Urban Forestry

Sustainability Education Resources

Adopt-a-Tree (Ecokids)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Classroom Activity

Topics Covered: This classroom activity teaches children to discover and appreciate different types of trees and learn how to tell the difference between species. Exercises include bark rubbing, drawing, and leaf collection.

Target Audience: Grades K-5, 6-8

Photosynthesis Explained Simply (Oregon Forests)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Trees play an important role in cleaning the air we breathe by sequestering carbon and producing oxygen. This video explains the process of photosynthesis to help students gain a better understanding of why trees are important to the environment.

Target Audience: Grades K-5, 6-8

Save Trees by Making Your Own Recycled Paper (Ecokids)

Topic/Subtopic:Urban Forestry / Paper Recycling

Content Type: Classroom Activity

Topics Covered: This fun activity teaches students how to make recycled paper. In doing so, they learn that paper comes from trees and that by using recycled paper products they are helping to save forests.

Target Audience: Grades K-5

Tools for Teachers (Society of American Forests)

Topic/Subtopic:Urban Forestry

Content Type: Curriculum

Topics Covered:The Society of American Forests has created comprehensive lesson plan for students of all ages. The materials are designed to educate students about the diverse benefits of healthy forests and encourage them to become environmental stewards. 

Target Audience: Grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12

e2 design — Affordable Green Housing Podcast (PBS)

Topic/Subtopic:Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Humans are innately attracted to natural settings and often seek rural and suburban settings to satisfy these urges. By designing green buildings, green neighborhoods, and green cities, we can create livable urban environments while conserving existing natural lands. 

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Eco Forestry Challenge Game (Mini Game Online)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Game

Topics Covered: In this online game, students must manage a virtual forest as if they are real foresters.  The game challenges students to strategize seasonal and yearly tree planting and harvesting, while protecting water and wildlife.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Going Green: Air temperature Patterns (Your News Now)

Topic/Subtopic:Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Urban forests and tree canopy coverage help lower summer temperatures in cities by shading concrete, asphalt, and buildings. Research helps us better understand how tree placement and management affect the urban environment.  

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Urban Forestry (Illinois Institute of Technology)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Vacant urban land can be used productively to grow urban forests. Urban forests sequester carbon, treat stormwater, create wildlife habitats, lower energy costs and raise real estate values.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Urban Forestry: Making Trees Work for Your Community (Old Town Tree)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: This educational video explains how city conditions and lack of care makes it difficult for trees to grow in urban areas. By explaining how trees live and grow, and how to properly care for and prune trees, students become informed citizens that will help them maintain healthy trees in their communities.

Target Audience:Grades 6-8, 9-12

The Value of Community Trees (The Arbor Day Foundation)

Topic/Subtopic: Urban Forestry

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Trees provide vital and unseen benefits to our communities. They reduce energy costs, cool and clean the air, reduce noise, clean our drinking water, reduce erosion, and provide habitat.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12