Environmental Preservation Activities
Environmental Preservation Humane Education Activities feature lesson plans & activities that explore issues related to environmental preservation and sustainability. Activity topics include everything from general sustainability to increasing wonder about nature .
Activities are organized by general grade categories. Some activities are in more than one issue category, as well as in more than one grade category.
To download an activity (in PDF format), click on the title of the activity. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to do so.
Scavenger Hunt
Help participants rediscover the wonder of the natural world by taking them on an outdoor scavenger hunt for which they’ll record their finds, rather than “taking” anything.
Recommended for All ages.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Smell Teas
Awaken wonder, enhance memory skills and explore the sense of smell by having students concoct their own special “smell tea” for other students to identify….only by smell!
Recommended for All ages.
Time: 30 minutes
Wonder Walk
Participants take turns leading each other on a silent Wonder Walk to discover the natural world with their 5 senses.
Recommended for all ages.
Time: 30 minutes
Amazing Nature
Use real examples and cool facts to inspire wonder about the different types of nature around us and all over the world.
Recommended for grades 1 through 6.
Time: 30-60 minutes
Council of All Beings
What does a mountain wish for? A wolf? A cow? A river? Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdoms of their being in a Council.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 1-2 hours
Earthly Adventures
Take elementary students on an "earthly adventure," following clues to learn about how elements of the natural world, such as trees, soil, and flowers, help people, animals and the planet.
Recommended for grades 2-5 (K-1, with accommodations)
Time: 30-45 minutes
Everything is Beautiful
Students use 4 of their senses to explore the beautiful in nature.
Recommended for grades K-2
Time: 15-30 minutes
Find Your Tree
Explore the power of your senses and get in touch with nature! Participants take turns getting to know a tree very well (blindfolded). Then, using only their other senses, participants find their tree.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Local Treasures
Reawaken wonder about the natural world and teach students about the environment in which they live by sending them on a treasure hunt!
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 2 hours
Natural Treasures
Help students get in touch with their sense of wonder for the natural world while developing their observation, map-reading and teamwork skills. Students use their treasure maps to discover and explore natural treasures with their senses.
Recommended for grades 2-7.
Time: 30-60 minutes
Night Watchers
Take participants on an exciting adventure that includes an exploration of the wonders of the night and an examination of the stars, planets and other astronomical bodies.
Recommended for grades 3-7 (and older, with modifications).
Time: 2-4 hours late at night
Pedro Comes for a Visit
Pedro the parrot comes to visit and shares his story with students, revealing how they have the power to help protect his rainforest home and his fellow neighbors.
Recommended for grades K through 4.
Time: 45 minutes to several days
Trash Investigators
What’s in our trash that doesn’t need to be there? Participants investigate a trash source and analyze which items can be removed from the waste stream.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Whale’s Stomach
Students learn about the impact of our “throwaway society” by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale’s stomach.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 15-45 minutes
The World’s Most Powerful Animal
Who’s the most dangerous AND the most powerful animal? We are! Lead students on an exploration of the positive and negative impacts our choices have on the planet.
Recommended for grades 2 through 5.
Time: 45 minutes
Amazing Nature
Use real examples and cool facts to inspire wonder about the different types of nature around us and all over the world.
Recommended for grades 1 through 6.
Time: 30-60 minutes
Council of All Beings
What does a mountain wish for? A wolf? A cow? A river? Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdoms of their being in a Council.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 1-2 hours
Find Your Tree
Explore the power of your senses and get in touch with nature! Participants take turns getting to know a tree very well (blindfolded). Then, using only their other senses, participants find their tree.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Leave Only Footprints
Everyone has an ecological footprint. Participants use paper footprints to simulate the impact of their choices on the earth. Extension activities allow students to explore their ecological footprints and what choices can be made to reduce them.
Recommended for grades 6 and up.
Time: 45 minutes
Local Treasures
Reawaken wonder about the natural world and teach students about the environment in which they live by sending them on a treasure hunt!
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 2 hours
Natural Treasures
Help students get in touch with their sense of wonder for the natural world while developing their observation, map-reading and teamwork skills. Students use their treasure maps to discover and explore natural treasures with their senses.
Recommended for grades 2-7.
Time: 30-60 minutes
Night Watchers
Take participants on an exciting adventure that includes an exploration of the wonders of the night and an examination of the stars, planets and other astronomical bodies.
Recommended for grades 3-7 (and older, with modifications).
