1. Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree is an education program designed for teachers and others working with youth from pre-school through 12th grade.
Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from pre-school through 12th grade.

2. PLT enhances existing curricula
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PLT enhances existing curricula
PLT helps students learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment.
PLT enhances existing curricula by using the forest as a “window on the world” to increase students’ understanding of our complex environment, to stimulate critical and creative thinking, to develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues, and to instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
PLT helps students learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment.

3. Designed for hands-on, activity based learning.
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PLT was founded in 1973
Designed for hands-on, activity based learning.
Implemented through a trained volunteer network
International programs available in the U.S. Territories, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil.
PLT was founded in 1973 and was designed to be a supplementary curriculum program using hands-on, activity based learning. The program is implemented through a trained volunteer network that operates in all 50 states. To date, there are over 500,000 trained educators for PLT. The program is also international with programs being available in the U.S. Territories, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil.

4. Equip students to address environmental issues
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Goals
Equip students to address environmental issues
Enable students to apply scientific processes and higher order thinking skills to resolve environmental problems.
Help students acquire an appreciation and tolerance of diverse viewpoints on environmental issues
Goals
Provide students with the awareness, appreciation, understanding, skills and commitment to address environmental issues.
Enable students to apply scientific processes and higher order thinking skills to resolve environmental problems.
Help students acquire an appreciation and tolerance of diverse viewpoints on environmental issues, and develop attitudes and actions based on analysis and evaluation of the available information.
Encourage creativity, originality and flexibility to resolve environmental problems and issues.
Inspire and empower students to become responsible, productive and participatory members of society.

5. Project Learning Tree
Goals
Encourage creativity, originality and flexibility to resolve environmental problems and issues.
Inspire and empower students to become responsible, productive and participatory members of society.

6. PLT meets state and national education standards.
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PLT meets state and national education standards.
Curriculum provides necessary tools
Covers all aspects of the environment: forests, wildlife, water, energy conservation, etc…
PLT meets state and national education standards. The interdisciplinary curriculum materials provide the tools educators need to bring the environment into the classroom and their students into the environment.  This is not a “Tree” program but covers all aspects of the environment. Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water, to community planning, waste management and energy conservation.

7. Environmental Education Stages of Learning
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Environmental Education Stages of Learning
SOLUTIONS
TO ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS
AWARENESS
(appreciation)
KNOWLEDGE
(understanding)
ATTITUDE
(values &
feelings)
SKILL
(identify problems)
PARTICIPATION
(acquire
experience and
take action)

8. PLT can be used in a variety of contexts
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PLT can be used in a variety of contexts
PLT has a reputation for both balance and breadth of the information on topics covered.
Students make new discoveries
Educators guide students toward new conceptual understanding through critical thinking and creative problem solving.
PLT can be used in a variety of contexts, from rural to urban and can also be used in formal and non-formal settings. PLT has a reputation for both balance and breadth of the information on topics covered. Students construct new knowledge by combining previous knowledge with new discoveries. Educators guide students toward new conceptual understanding through critical thinking and creative problem solving.

9. A Highly Effective Delivery Network for Information and Education
Project Learning Tree
A Highly Effective Delivery Network for Information and Education

10. Secondary modules available too!
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Secondary modules available too!
PLT offers Secondary modules for Jr. & Sr. High School educators focusing on a variety of topics. These materials are also correlated to state and national education frameworks.

11. PLT also offers curriculum for Early Childhood Learners from ages 3-6
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PLT also offers curriculum for Early Childhood Learners from ages 3-6

12. The PLT Activity Guide has Five Themes: Diversity Interrelationships
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The PLT Activity Guide has Five Themes:
Diversity
Interrelationships
Systems
Structure and Scale
Patterns of Change

13. Each PLT activity will include:
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Each PLT activity will include:
Title
Overview
Sidebar
Objectives
Assessment Opportunities
Background
Getting Ready
Doing the Activity
Variations
Enrichment
Reading Connections
Each PLT activity has the same overall format and appearance in the Activity Guide. Each activity will include:
Title
Overview
Sidebar
Objectives
Assessment Opportunities
Background
Getting Ready
Doing the Activity
Variations
Enrichment
Reading Connections

14. Title: the “attention grabber” relating to activity’s content
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Title: the “attention grabber” relating to activity’s content
Overview: brief description of the activity
Sidebar: found on the first page of each activity and contains the fooling information:
Level
Subjects
Concepts
Skills
Materials
Time Considerations
Related activities
Title: the “attention grabber” that relates to the activity’s content
Overview: brief description of the activity
Sidebar: found on the first page of each activity and contains the fooling information:
Level: indicates recommended grade levels for various parts of the activity.
Subjects: indicates the subjects that the activity incorporates (i.e. mathematics, science, social studies, etc.)
Concepts: lists the concepts that the activity addresses
Skills: lists the thinking processes and skills that the activity develops (i.e. reasoning, observing, etc.)
Materials: lists the materials needed to do the activity
Time Considerations: recommends time allotments for each part of the core activity, including preparation.
Related activities: lists other PLT activities that
address closely related topics

15. Getting Ready: describes how to prepare
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Objectives
Background
Assessment Opportunities: provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge they have gained.
Getting Ready: describes how to prepare
Doing the Activity: provides step-by-step procedures for leading the activity
Objectives: states the content objectives targeted in the activity
Background: contains relevant information that provides the teacher with an understanding and perspective for engaging the class in the activity
Assessment Opportunities: Guides the educator toward assessing students’ understanding of the concepts covered in the activity and provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge they have gained.
Background: contains relevant information that provides the teacher with an
understanding and perspective for
engaging the class in the activity.
Getting Ready: describes how to prepare for
teaching the activity
Doing the Activity: provides step-by-step procedures for leading the activity
Variations: provide alternative procedures for doing the activity having similar objectives to the core activity, but appeal to different age levels, learning styles, audiences, situations, or concerns
Enrichment: contain recommendations for exercises that enrich or extend the learning experience in the activity
Reading Connections: lists books
that are relevant to the activity

16. Variations: provide alternative procedures
Enrichment: suggestions for exercises to extend the learning experience
Reading Connections: lists books
that are relevant to the activity

17. Project Learning Tree
National Sponsors American Forest Foundation Council for Environmental Education Society of American Foresters USDA Forest Service National Association of State Foresters National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges National Association of Conservation Districts World Forestry Center

18. Project Learning Tree
For more information contact: Erica Cox or Janice Greene Missouri PLT State Co-Coordinators Missouri State University Department of Biology 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO ,