Teacher Resources

There are several websites that cater to the specific needs of teachers. The following websites have lesson plans and/or ideas for classroom activities focused on trees, tree planting and biodiversity. They also help young people better understand the value of forests and conserving them.

• Consult the Youth Guide to Biodiversity .
• Make use of the Biodiversity Challenge Badge curriculum – a set of educational activities on biodiversity that will help teachers and youth leaders develop a programme of learning, participation and action.
• Learn about forest biodiversity the 2011 IDB educational booklet.
• Learn about biodiversity, poverty and human development the 2010 IDB educational booklet.
• Find out about invasive alien species in the 2009 IDB educational booklet.
• Learn the ins and outs of biodiversity and agriculture. Read and try out games at the children’s 2008 IDB website. Teachers will find fun and engaging activities for their primary school students in the accompanying lesson plans.
• The Ecokids website is easy to navigate and filled with great background information.
• The Canadian Forestry Association Teaching Kit Series includes detailed lesson plans, practical information on forest issues and examples of relevant recovery, conservation and stewardship programs. The lessons incorporate interactive, hands-on activities that reflect science and geography based learning outcomes and expectations in Canada’s provincial and territorial curriculum guidelines. They also explore issues through language and visual arts, social studies, drama and other subjects. The kits are available in English and French.
• TreeCanada has some great resources aimed at teachers.
• The Rainforest Alliance "works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour." Their teacher's website has lesson plans, presentations, articles, posters, profiles of rainforest species, information about on-the-ground conservation projects and illustrated stories (in English, Spanish and Portuguese).
• ARKive is a unique collection of thousands of videos, images and fact-files illustrating the world's species.

Searchable databases of classroom resources and lesson plans:

• Resources for Rethinking
• Global Dimension
• Sustainable Schools
• Centre for Environmental Education