Educator Share Page
Have you adapted parts of an activity for your classroom or program? Did you find an interesting prop to use with an activity? Send your finds and ideas to PLT Central for posting on the Educator Share Page.
Items submitted should fit into one of the following categories:
- Activity Enhancements
- Speakers
- Miscellaneous
Send my ideas and resources to PLT Central.
Activity Enhancements
Tree Factory #63
Blue pieces of paper (water & minerals) on the floor were collected up by the “roots” and transported up through the tree by the “xylem.” Once the blue pieces of paper made it to the “leaves”, the yellow pieces of paper (sunlight and CO2) mixed with the blue paper and became green paper (sugars/food/nutrients). Green paper was passed down from the leaves through the phloem to the cambium and roots. This was a good visual for the children. The blue paper became water vapor and the yellow paper became oxygen.
Dale Armstrong , Florida Division of Forestry
Pollution Search #36
I scanned the pages of “The Cat In The Hat Comes Back” and put the pictures onto a PowerPoint presentation. I had the children read with me on a few of the pages. Plus they could see the pictures in the book better when projected onto a big screen.
Dale Armstrong , Florida Division of Forestry
Dams and their Ecological Impact
(PLT water or ecology activities)
This can be done as a one day computer lab assignment or given as homework for completion. Give students the worksheet to gather their own information. Celebrate all the facts learned with a Dam Day! Refreshments can include pretzels (logs as beavers are nature's engineers), blue koolaid or gatorade, marshmallows, etc. [ MS Word]
Suzanne Saunders, Ecology, Harmony High School
Forms of Energy Icebreaker
(PLT energy activities)
This activity was created as an icebreaker but can also be used as a follow-up to a unit. On each name tag is either a form of energy or the definition of a form of energy. Ahead of time print name tags for each person making sure that each one has a match. Prior to starting the activity, post the pictures depicting a form of energy around the room. When ready to start, each participant will match the energy type or the definition on their name tag to the corresponding item. Pairs should meet in front of the picture representing their form of energy. At this time, learn one thing that your partner does to conserve energy
- Teacher copy [MS Word]
- Images black and white [MS Word] | color [MS Word]
- Name tags [MS Word]
Kelliann Whitney, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Florida Tree Identification Guide
(#68 Name that Tree)
Use this template to create your own tree identification guide. Ten common trees in Florida with detailed information and blank pages to add your site specific trees are included in the file. Note card sized entries are a perfect size to laminate, punch holes through, and clip 1" leaf rings to for easier viewing. Students can tape, glue, or make a leaf rubbing of their leaf on back of the specific card. [PDF ] | [MS Publisher]
Jennifer Seitz, Florida PLT Coordinator
Plethora of Activity Enhancements
A collection of items written in the "margins" of a PLT Guide.
Numerous ideas, activities, and extensions including
historic uses, facts, and mathematical explanations. [ PDF ]
Dr. John Guyton, a Wildlife and Fisheries Associate Professor of Extension at Mississippi State University and 2003 National PLT Outstanding Educator of the Year
Leaf Activities for Younger Students
(#64 Looking at Leaves)
After collecting leaves try these crafty ideas. [MS Word ]
Kay Antunez, California PLT Coordinator
Speakers
Miscellaneous
Forest Jeopardy
Be Alec Trebek and lead students through a game of forest jeopardy. [MS Word]
Lesson Plan Worksheet
This is the worksheet found in the back of newer editions of the PreK-8 Guide. Use this to help incorporate PLT activities into your classroom or programs. [PDF]
