Idaho Project Learning Tree

Biodiversity is the spice of life! Did you know that biologists estimate that Earth’s current biodiversity is somewhere between 10 million and 1 trillion different species? And they’ve only just scratched the surface, classifying only about 1.7 million species.

For International Day for Biological Diversity, check out PLT’s Biodiversity Blitz activity collection and these accompanying resources: https://www.plt.org/activity-resources/grades-3-5-activity-charting-biodiversity/

🐝 What’s the buzz all about? It’s World Bee Day! Check out these fun activities to do with your students to celebrate these small but mighty insects that are powerful pollinators and vital to our entire ecosystem, especially forests.
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/pollinator-activities-world-bee-day/

Did you know there are more than 1,500 endangered or threatened plant and animal species across the U.S.? On Endangered Species Day, encourage your students to collaborate on a research project and advocate on behalf of a plant or animal on the brink of extinction.

In PLT’s Life on the Edge / La Vida al Límite activity from the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8, students model processes that can lead to species becoming rare or endangered and use their creativity to develop an advocacy and awareness campaign.

For younger learners, check out these endangered species art project ideas! https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/21-endangered-species-art-project-ideas

Thank you to all the Idaho 5th-12th-grade students who submitted photos expressing the theme “Seasons of Change: The Dynamics of Idaho’s Forests.” We love seeing your perspectives!

1st Place, 5th-6th Grade | Nourished by the Mother Tree by Parker Fleshman
1st Place, 7th-8th Grade | Imogene Lake Cove by Hannah Johnson
1st Place, 9th-10th Grade| Pretty in Pink by Maitane Lete
1st Place, 11th-12th Grade | A Compromise for the Future by Cooper Molinengo

Visit idahoforests.org/photocontest to see all the honored entries. Click the "heart" icon in the bottom right corner of each photo to read the photographer's statement.

Each year, millions of birds migrate to their nesting sites in the spring, traveling hundreds and even thousands of miles. With PLT’s activity collection, Together for Birds, take your learners outside to explore the wonders of birds, their habitats, and why they’re so important to ecosystems.

Don't miss out on our 2026 t-shirts and stickers! Shirts for $20 + Stickers for $2. All proceeds go to our education programs.
Order at idahoforests.org/shop

Teachers…we ❤️ you and think you're AWE-some! You don’t just educate students. You inspire, empower, engage, and nurture the next generation. We see you, the countless hours you pour into your students, and how dedicated you are.

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re offering a 20% discount on the e-book versions of Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children, Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide, and Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers! Use coupon code 26TEACH at checkout. Visit shop.plt.org.

May is Mental Health Month | Spending time in nature has shown to have myriad benefits for people of all ages, including reduced stress, improved mood and cognition, and connectedness. Take learning outdoors and explore how our environment impacts our health with PLT’s activity collection, “Connecting for Health & Planet”.

In our constantly connected to devices world, kids today spend more time in front of screens, anywhere from 6-9 hours a day! This Screen-Free Week, unplug and head outdoors for fun, hands-on learning with PLT activities. They get you outside to enjoy nature, and teach students about math, science, language arts, and more.

Here are some of our favorite lessons to do outdoors!
For little learners, check out Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children:
🌲Sounds Around – In this fun activity, children explore the sounds of nature and imitate them using their own voices and instruments that they make together.
🌲Home Tweet Home – Children head outdoors for a nature excursion to find examples of animals and plants that depend on trees or shrubs.

For elementary & middle schoolers, try these activities from the Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide / Explora tu Ambiente: Guía de Actividades K-8:
🌲Neighborhood Naturalist / Naturalista del Patio – Students explore a nearby habitat to look for signs of animals living there
🌲Get Outside! / ¡Sal al Aire Libre! – Students examine the physical and emotional effects of a task done outdoors versus indoors.
🌲Improve Your Place / Mejora tu Lugar – Students plan and carry out a service-learning project focused on making positive environmental changes in their community.

Get more tips for teaching outdoors: plt.org/resources/educator-tips/teaching-outdoors/