Project Learning Tree

Educational materials to teach kids how to think, not what to think about environmental issues.

What is Project Learning Tree?

An award-winning environmental education program for PreK-8 formal and non-formal educators. Designed for all educators and naturalists, the materials are only available through PLT workshops lead by certified instructors. Some goals of PLT are:

• To develop students' awareness, appreciation, skills, and commitment to address environmental issues.
• To provide a framework for students to apply scientific processes and higher order thinking skills to resolve environmental problems.
• To 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.
• To encourage creativity, originality, and flexibility to resolve environmental problems and issues.

Once you are trained in PLT, put service-learning into action with the GreenWorks! grant program. This community action program of PLT blends service activities with the academic curriculum and addresses real community needs as students learn through active engagement. Greenworks grants are available for up to $5,000 to anyone who has completed a PLT workshop. To learn more, check out the Project Learning Tree Greenworks Page [exit DNR]

Project Learning Tree: PreK-8 Activity Guide

Correlated to Wisconsin's standards, the Project Learning Tree Pre K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide includes nearly 100 activities in a story-line technique covering themes of diversity, interrelationships, systems, structure and scale, and patterns of change.

View a sample activity [exit DNR]

PLT PreK-8 Workshop

• Receive a PreK-8 PLT Activity Guide.
• Learn about Wisconsin's trees and forest ecology through hands-on activities.
• Workshops run 6 hours.
• Workshop fee is $15.

Educators who have attended a Project Learning Tree (PLT) workshop in the past can now order (for a limited time) PLT's new PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide (2006 ed.) directly from PLT for $29.95, plus $7.95 shipping and handling. Activity Guide [exit DNR]

Wisconsin's PLT Early Childhood Guide & Music/Movement CD

Educators are raving about the Wisconsin Project Learning Tree (PLT) Early Childhood Activity Guide and Music/Movement CD. With these fun, interdisciplinary activities, children become nature detectives, dance with a tree, and take a simulated walk through a forest—complete with the sounds of the animals that live there! The activity guide and CD feature guided outdoor explorations; animal voices, dances, stories, and simulations; an annotated bibliography; art; assessments; and a topic related snack into 35 activities. The curriculum is correlated to the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards. Registry credits are available.

PLT Early Childhood Workshop (ages 3-6)

• Receive the Wisconsin PLT Early Childhood Activity Guide plus Music & Movement CD.
• Explore trees and their inhabitants in a variety of expressive formats.
• Workshops run 2 - 3 hours.
• Workshop fee is $10.00.
• Registry credits available

A combined PLT PreK-8 and PLT Early Childhood workshop is available for $20.00.

Project Learning Tree: Secondary Education Modules

PLT also encompasses secondary-level modules. These issue-oriented activity guides help students investigate environmental issues, such as forestry and forest ecosystems, as well as build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Secondary modules contain background information, student activities, simulations, and case studies. Secondary modules include:

• Global Connections: Forests of the World
• Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live
• Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests
• The Changing Forest: Forest Ecology
• Exploring Environmental Issues: Solid Waste
• Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk
• NEW & Available Online - Exploring Environmental Issues: Biodiversity [exit DNR]

Once you have attended a PLT workshop you can order the secondary modules for only $6.00 ($7 for Places We Live). Include your name, address, phone, the date you attended the workshop, instructor's name, and the name of the module(s) you are ordering. Send check made out to Wisconsin Project Learning Tree and mail it to the address below.

DNR Project Learning Tree
PLT Secondary Module Order
PO BOX 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921

National Coorelations

Excellence in EE – Guidelines for Learning K - 12 [exit DNR]

National Science Standards [exit DNR]

National Social Studies Standards [exit DNR]

Girl Scout Correlations [exit DNR]

Boy Scout Correlations [exit DNR]

FOSS Kit Correlations (National and State) [exit DNR]

Get Involved Today!

Learn how to How to Schedule a Workshop. See our schedule of current teacher workshops to meet the specific educational needs of your group.

Contact Us

PLT, WILD, & WET
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
PO BOX 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
dnrpltwildwet@wisconsin.gov
(608) 264-6280