Learning Hub
The Tree Campus K–12 Resource Hub contains examples of tree-centric curriculum and activities that have the power to connect your students to trees.
This collection is intended to provide inspiration — using these examples is not required to fulfill the program’s Education Plan goal. Have a classroom-tested example you’d like to share? Email us at [email protected].
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Activity
$5.95 | Project Learning Tree
Sensational Trees redirect
Activity
Sensational Trees is a downloadable resource for educators of students in grades K-2 that invites young learners to investigate trees using their senses. Using their five senses, young learners can investigate trees – and learn about nature – through: touching bark, seeds, and other natural objects, seeing shapes and colors, hearing birdcalls and nature sounds, smelling flowers and leaves, and tasting tree food products such as fruits and nuts.
Science social studies Reading Writing
Grade Level: K-2
Guide
$15-20 | Project Learning Tree
Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers redirect
Activities, Worksheets, Resources, and Guide for Educators
Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers includes four hands-on instructional activities to help youth research forestry jobs, and practice managing and monitoring forest resources. The activities are designed to be flexible. They may be taught as individual, stand-alone lessons or all together as a cohesive unit of instruction. Depending on your program, you may teach them in the sequence provided, switch the order around, or pick and choose components from different activities.
CareersForest ManagementForestryGeographyScienceTechnology
Grade Level: 6-12
Guide
Free | Project Learning Tree
Teaching With i-Tree redirect
Activities, worksheets, resources, and guide for educators
Project Learning Tree’s Teaching with i-Tree unit includes three hands-on activities that help middle and high school students discover and analyze the many ecosystem services that trees provide. Students input data they collect into a free online tool that calculates the dollar value of the benefits provided by a tree, or a set of trees.
biology ecology economics language arts technology
Grade Level: 6–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
Lesson Plan
$40 | Project Learning Tree
Treemendous Science! redirect
Step-by-step lesson plans and assessment tools
Treemendous Science! students will explore, experience, observe, and collect tree data to develop understandings about how trees grow, the roles trees play in ecological systems, and the ways in which trees and humans interact.
science
Grade Level: K–2
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, C3 Framework for Social Studies
Lesson Plan
$40 | Project Learning Tree
Energy in Ecosystems redirect
Step-by-step lesson plans and assessment tools
Students focus on forests (one of the largest and most complex types of ecosystems) and come to understand some of the interactions present in all ecosystems. In doing so, they learn to appreciate the natural systems on which we depend and begin to widen their circle of compassion to include all of nature.
science
Grade Level: 3–5
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Math, C3 Framework for Social Studies
Lesson Plan
$40 | Project Learning Tree
Carbon and Climate redirect
Step-by-step lesson plans and assessment tools
Designed for 6th-8th grade teachers, Carbon & Climate provides activities and resources to help educators meet these challenges, introducing students to some of the complex issues involved in climate change.
science
Grade Level: 6–8
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Math, C3 Framework for Social Studies
Lesson Plan
Must Attend a Trainning | $25 | Project Learning Tree
Focus on Forests redirect
Step-by-step lesson plans and assessment tools
This high school curriculum is designed to foster student understanding of — and appreciation for — the forested lands of North America. The lessons provide students with opportunities for hands-on forest study and address concepts in biology, civics, ecology, economics, forest management, and other content areas.
Students examine ecological systems of a forest; analyze interdependencies within a forest ecosystem; and explore factors, like fire, that shape the development of forests. As students explore forest issues and develop science content knowledge, they develop critical thinking skills and discover the importance of scientific analysis.
Biology civics ecology economics forest management
Grade Level: 9–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for ELA and Math
Activity
Must Attend a Trainning | $25 | Project Learning Tree
Forests of the World redirect
Student activities
Global Connections: Forests of the World provides opportunities for high school teachers and students to gain an increased understanding of — and appreciation for — the diversity of global forests. The lessons emphasize the interactions people have with forests and our dependence on them. The activities provide students with opportunities to apply scientific processes and higher order thinking skills while investigating world forestry issues and conducting service-learning action projects.
Science
Grade Level: 9–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS and Common Core State Standards for ELA and Math
Activity
Free | The GLOBE Program
Trees Around the GLOBE redirect
Student Activities
NASA and the GLOBE Program offers many opportunities for students, educators, and citizen scientists to interact with their local environments by taking ground-based observations of many things, including trees. Students and educators can become part of the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign, a campaign that focuses on tree height. Designed as a way for students to take measurements of tree heights, the campaign allows students to take measurements, submit their data to the GLOBE Program’s database, use their own data, and the data from other students and citizen scientists, to develop student research projects related to trees and tree height. The NASA GLOBE Observer App Trees Tool allows citizen scientists to take tree heights using a mobile device.
