1. Professional Development Workshop Date Location
PROJECT LEARNING TREE
Professional Development
Workshop
Date
Location

2. What is Project Learning Tree ?
Project Learning Tree is the environmental education program of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
Founded in 1973, PLT is an award-winning program designed for educators working with students in pre-K through
12th grade.
Activities are used to
supplement the
regular curriculum.
PLT is the oldest Environmental Education curriculums available. Although the program is the oldest, it is also the most up to date as our curriculum is annually evaluated and updated.
PLT Activities are meant to only be a supplement to your regular curriculum, with hands-on activities designed to incorporate the environment into the classroom, using critical thinking and problem solving skills.
PLT TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

3. Why should you use PLT materials?
PLT is inexpensive (uses household items)
PLT activities are fun and engaging
PLT WORKS - greater retention, greater involvement, less disciplinary problems & better attitudes
PLT is multi-disciplinary - teaching skills in Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts.
PLT is correlated to State & National Standards.
Self explanatory

4. Our 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; and instill the confidence and commitment to take responsible action on them.
Read mission.

5. PLT uses a Constructivist approach
Constructivist approach and the AKCA model
PLT uses a Constructivist approach
= Awareness: Introduction to an environmental topic, used as an assessment to what the student presently knows and understands.
= Knowledge: The dissemination of content about the topic through investigation and experimental learning.
= Challenge: The students explore viewpoints, challenge ideas and of preconceived viewpoints, and seek consensus.
= Action: Students attempt personal or group action projects based on the knowledge they have gained. A K C
Awareness – the realization and appreciation of an environmental topic. In this phase, student preconceptions may be uncovered and a teacher may be able to assess what students presently know or understand about a concept. Many of the PreK-8 activities in the first of the book are “awareness” activities designed for younger students or introductions to environmental issues.
Knowledge – the dissemination and internalization of information relating to an environmental topic. In this phase, students build conceptual understanding through experimental learning and investigation. Content is important in developing understanding of environmental issues. Without a good scientific or historical understanding of the issue understanding may be bias or skewed.
Challenge – Students work together or independently to develop a consensus and solve the environmental issue. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are used to conclude the investigation.
Action - The entire PLT book and program is designed to lead to student oriented service learning on a personal and community basis. Many of the activities at the end of the book are “action” activities designed to extend into the community the students understanding of local issues.
As part of the PLT program, PLT has “Greenworks!” grants for PLT trained teachers to help with student service learning projects.

6. Who Uses PLT? Classroom Teachers Youth Group Leaders
Nature Center Staff
Museums, Zoos, Parks
Day Care Facilities
Resource Professionals
Government Agencies
Parents
Community Groups
Anyone who teaches youth can use the PreK-8 Activity guide.

7. WE’RE EVERYWHERE! (ALMOST)
Brazil
Canada
China
Finland
Sweden
Slovakia
Japan
Jordan
Mexico
Philippines
All 50 States plus the District of Columbia
All US Trust Territories
We have a long record of quality professional development workshops, training over 17,000 educators since the State Department of Education brought PLT to South Carolina in 1980.
In South Carolina over 20,815 educators have been trained to use PLT materials since 1980

8. Who Sponsors PLT in South Carolina ?
S.C. Forestry Commission – provides day-to-day logistics and coordinator
S.C. Forestry Foundation – non-profit foundation that administers financial matters
S.C. Department of Education – through a MOU, SCDOE provides guidance and membership on the state steering committee
Each state controls how they want to sponsor PLT.

9. PLT 41 Years of History 1976 PLT began in 13 Western states
1980 PLT went International with Canada becoming a partner
1980 PLT brought to S.C. by the State Dept. of Education
1984 SC PLT begins operating as a non-profit consortium
1989 PLT reaches 49 states
1990 PLT begins a multi-year curriculum revision
1993 PLT releases its new revised PreK-8 Activity Guide and Greenworks! service learning grant program
1994 National Field Study of PLT by the Research Commission of the NAAEE
1995 First Secondary Modules released and PLT In The City begins in 5 urban areas
2002 PLT releases Energy & Society
2006 PLT releases newly revised PreK-8 Activity Guide
2010 PLT releases Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
2014 PLT in partnership with PINEMAP release Southeastern Forests and Climate Change
2015 PLT offers the first online workshops!
2017 PLT introduces online E-Units & SFI becomes the national sponsor
Bold statements are important.
PLT has been constantly updated and improved, adding additional quality curriculum to high school and special topics in the environment.

