to bring environmental education and nature-based solutions to the classroom.

Past projects have explored everything from regenerative agriculture and soil health to student-led waste reduction and tree propagation initiatives, all rooted in the belief that the best way to invest in students is to invest in teachers.

Selected educators will receive a grant to launch or grow their ideas during the 2026-2027 school year.

📢Applications are open through July 10, 2026. Learn more and apply!

We’re launching an open call for educators who are ready to help students build solutions for the planet within their schools and communities. This year, the program will support up to 18 teachers worldwide. About the Green Accelerator for EducatorsEvery academic year we welcome a small cohort of ...

05/20/2026

🐝 What’s the buzz all about? It’s World Bee Day! Check out these fun activities to do with your students to celebrate these small but mighty insects that are powerful pollinators and vital to our entire ecosystem, especially forests.

Https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/pollinator-activities-world-bee-day/

05/15/2026

Did you know there are more than 1,500 endangered or threatened plant and animal species across the U.S.? On Endangered Species Day, encourage your students to collaborate on a research project and advocate on behalf of a plant or animal on the brink of extinction.

In PLT’s Life on the Edge / La Vida al Límite activity from the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8, students model processes that can lead to species becoming rare or endangered and use their creativity to develop an advocacy and awareness campaign.

For younger learners, check out these endangered species art project ideas!

There are tens of thousands of known threatened species. It’s critical to teach our children about endangered species because if we don’t know about the problem, we can’t take steps to find solutions.

05/14/2026

For 50 years, PLT has helped learners understand the world around them wherever they grow. From city streets to schoolyards, urban forests play an important role in our daily lives.

Through PLT resources like Trillions of Trees invites learners to explore how to plan, plant, and care for trees in their community. This can help prime young minds to connect lessons learned to real-world sustainability work like applying the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard in areas where people live, work, and connect with nature.

🌲Learn more about SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard: https://forests.org/sfi-urban-forestry-standard/
🌲Learn more about PLT’s Trillions of Trees activities:

Trillions of Trees features three PLT activities for educators of grades 3-5 to investigate the unique characteristics of different trees.

05/10/2026

Each year, millions of birds migrate to their nesting sites in the spring, traveling hundreds and even thousands of miles. With PLT’s activity collection, Together for Birds, take your learners outside to explore the wonders of birds, their habitats, and why they’re so important to ecosystems.

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with us! Explore the concept of home for birds, learn about the incredible journeys of migrating birds, and discover fun activities for kids to connect with nature.

05/05/2026

Teachers…we ❤️ you and think you're AWE-some! You don’t just educate students. You inspire, empower, engage, and nurture the next generation. We see you, the countless hours you pour into your students, and how dedicated you are.

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re offering a 20% discount on the e-book versions of Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children, Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide, and Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers! Use coupon code 26TEACH at checkout. Visit shop.plt.org.

05/04/2026

In our constantly connected to devices world, kids today spend more time in front of screens, anywhere from 6-9 hours a day! This Screen-Free Week, unplug and head outdoors for fun, hands-on learning with PLT activities. They get you outside to enjoy nature, and teach students about math, science, language arts, and more.

Here are some of our favorite lessons to do outdoors!

For little learners, check out Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children:

🌲Sounds Around – In this fun activity, children explore the sounds of nature and imitate them using their own voices and instruments that they make together.

🌲Home Tweet Home – Children head outdoors for a nature excursion to find examples of animals and plants that depend on trees or shrubs.

For elementary & middle schoolers, try these activities from the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8:

🌲Neighborhood Naturalist / Naturalista del Patio – Students explore a nearby habitat to look for signs of animals living there

🌲Get Outside! / ¡Sal al Aire Libre! – Students examine the physical and emotional effects of a task done outdoors versus indoors.

🌲Improve Your Place / Mejora tu Lugar – Students plan and carry out a service-learning project focused on making positive environmental changes in their community.

Get more tips for teaching outdoors: plt.org/resources/educator-tips/teaching-outdoors/

05/01/2026

May is Mental Health Month and spending time in nature has shown to have myriad benefits for people of all ages, including reduced stress, improved mood and cognition, and connectedness. Take learning outdoors and explore how our environment impacts our health with PLT’s activity collection, “Connecting for Health & Planet”. https://shop.plt.org/Shop/ProductDetails/connecting-for-health-and-planet

04/29/2026

🌎Hey environmental science educator - this is worth your 15 minutes!

At Project Learning Tree, we're all about supporting educators with tools that make environmental learning engaging, relevant, and hands-on.

🌱Now's your chance to help shape what comes next.

Take the National Survey of High School Environmental Science Teachers in partnership with North American Association for Environmental Education - NAAEE and BSCS Science Learning to share what's working and what's missing when it comes to teaching environmental science.

The survey is quick, anonymous, and built to make a difference. Your perspective is important and will help the whole community grow. Not a high school teacher yourself? Please feel free to share this opportunity with one that you know. We trust and value your networks!

🔗Submit your responses here: https://www.research.net/r/EnviroSciEdSurvey