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Dr. Patrick Curley,
Division of Academic Innovation and Global Initiatives
Onslow County Schools
Why EE is Important
Today's generation of children is the first to grow up indoors. Their plugged-in lives are often devoid of exploring the natural world. Consider these facts:
American children ages 3 -12 spend 27 percent of their time each week watching television, and only 1 percent outdoors (Hofferth & Sadberg, 2001)
Children ages 8 – 18 engaged in over seven hours of media time (e.g., watching TV, listening to music, using the Internet/computer, playing video games) each day (Rideout, Foehr & Roberts, 2010)
Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2—19 years were obese in 2008 (Ogden & Carroll, 2010)
In 2000 two-thirds of the public failed a basic environmental quiz and 88 percent failed a basic energy quiz (Coyle, 2005)
Benefits of Environmental Education
Research suggests that environmental education brings a slew of benefits to students. A few key findings include:
EE Helps Build Critical Thinking, and Relationship Skills - Environment-based education emphasizes specific critical thinking skills central to “good science”—questioning, investigating, forming hypotheses, interpreting data, analyzing, developing conclusions, and solving problems (Archie, 2003).
EE Instructional Strategies Help Foster Leadership Qualities - Environmental education emphasizes cooperative learning (i.e., working in teams or with partners), critical thinking and discussion, hands-on activities, and a focus on action strategies with real-world applications (NAAEE & NEETF, 2001).
Increased Focus/Improved Cognition - Wells observed that proximity to nature, access to views of nature, and daily exposure to natural settings increases the ability of children to focus and improves cognitive abilities. (Wells, 2000).
Benefits of Environmental Education
Self Control/Self Discipline Benefits for Children with ADD - Taylor and her colleagues found that children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) benefited from more exposure to nature –the greener a child’s everyday environment, the more manageable are the symptoms of ADD (Taylor, 2001).
Health Benefits - At the school environment level Bell and Dyment observed that children who experience school grounds or play areas with diverse natural settings are more physically active, more aware of good nutrition, more creative, and more civil to one another. (Bell, 2006).
Studying EE Creates Enthusiastic Students, Innovative Teacher-Leaders - EE offers opportunities for rich, hands-on, real world and relevant learning across the curriculum (Archie, 2003).
About PLT
Project Learning Tree Is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for:–healthy forests–quality environmental education–informed decision-making about our communities and our world.
In North Carolina PLT is sponsored by: NC Cooperative Extension Services, the NC Forestry Association, and the NC Division of Forest Resources.
What is Project Learning Tree?
A Comprehensive EE Program
High quality, PreK-12 EE curriculum materials
Diverse, international network of partners
Implementation via a successful delivery system of professional
development
Highly Successful Curriculum
PLT is one of the most widely-used environmental education programs in America. Today as more children are disconnected from nature, 500,000+ teachers have been trained to use PLT curriculum, opening a door to this country's outdoor natural heritage for 75 million students.
PLT’s Mission
PLT uses the forest as a "window on the world" to:
- Increase students' understanding of our complex environment
- Stimulate critical and creative thinking
- Develop the ability to make informed decisions on environmental issues
- Instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action
Early 1970’s: Partnership between education, resource agencies, and businesses
started Project Learning Tree to teach young people about the environment
1976: PLT materials first implemented in 13 western states PreK-6 and 7-12 Environmental Education Guides
1990: PLT materials revamped into PreK-8 and Secondary Modules
2006: Major revisions to the PLT PreK-8 Guide and continued development of Secondary Modules
PLT was so effective it inspired other EE programs based on the PLT model
Project WILD in 1983 Project WET in 1992
Project Learning Tree History
PLT’s Environmental Education Goals
“Teaching students how to think, not
what to think about complex
environmental issues.”
~Rudy Schafer, Founder PLT
Awareness
Knowledge
Challenge
Responsible
Action
Global InitiativesPLT’s International NetworkAll 50 states and the District of Columbia
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Slovakia, Sweden, U.S. Trust Territories, The Peace Corps
AFF’s Center for Environmental Learning office (“National PLT”)
CEL Operating Committee
State Sponsors
State Steering Committees
State Coordinators
Facilitators
Teachers
Students
National, State, and Local Partnerships
PLT Curriculum
PLT for PreK-8– Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood– PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide– Energy and Society
PLT for Secondary– 5 printed modules– 2 online module
PLT’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
New Features – Reading Connections– Technology Connections– Differentiated Instruction– New Design
Aligned to National and State Standards
Classroom Friendly – 96 hands-on, interdisciplinary activities– Indoor and outdoor activities
Energy & Society Kit
Activity Guide
Music & Dance by Billy B– Energy & Me CD– Energy & Me music and
dance DVD
Poster Set– Where is the energy?– What powers the move?
Secondary Modules (Grades 9-12)
• Focus on Forests
• Forests of the World
• Places We Live
• Municipal Solid Waste
• Focus on Risk
• Biotechnology (Online)
• Biodiversity (Online)
Correlations to State & National Academic Standards
NORTH CAROLINA ESSENTIAL STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, ART AND SCIENCE IS
CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
http://www.plt.org/outdoors
Every Student Learns Outside
Learn how to make outdoor experiences part of everyday lesson
plans
Find a series of kids activity pages for “non-educators” based upon
PLT activities
Educator Support Materials
The Branch, PLT’s quarterly online newsletterInformation on PLT’s programs and resources
Latest in environmental education news
The PLT website, www.plt.orgResources by Activity Pages
Download student pagesFind additional resources for each activity
Calendar of PLT events
Standards correlations
and more!
Recognizing Excellence
PLT’s National Outstanding Educator Program
Recognizes educators for their commitment to EE, teaching skills, and use of PLT
Five winners chosen each year from state nominations
• Youth voice and leadership• Promote healthy and sustainable schools• Reduce environmental footprint – energy,
waste reduction, and water use reduction• Improve learning, test scores, and teacher
retention• Increase student and community
engagement• Schools can register online at
www.greenschools.org http://www.greenribbonschools.org/
Grants up to $1,000 for students to complete environmental service-learning projects.
Integrates community service with the academic curriculum.
Combines the environmental knowledge and resources of PLT with community action initiatives.
Applications Due September 30
www.greenworks.org
Project Learning Tree Works
25,000 educators trained a year
Half of users report using PLT at least
once a month
Recipient of national awards
60% of workshop participants are
referred to PLT by another educator