10. NATIONAL PARTNERS
PLT has a wide range of national partnering organizations, some of which include:
The national sponsors show the diversity of the environmental community that supports PLT program.

11. SC SFI-Implementation Committee SC Forestry Foundation
2017 S.C. PLT Contributors
International Paper
SC Tree Farm Committee
SC SFI-Implementation Committee
Sonoco Products Co.
SC Forestry Foundation
United Way of Atlanta
WestRock - Florence
South Carolina is one of only a few states that do not charge participants for attendance in professional development workshops, thanks to the generous donations of corporations in the state that contribute. This state is rich in natural resources and these companies are willing to finance your learning about it.

12. 2017 Supporters - Provide indirect contributions by sponsoring workshops, contributing materials, etc.
Richland Co. Conservation District
Congaree National Park
Clemson University
National Wild Turkey Federation
Riverbanks Zoo
Lander University
Roper Mountain Science Center
Environmental Education Association of SC
…And many more…
Supporters don’t contribute directly financially but instead sponsor workshops and provide assistance, often spending more than if they simply wrote a check.

13. What does PLT provide for educators ?
Early Childhood module
PreK - 8 module.
Energy and Society
Secondary modules
Focus on Forests
Municipal Solid Waste
Environmental Risk
Places We Live
Forest of the World
Biodiversity (online)
Biotechnology (online)
Southeastern Forests
and Climate Change
PLT has a whole line of Secondary modules for the High School and middle school programs.

14. The New PLT E-Units! What does PLT provide for educators ?
PLT has a whole line of Secondary modules for the High School and middle school programs.
PLT’s e-units are fully-contained units of instruction. The “E” in e-unit stands for “electronic,” which means they are fully housed online.

15. Specific Topic and Advanced Workshops
SC’s Sustainable Forestry Teachers’ Tour
5-Day tour of forestry with an Advanced PLT Environmental Education Workshop
3 hours of non-degree graduate credit for $150
All lodging, meals, & tour transportation are FREE!!!
For more information contact Janet Steele at
Special topics such as the Energy and Society kits can be purchased on line at our website or given free if you attend an E&S workshop. E&S uses visual and performing arts (song, dance, posters, activities) to incorporate energy topics into the curriculum.
“Burning Issues” is a CD based program where students learn about fire dependent ecosystems in the US, including the use of prescribed fire in the Southeastern longleaf pine forest. Students simulate a prescribed fire after learning about and gathering a week of data on computer simulation.
The SC Teachers Tour is available as a 3-hour graduate course the last two weeks of June each year for those who want to learn more about the forest ecology of South Carolina. Teachers learn about the social, ecological, and economics of forestry in our state.

16. community service projects Up to $1000 Application deadline
Grants available for PLT trained educators!
GREENWORKS grants for
community service projects
Up to $1000
Application deadline
Sept. 30th each year
All PLT trained participants can apply for GreenWorks service learning grants. So hold on to your certificates for proof you are PLT trained.

17. National PLT Outstanding Educator of the Year Award –
Rewards for Educators
S.C. PLT Outstanding Educator of the Year Award – awarded annually by nomination
2018 Winner:
Cynthia Deaton
Clemson University
College of Education
National PLT Outstanding Educator of the Year Award –
SC has won 11 National educator awards since 1998
PLT also recognizes outstanding educators and rewards their accomplishments.
In the last 10 years we have had 8 of our SC PLT Outstanding Educators win NATIONAL PLT Outstanding Educator awards.

18. And MORE!
Correlations to state and national curriculum standards in science, social studies, math and language arts
Common Core, FOSS, Head Start, NAEYC, NAAEE, national science and social studies, Girl Scout and Boy Scout correlations, too!
Networking with other schools around the world through our “Environmental Exchange Box”
The BRANCH newsletter (on line)
May want to show correlations now or wait to later in the workshop. (Make sure hyperlink works before using)

19. www.plt.org But wait, there’s more!!!!
Resources through state website:
Self explanatory (check hyperlink to website)
Resources through national website:

20. Vision
Project Learning Tree is committed to creating a future where the next generation values the natural world and has the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions to sustain forests and the broader environment.
TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES