Educator Resources
Whether you’re a parent, teacher or group leader, teaching kids about the importance of trees can be educational and fun! Look below for free, engaging lessons that correlate with state learning standards.
You may already know that trees help moderate climates, improve air quality, absorb carbon, harbor wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and reduce heating and cooling costs. But what you’ll discover is that by introducing kids to the beauty of trees, Project Plant It! benefits our most valuable natural resource – our children.
The program culminates in April in honor of Arbor Day. To celebrate, you can request free seedlings so your students can experience the joy of planting a tree. Seedlings are provided by the Arbor Day Foundation and arrive with specific instructions for planting in schoolyards, residential areas or containers. For best results, plant the seedlings as soon as possible after your students receive them.
Seedlings are only available for request from the fall through mid-winter, but enjoy these educational resources on our website anytime, all year long!
Looking for some
online fun?
Try these games on a rainy day when children can’t be active outside.
Parts of a Tree (Grades K - 4)
Tree Terminology (Grades 5 - 8)
Tree Trivia (Grades 9 - 12)
Kick off your Project Plant It! experience with this helpful toolbox. You’ll discover a suggested timeline, best practices, a participation certificate for students to proudly display and much more.
Check out these cool ways for students to explore the great outdoors. Using the unique blend of arts, science, math and physical activity, these activities will get students in the dirt and excited about Project Plant It!
The list below represents only a small sample of the available resources about trees. Library shelves are full of books concerning every facet of these woody wonders – including leaves, rainforests, plants and much more – so dig around here and then go exploring on your own!
For Elementary Students:
A Tree is a Plant by Clyde Robert Bulla
A Tree is Growing by Arthur Dorron
Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber
Discovering Trees by Douglas Florian
Flowers and Trees by Time-Life Books
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Leaves by Rena Kirkpatrick
Leaves and Trees by Elaine Pascoe
Mighty Tree by Dick Gackenbach
Outside and Inside Trees by Sandra Markle
Sky Tree by Thomas Locker
Trees by Martyn Hamer
Trees by Andrew Langley
For Educators:
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Picture Guide to Tree Leaves by Raymond Wiggers
Science Project Ideas about Trees by Robert Gardner
State Trees by Sue Brandt
Tree by David Burnie (Eyewitness Book series)
Tree Almanac: A Year-Round Activity Guide by Monica Russo
Trees by Allen Coombes
Trees by Linda Gamlin
Want to do some research on your own and gain even more insight about our ecosystem? These websites concerning trees and the wonderful world around them will help your arbor knowledge take root.
Dominion Energy Resources
American Forests
Arbor Day Activities
Arbor Day Books
Arbor Day Crafts
Arbor Day Foundation
Arbor Day Teaching Tools
How to Plant a Tree
The Great Plant Escape
Tree Resources
Project Learning Tree
Virginia Department of Forestry