Citizen ScienceEarth ScienceTechnology
Grade Level: 6–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS
Lesson Plan
Free | KidsGardening.org
Exploring Tree Rings redirect
Lesson Plan
Trees are essential workhorses in our environment, providing us with oxygen to breathe; foods such as apples, hazelnuts, and maple syrup to eat; and wood for our houses, paper products, and furniture. In nature, trees provide food and housing for birds, insects, and other animals. They filter water and absorb carbon. Their importance is evident, but how do trees actually work?
Science
Grade Level: 9–12
Lesson Plan
Free | The Nature Conservancy (Nature Lab)
Urban Trees redirect
Lesson plan with video
Students will learn about how trees are an essential part of our lives with a focus on the role they play in urban areas, including energy considerations. They will consider threats posed to trees, including non-native insects, domestic animal waste, and erosion. Students then evaluate the potential impact of local tree conservation efforts and design a plan for their community.
Science Natural Resources
Grade Level: 6–8
Standards Alignment:NGSS Middle School, Common Core Science and Technical Subjects
Lesson Plan
Free | The Nature Conservancy (Nature Lab)
Seeing the Wood for the Trees:
Introduction to Sustainable Forestry redirect
Lesson plan with video
In this lesson, students interact with Google Earth to identify forests that have been logged selectively versus those that have not. They also learn how to distinguish the appearance of forestry methods in satellite images. Outdoors, students create a comprehensive list of all the tree species in their own neighborhoods or local parks. Students collect leaves and work as individuals, then as teams, to identify the trees in their sampling area. Class data is pooled to allow simple calculations of rarity indices for the various tree species.
Science Environmental Science
Grade Level: 6–8
Standards Alignment:NGSS Middle School, Common Core English and Language Arts Standards for Speaking and Listening
Lesson Plan
Free | The Nature Conservancy (Nature Lab)
Reforestation: Impact on Climate redirect
Lesson plan with video
Deforestation is clearing Earth’s forests on a massive scale. In this lesson, students learn the value of large-scale forest landscapes and their role in the carbon cycle. Tools such as infographics and carbon calculators help students investigate deforestation and its impact on climate. Reforestation also impacts climate change. Students explore how reforestation can help decrease carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thereby minimizing climate change and improving air quality.
Science
Grade Level: 6–8
Standards Alignment:NGSS Middle School, Common Core English and Language Arts Standards for Writing
Lesson Plan
Free | The Nature Conservancy (Nature Lab)
Ecosystem Interdependence:
Managing Salmon for Healthy Forests redirect
Lesson plan with video
In this lesson plan, students address the impact of unsustainable fishing practices. Salmon runs are an important factor in cycling several nutrients. Overfishing salmon reduces the forest’s capacity for growth and regeneration. Students explore the connection between the size of salmon runs and forest health. First, they test a population model to estimate a sustainable salmon harvest. Second, they simulate variation in nutrient input by comparing growth of plants given inputs of different concentrations of fish-based fertilizer with a control.
Science
Grade Level: 6–12
Standards Alignment:NGSS Middle School, NGSS High School, Common Core English and Language Arts Standards for Science and Technical Subjects and Writing Grades 6-8
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Sounds of the Forest redirect
Illustrated publication for young readers
This publication, with text and color illustrations, is intended for young readers (grades K-3) and tells the story of some of the animals that live in Oregon’s forests.
Reading Nature
Grade Level: K–3
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Forest Essays Grades 2-3 redirect
Illustrated essay collection with reading comprehension questions
This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. The one-page essays were written by a team of natural resources specialists and then reviewed by teachers for content and readability and scientists for accuracy. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.
Reading Wildlife Forestry Tree Biology
Grade Level: 2–3
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Forest Essays Grades 4-5 redirect
Illustrated essay collection with reading comprehension questions
This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. The one-page essays were written by a team of natural resources specialists and then reviewed by teachers for content and readability and scientists for accuracy. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.
Reading Wildlife Forestry Tree Biology
Grade Level: 4–5
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Forest Essays Grades 6 redirect
Illustrated essay collection with reading comprehension questions
This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. The one-page essays were written by a team of natural resources specialists and then reviewed by teachers for content and readability and scientists for accuracy. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.
Reading Wildlife Forestry Tree Biology
Grade Level: 6
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Forest Essays Grades 7-12 redirect
Illustrated essay collection with reading comprehension questions
This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. The one-page essays were written by a team of natural resources specialists and then reviewed by teachers for content and readability and scientists for accuracy. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.
Reading Wildlife Forestry Tree Biology
Grade Level: 7–12
Illustrated Publication
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Where’s All The Carbon? (Poster) redirect
Poster to accompany activity
This classroom poster illustrates the role of forests and wood products in the carbon cycle. The poster shows the major contributors of carbon into the atmosphere, how forests absorb carbon through photosynthesis and how wood products such as lumber and furniture continue to store the carbon absorbed by trees.
