Urban Forests: A Supplement to Florida's Project Learning Tree

"Urban Forests: A Supplement to Florida's Project Learning Tree is a companion document for teachers and natural resource professionals who have the PreK-8 Project Learning Tree Activity Guide. This supplement helps youth see their community’s urban forests as significant, valuable, and worth sustaining. It is based on three themes: urban forest ecology, benefits of an urban forest, and strategies for improving urban forest health.

Educational Level: Grade 3 - 8

"As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Florida's forests and forest ecosystems are impacted as the human population grows. However, strategically maintained urban forests can mitigate some of the negative effects of urban development by moderating the climate, protecting water quality, and improving air quality, for example. Although forestry education materials are abundant, there are few that focus on the urban forest. This supplement complements a very popular and successful forest education program, Project Learning Tree (PLT) in the state of Florida.

"The development of this supplement began with a review of urban forest materials and identification of existing PLT activities that met urban forest goals and learning objectives. Where gaps were evident, extensions of PLT activities were developed, as well as new activities in the PLT activity format. All of the new lessons incorporate Florida's Sunshine State Standards and most promote science-based investigations on school grounds. A committee of natural resource professionals and educators reviewed this document for factual and educational accuracy.

"This 79-page document provides educators and natural resource professionals with background information and identifies 28 PLT activities that already work well in urban areas; 19 PLT activities that can be adapted with suggestions to be more applicable to an urban space; 6 urban forest extensions to existing PLT activities; and 6 new urban forest activities."

Awards and Recognition

• Reviewed and accepted for inclusion in the National Environmental Education Directory.
• Communication Award for Long Publication by the Florida Association for Natural Resource Extension Professionals (2006).

For more information contact Jenny Seitz, PLT Coordinator and Urban Forestry Extension Associate, at 352-846-2329.