Earth & Sky

Thanks to a partnership between PLT and Earth & Sky, all PLT activities have connections to Earth & Sky radio shows.  Teachers can find Earth & Sky radio shows and podcasts relating to a particular subject or PLT activity through a quick link on the Earth & Sky and PLT websites. Go to Earth & Sky (www.earthsky.org, click on “Teachers Center”) or to PLT (www.plt.org, click on “Curriculum” and select resources by activity for each guide).

Check back for a tutorial coming soon!

Known as a clear voice for science, Earth & Sky has been reporting science news and information for nearly 20 years.  The shows air on over 1,900 radio stations in 167 of the world’s 194 countries, and are heard 14 million times daily.  You can find a radio station broadcasting Earth & Sky radio shows in your area at www.earthsky.org/about/radio-affiliates.  You can also listen online or download radio podcasts and their transcripts at www.earthsky.org and through iTunes.

Earth & Sky radio shows:
• feature interviews with real scientists from around the world
• provide educators with access to accurate, reliable, and understandable scientific research and data
• captivate students with cutting edge science content on the latest scientific topics

Many radio shows feature extended interviews with the scientists, correlations to PLT activities, and links to additional resources and related topics.

Forest Series
Learn more about a special series of Earth & Sky radio shows focusing on forests and climate change, habitat loss, clean water, and forest sustainability produced in partnership with the American Forest Foundation, the parent of Project Learning Tree.

Tips for Using Earth & Sky with PLT in Your Classroom

• Play a 90-second radio show to pique student interest in the topics you are teaching.
• Download the radio show and its transcript from EarthSky.org before class, or connect to the internet during class to listen online.
• In Earth & Sky radio shows that answer specific questions, play only the question … and ask kids to think about the answer. Then play the whole radio show, with both the question and answer, before class ends.
• Choose from 30 different categories in the Teacher’s Section of the Earth & Sky website to find shows related to specific issues. 
• Use an Earth & Sky radio show in conjunction with a PLT activity to enhance your teaching.

“Within a matter of minutes, I was using [Earth & Sky]…Kids are thrilled to listen to someone’s explanation, not just read it.”
– Bonnie Bowmer, 4th grade teacher, Colorado
Her students listened to an Earth & Sky program called “Winter Trees” and then did the PLT PreK-8 Guide activity “Signs of Fall.”

“Earth & Sky shows immediately make the PLT activities even more meaningful and relevant.”
– Shawna Crocker, Colorado PLT Coordinator

NOTE: Funding to correlate Earth & Sky radio shows to PLT activities was provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.  Correlations and resources are continually being added and the website updated.