Science
Grade Level: 6–12
Activity
Free | LearnForests.org (Oregon Forest Literacy Plan)
Where’s All The Carbon? Instruction Guide-New redirect
Activity, student page
A companion to Where’s All The Carbon? poster, the Instruction Guide includes additional activities, lesson plans and background information to help teachers go deeper into the material included in the student publication. The guide also includes a list of additional resources, and it is aligned to state educational standards.
Science
Grade Level: 6–12
Standards Alignment:NGSS, Common Core State Standards for Literacy/ELA and Math
Guide
Free | California Academy of Sciences
Citizen Science Toolkit redirect
Toolkit for educators wishing to integrate citizen science projects into the classroom
This toolkit is designed to help educators integrate citizen science projects into classroom curricula or afterschool programming.
It contains resources—including lessons, readings, and worksheets—to help communicate the value of citizen science to students and cultivate their sense of empowerment and impact when performing science investigations.
Citizen Science
Grade Level: K–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Website
Free | Wildlife Conservation Society
Northern Forest Atlas redirect
Website with photographic guides, digital atlases, and posters for plant identification
The Northern Forest Atlas was created to document the current biology of the forests and to provide tools for the next generation of naturalists and conservationists who will study and protect them. The Atlas was conceived by Ed McNeil and Jerry Jenkins in 2011, and began full-time operations in 2013. It has three main goals: to create a library of photos and air videos showing the landscapes, plants, and animals of the northern forest; to create photographic and diagrammatic atlases, both paper and digital, for plants and landscapes; and to design and produce a series of modern field guides to plants and ecology.
Tree Identification
Grade Level: K–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Activity
Free | US Forest Service
Smokey the Bear: Smokey's Wildfire Prevention Detectives redirect
Activities with educator guides
A complete language arts and science curriculum for grades 6–8. Students take on the role of forensic investigators in this program designed for the science/Earth science classroom. The program will reinforce critical thinking, speaking & writing, scientific inquiry, collaborative learning, and research skills in language arts, social studies, science & technical subjects, and health/safety.
These materials were created in 2007 and linked to the appropriate national education standards, Core Curriculum standards and North American Association of Environmental Education standards at the time of their development. Those standards may have changed, but the learning objectives remain the same, as outlined here.
Language Arts Science
Grade Level: 6–8
Standards Alignment: NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Lesson Plan
Free | Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Forestry/Natural Resources Lesson Plans (K-5) redirect
Lesson plans collection
A collection of lesson plans surrounding the topics of forestry and natural resource, submitted by educators.
Forestry Natural Resources
Grade Level: K–5
Lesson Plan
Free | Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Forestry/Natural Resources Lesson Plans (6-8) redirect
Lesson plans collection
A collection of lesson plans surrounding the topics of forestry and natural resource, submitted by educators.
Forestry Natural Resources
Grade Level: 6–8
Lesson Plan
Free | Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
Forestry/Natural Resources Lesson Plans (9-12) redirect
Lesson plans collection
A collection of lesson plans surrounding the topics of forestry and natural resource, submitted by educators.
Forestry Natural Resources
Grade Level: 9–12
Activity
Free, with a free AskNature account | Biomimicry Institute
We Are Not Alone redirect
Activity with educator guide
In this interactive exercise the functions a building must perform are compared to the functions a tree must perform, helping students see that humans are not alone in our need to solve technological problems.
Science Technology Architecture Biomimicry
Grade Level: K–12
Video
Free, with a free AskNature account | Biomimicry Institute
Suzanne Simard: How trees talk to each other (TED Talk) redirect
Video
A forest is much more than what you see,” says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — trees communicate, often and over vast distances.
Science
Grade Level: 9–12
Video
Free, with a free AskNature account | Biomimicry Institute
Do Trees Communicate? redirect
Video
In this 5 minute video University of British Columbia professor Suzanne Simard shows how all trees in a forest are interconnected.
Science
Grade Level: 9–12
Illustrated Publication
Free, with a free AskNature account | Urban Greenprint
SeedKit: Design Concepts Learned from Pacific Northwest Forests redirect
Digital booklet
How can a city function like a forest? What can we learn from Nature to improve the health, resilience, & livability of our cities? How can our buildings and roads sequester carbon, treat polluted runoff, and support biodiversity?
Science Technology Architecture Biomimicry
Grade Level: 9–12
Activity
Free | earthforceresources.org
Earth Force redirect
Classroom Activities
Earth Force provides a blended learning experience for educators to prepare them to conduct the Community Action and Problem Solving Process with their students. The Community Action and Problem Solving Process is a six-step model that combines civic engagement, environmental education, and STEM. Youth work with their educators to identify and research local environmental issues, resulting in a civic action project that addresses their selected issue.
civics
Grade Level: 6–12
Guide
Free | Arizona Forestry
Neighborhood Forests
Activity Guide
A learning guide developed for teachers to plan lessons and activites for students to understand the importance trees play in our communities.