Time: 2-4 hours late at night
Spaceship Earth
Our fossil fuels are gone! How will we survive and thrive without them? Students explore two scenarios and develop plans of action for living successfully and sustainably.
Recommended for grades 7 and up.Time: 60 minutes
Sustainer
Students become castaways on a remote and pristine island and must determine how to live in a way that is sustainable for all.
Recommended for grades 8 and up.Time: Varies
Trash Investigators
What’s in our trash that doesn’t need to be there? Participants investigate a trash source and analyze which items can be removed from the waste stream.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Vanishing Rainforests
Humans are consuming rainforests at an alarming rate. Use this activity to help students practice their math skills while gaining a real sense of how much rainforest is being destroyed and brainstorming what they can do to avoid contributing to rainforest destruction.
Recommended for grades 6 through 8.
Time: 50-120 minutes
Whale’s Stomach
Students learn about the impact of our “throwaway society” by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale’s stomach.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.Time: 15-45 minutes
Council of All Beings
What does a mountain wish for? A wolf? A cow? A river? Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdoms of their being in a Council.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 1-2 hours
Find Your Tree
Explore the power of your senses and get in touch with nature! Participants take turns getting to know a tree very well (blindfolded). Then, using only their other senses, participants find their tree.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Leave Only Footprints
Everyone has an ecological footprint. Participants use paper footprints to simulate the impact of their choices on the earth. Extension activities allow students to explore their ecological footprints and what choices can be made to reduce them.
Recommended for grades 6 and up.
Time: 45 minutes
Local Treasures
Reawaken wonder about the natural world and teach students about the environment in which they live by sending them on a treasure hunt!
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 2 hours
Spaceship Earth
Our fossil fuels are gone! How will we survive and thrive without them? Students explore two scenarios and develop plans of action for living successfully and sustainably.
Recommended for grades 7 and up.Time: 60 minutes
Sustainer
Students become castaways on a remote and pristine island and must determine how to live in a way that is sustainable for all.
Recommended for grades 8 and up.Time: Varies
Trash Investigators
What’s in our trash that doesn’t need to be there? Participants investigate a trash source and analyze which items can be removed from the waste stream.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Whale’s Stomach
Students learn about the impact of our “throwaway society” by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale’s stomach.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.Time: 15-45 minutes
Council of All Beings
What does a mountain wish for? A wolf? A cow? A river? Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdoms of their being in a Council.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 1-2 hours
Find Your Tree
Explore the power of your senses and get in touch with nature! Participants take turns getting to know a tree very well (blindfolded). Then, using only their other senses, participants find their tree.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Leave Only Footprints
Everyone has an ecological footprint. Participants use paper footprints to simulate the impact of their choices on the earth. Extension activities allow students to explore their ecological footprints and what choices can be made to reduce them.
Recommended for grades 6 and up.
Time: 45 minutes
Local Treasures
Reawaken wonder about the natural world and teach students about the environment in which they live by sending them on a treasure hunt!
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Time: 2 hours
Spaceship Earth
Our fossil fuels are gone! How will we survive and thrive without them? Students explore two scenarios and develop plans of action for living successfully and sustainably.
Recommended for grades 7 and up.Time: 60 minutes
Sustainer
Students become castaways on a remote and pristine island and must determine how to live in a way that is sustainable for all.
Recommended for grades 8 and up.Time: Varies
Trash Investigators
What’s in our trash that doesn’t need to be there? Participants investigate a trash source and analyze which items can be removed from the waste stream.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
Time: 30 minutes
Whale’s Stomach
Students learn about the impact of our “throwaway society” by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale’s stomach.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.Time: 15-45 minutes
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Most Good & Least Harm Talk by Zoe Weil - Orono, Maine
March 16, 2010 - 2:00 pm | Location: University of Maine - Orono (100 Neville Hall)
Please join us for an inspiring talk with Zoe Weil at the University of Maine in Orono. Co-sponsored by the Peace Studies and Sociology departments. Learn about the ways in which your everyday choices, your work, your activism, and your volunteerism can do the most ...
Read More
March 16, 2010 - 2:00 pm | Location: University of Maine - Orono (100 Neville Hall)
Please join us for an inspiring talk with Zoe Weil at the University of Maine in Orono. Co-sponsored by the Peace Studies and Sociology departments. Learn about the ways in which your everyday choices, your work, your activism, and your volunteerism can do the most ...
Read More