Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Dichotomous Tree Key
Identify a tree using this interactive identification tool.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Creation of Dichotomous Keys From a Bio Blitz
An outdoor lab where middle schoolers investigate the environment and decide a method of survey to identify trees in their area. To finish the exercise they will create a dichotomous key of the ten they identified.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Minnesota Tree Blitz
This activity serves as an introduction to tree identification and helps students learn about the natural world around them. While exploring trees of Minnesota, students will recognize biodiversity of trees and learn how to observe,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A Student Produced Field Guide to Neighborhood Trees
During this project, students will be working cooperatively to create a field guide of trees in the neighborhood near the school. Students will make observations of trees near the school. They will then learn about tree anatomy and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Culture and Exploration
In this lesson, the story of Turtle Island is told to the students. Each student will collect leaves and bring one to school, every day, for about a month. Discuss as a class where they come from and why they are all different. Every...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: English Language Learners Create a Botanic Field Guide
Students gather information and create a botanic field guide which includes the common and scientific names for plants (trees, shrubs, wildflowers, plants) typically found in their surroundings.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A Tree for All Seasons
The students will observe a maple tree throughout the year and recognize changes in weather and phenology using their 5 senses.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Schoolyard Trees: Creating a Field Guide for Your School
An interesting activity where learners observe and identify the trees in the schoolyard, then create a field guide for others to use.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Microenvironment Project: Featuring Phenology
A field lab for biology that focuses students on the study of nature and its changes over time. Students are asked to observe and acquire knowledge of trees and the interdependence that a tree shares with other organisms.
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Tree Inventory and Map Project
Canvas the neighborhood or school grounds to identify the quantity and types of trees found. Students will map out the area including all of the trees locations. Reviewing the map, students will determine whether areas may benefit from...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Networked Beauty of Forests
Deforestation causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all trains, planes and automobiles combined. Suzanne Simard examines how the complex, symbiotic networks of our forests mimic our own neural and social networks- and how those...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Popular Poplars
After watching the "Popular Poplars" episode of PBS Kids' Plum Landing, students will draw a picture of poplar trees and publish them online. Students will include butterflies alongs their trees.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Flying Frog: Jungle Mission
After watching the "Flying Frog" episode of PBS Kids' Plum Landing, students will draw pictures of flying tree frogs and publish them online.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:broom Forest: A Tall Trees Simulation
Explore environmental factors of an area that affect a species' characteristics over time. Construct a "broom" tree, sketch support structures similar to those used by the tall Amazon trees and explain the limitations of such structures.
Other
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine
Read about the discovery of "Methuselah," the oldest living tree. Where the bristlecone pines grow, in what conditions, and how they were dated.
New Zealand Ministry of Education
Cork Quality Council: Harvesting Natural Cork
Learn how cork, "An eminently renewable resource harvested from the living bark of the Cork Oak," is grown, removed, and used for wine bottle corks and more. Information on the cork forest, the world's largest cork tree, and quality...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: Tree Inspector
This PBS Kids activity is an extension of a Plum Landing episode featuring trees. Students will use the online tools to draw a tree that they closely observe.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Plum Landing: The Kangaroo
This PBS Kids activity is an extension of a Plum Landing episode featuring Australia and its kangaroos. Using the online tools, students will draw pictures of trees that would shade kangaroos.
Other
Elm Care: How Trees Work
How do trees drink, how do trees breath, what is the structure of a tree? Answer these questions and more.
Other
Dcnr: Common Trees of Pennsylvania [Pdf]
A list of common trees in Pennsylvania, as well as specific information on each tree.
Other
Missouri Dept. Of Conservation: Missouri Forest Facts
This site highlights the importance of forests and the need to keep them healthy. Information about how Missouri depends on its forests for many uses is highlighted.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat Network: Increase Canopy Cover by Planting and Maintaining Trees
Find out the ecological benefits of filling a backyard habitat with trees.
University of Pennsylvania
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
This site presents information on the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum and Gardens. On this web page, you will find general information about the garden, features of the garden, information on the garden's plant collection,...
Harvard University
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
This site contains general information about The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. The site also gives a selection of links that tell more about the garden.