Students can be involved in all aspects of a schoolyard forest—from the initial research, design, and planting, to long-term stewardship and investigation. Schoolyard forests present a special opportunity for engaging students’ minds, hearts, and bodies and provide rich academic experiences across the curriculum. They also provide students regular access to a natural laboratory for developing their environmental and climate literacy. 

A curated collection of standards-based lessons and activities for pre-K–12 is provided below to support all phases of a schoolyard forest. The initial sections are for schools just getting started and the later sections for teachers interested in digging deeper into tree-related lessons. 

We have showcased lessons that (1) are outdoor activities, (2) are engaging, (3) involve hands-on and kinesthetic learning, and (4) can generally be taught in one to two class periods. The lessons included were selected to be generally applicable to both young saplings as well as larger, established trees. The included lessons and activities were chosen from organizations and individuals that are established leaders in the field of outdoor education. These activities also support state-level content standards. 

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