Trees for Many Reasons
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By reading a story such as The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, students can examine the importance of conserving natural resources.
Objectives
Students will
- Discuss and analyze fictional stories related to natural resources.
- Determine whether the main ideas of the stories build a case for the sustainable use of natural resources.
For the complete activity and more like this, purchase the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide at Shop.PLT.org and/or attend a professional development training in your state.
Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide is a supplementary curriculum that is multi-disciplinary, with an emphasis on science, reading, writing, mathematics, and social studies.
Each activity displays explicit connections to practices and concepts expected by the following national academic standards so teachers can easily see where the materials will fit into their lesson plans:
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Common Core Toolkit, includes
- English Language Arts (CCSS.ELA)
- Mathematics (CCSS.MATH)
- College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies (C3)
Our professional development further demonstrates these connections, as well as to state and local standards, contact your state coordinator.
Fatima’s Great Outdoors
Fatima’s Great Outdoors Grades 3-5 Written by: Ambreen Tariq Illustrated by: Stevie Lewis Published by: Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2021 ISBN-13: 978-1984816955 Recommended Reading Do you remember your first ever camping trip? Are you still planning it? Fatima’s Great Outdoors follows the story of Fatima and the Khazi family, comprised of... Read more »
EE Resources
Story Maps: Why and How You Can Teach With Them
Story Maps are simple web apps that combine interactive maps, multimedia content, and user experiences to tell stories about the world. This introductory story maps workshop explains what story maps are, and why and how you can teach with them. Find and use existing Story Maps in your teaching and learn how to design and... Read more »
Indigenous Connections to PLT Activities
The Minnesota Department of Education includes Indigenous-based learning benchmarks in science, language arts, and social studies. Learn how the Minnesota DNR worked with tribes to adapt several PLT activities to include Ojibwe and Dakota culture and knowledge, and get some tips for teaching about Indigenous Peoples with knowledge and respect. Access the Ojibwe and Dakota... Read more »
Forest Fact Break: Urban Forests
These three 2-minute videos highlight elements of an urban forest, how they’re managed, and the community benefits. More than 80% of all Americans live in urban areas and urban forests bring important benefits to those communities. Developed by forestinfo.org and the North Carolina Forest Service, these Forest Fact Breaks are a great way to help learn more... Read more »
Paper is Good. Pass It On
To highlight the importance of paper in our lives, Domtar (a producer of pulp and paper products) created a Paper Because campaign featuring ads and a series of short videos to dispel some common myths about the environmental impact of paper and the use of paper in today’s digital age. “There are times when no substitute... Read more »
Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful is a nonprofit that provides waste education materials, events, and programs.
Lorax Sequels
Check out these student-written examples of sequels to The Lorax tale. Try writing and illustrating your own version!
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