Science math
Grade Level: K-5
Guide
Free | KidsGardening.org
Winter Blooms redirect
Activity Guide
Many deciduous trees and shrubs form their flower buds the previous summer or fall and then enter a period of leafless winter dormancy. Because actively growing plants can't withstand freezing temperatures for an extended period, they have adapted by "resting" during the coldest months. By providing the same late winter/early spring conditions indoors that entice flowers and leaves to emerge outdoors, young gardeners can force branches to reveal their spring finery.
Science
Grade Level: K-12
Lesson Plan
Free | Next Generation Science Storylines
Next Generation Storylines: How do small changes make big impacts on ecosystems? redirect
Lesson Plans with educator guide
In this second part of a two-part high school ecosystems unit, students investigate the claim that planting trees can help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing carbon in wood. Students’ questions about where and how trees do this, sparks a series of investigations to pursue to track down where the carbon is going as it moves into and through different tissues in the tree (leaves, wood, and roots) that help students develop a model for how matter transformations and energy flow occurs in organisms and ecosystems.
Science Ecosystems
Grade Level: 9-12
Standards Alignment: NGSS
Lesson Plan
Free | The City College of New York School of Education
Unifying Life: Placing Urban Tree Diversity in an Evolutionary Context redirect
Lesson Plans with educator guide
Unifying Life is a curriculum to help middle school students learn about the street trees that they see daily. Kids walk by trees and other plants every day and many cannot identify a maple or an oak. This curriculum uses Leafsnap (www.leafsnap.com), a cutting edge iPhone tree identification app to help students through careful observation.
Science Biodiversity
Grade Level: 6-9
Standards Alignment: NGSS
Activity
Free | Data Nuggets
Tree-Killing Beetles redirect
Activities with Educator Guide and Rubric
“Tree-killing beetles” begins with the phenomenon of lodgepole pine forest devastation by mountain pine beetle outbreaks. One scientist observed a potential correlation between tree size and beetle infestation. The driving question is, “How does the average tree size in a forest influence its susceptibility to mountain pine beetles?” The lesson involves discovering the scientist’s hypothesis, graphing and/or data analysis, making a claim, and providing evidence and reasoning to support the claim.
Science Biodiversity
Grade Level: 6-8
Website
Free | Arbor Day Foundation
Carly's Kids Corner
Website
Carly's Kids Corner introduces early learners to the wonder of trees through digital activities such as "Leaf ID" and a "Junior Arborist" quiz and printable activity sheets.
Science
Grade Level: K-3
Activity
Free, with sponsorship | Tree-Plenish
Tree-Plenish Community Tree Planting redirect
Activity
Tree-Plenish supports students in planning a community tree planting event to replenish the environment with the amount of paper their school used during the past academic year… while meeting multiple Tree Campus K-12 program goals!
civics leadership
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Plan
Free | KidsGardening.org
Exploring Food Forests redirect
Lesson Plan
A food forest strives to mimic the relationships found in natural forest ecosystems to sustainably grow fruit- and nut-bearing trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals that provide a food source for humans and wildlife. In this lesson, students explore the relationships found in forest ecosystems, investigate the concept of planting a food forest, and research appropriate plant materials and create a design for a food forest in their area.
science
Grade Level: 6–12
Standards Alignment: NGSS
Lesson plan with video
Free | The Nature Conservancy (Nature Lab)
Virtual Field Trips from Nature Lab redirect
Designed for ages 9-15 but customizable for all ages, virtual field trips allow students to travel the world and explore natural environments without leaving the classroom. Each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide, and student activities. Several of these field trips involve learning about trees and forests, including wildlife exploration in tropical and temperate rainforests and examining the role of trees in cooling urban heat islands.
science Geography social studies
Grade Level: 3-8
Standards Alignment: NGSS, National Geography Standards
Lesson plan
Free | Purdue Extension
The Nature of Teaching: Trees of the Midwest redirect
Lesson Plan
This lesson will teach students all about trees, including the life cycle of a tree, the function of different parts of a tree, and the use for and value of different wood products.
science language arts
Grade Level: 2-6
Standards Alignment: NGSS, English/Language Arts Standards
Activity
Free | Neighborhood Forest
Plant a Free Tree redirect
Activity
Neighborhood Forest is a non-profit social venture dedicated to giving children their very own tree to plant on Earth Day – for free – every spring. Since 2010, Neighborhood Forest has mobilized over 400 schools, libraries, and youth groups, reached over 100,000 families, and given over 50,000 children in 35 states the opportunity to plant their very own tree. You can learn more and register your school at Neighborhood Forest's website.
science civics
Grade Level: K-12
Tree Campus K-12 is an Arbor Day Foundation Program in collaboration with:
