1. ELA Superheroes Podcast
 | Description: This podcast collection highlights stories of California TK-12 educators who teach reading, writing, listening, and speaking through the lens of environmental literacy and justice, giving a glimpse into what this type of work might look like in TK-12 classrooms. Each superhero podcast includes a short podcast teaser, a full podcast, and a snapshot of the episode. Episodes in Series 2: Grade band TK-8 – Conversations about Food Waste: A teacher-librarian provides meaningful environmental literacy and language opportunities for multilingual learners with Lorena Sanchez. Grade band 6-8: Falling in love with nature and fighting for it: Inspiring argument writing through everyday encounters with nature with Jodi Bonk. Click Here to learn more. |
2. Children & Nature Network Research Digest – Therapeutic use of Nature
 | Description: Nature-based therapy, an emerging field in psychology, is based on research findings suggesting that contact with nature enhances various aspects of human well-being and can alleviate and/or prevent some mental health disorders or concerns. The June issue of Research Digest focuses on therapeutic uses of nature and the outcomes documented with various populations. Learn about Nature-Based Therapeutic Approaches and Outcomes, how it is effective with Special Populations, and its role in Prevention and addressing health concerns. Click Here to learn more. |
3. May is Water Awareness Month – Department of Water Resources
 | Description: DWR offers K-12 teachers free activity books and worksheets to download that are focused on water issues such as water conservation, drought, floods, California’s waterways, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, how water works and why, the water cycle, agriculture and food, and more. Visit DWR’s K-12 Education Materials page for free downloads. |
4. Arbor Day Foundation – Tree Resources
  | Description: Are you wanting to teach your students more about trees or do you want to learn more about trees yourself? Perhaps you are interested in planting a tree for Mother’s Day. The Arbor Day Foundation provides a wide range of Tree Resources. Check them out! |
5. Project Learning Tree – A Guide to Teaching and Learning About Forests
Project Learning Tree – A Guide to Teaching and Learning About Forests | Description: PLT’s Forest Literacy Framework translates the language of forests and sustainable forest management into concepts for everyone at any age. The framework offers 100 forest concepts for grades K-12, organized into the following four themes: 1) What is a forest? 2) Why do forests matter? 3) How do we sustain our forests? 4) What is our responsibility to forests? Whether you are a teacher interested in connecting your students to the trees in your schoolyard, or a forest professional looking for guidance on community outreach to youth, including career days or field site visits, this Forest Literacy Framework helps to lay out age-appropriate concepts, knowledge, and skills surrounding forests and related topics. The framework presents a conceptual structure to increase people’s understanding of forests and it empowers them to take actions that benefit forests and all of us. |