Cool Schools Resources

In this simple BioBlitz activity, students explore a natural area to find and photograph trees, plants, and animals. Using an app like iNaturalist or a field guide, they identify what they find and record it with notes or drawings. It’s a fun way to learn about local biodiversity while spending time outdoors.

Download the BioBlitz activity!

Take a nature walk outside and encourage students to look out for different parts of a tree. This lesson is a chance for students to learn the basic components of a tree while slowing down through observation.

Download the Tree Structure Scavenger Hunt here.

Here, students collect various leaves during a nature walk and create leaf rubbings to highlight the various features of a leaf. This is an opportunity to encourage students to notice the parts of a leaf through art.

Download the Leaf Rubbing activity

In this activity, students explore tree morphology—the study of a plant’s size, shape, and structure. Through an interactive Tree Bingo game, they search for specific leaf shapes and arrangements. The lesson promotes critical thinking, observation, and collaboration while helping students understand one way to identify plants.

Download the Morphology Bingo activity

Earth art is the creative practice of using natural materials to create art. Students will gather natural materials (sticks, leaves, grass, rocks, etc) and create an artistic representation of a tree or another expression using their chosen materials.

Download Create Your Own Tree activity

Nature journaling is a meaningful way to connect with the outdoors by observing and recording the natural world. In this activity, students will select a tree or plant to study closely. They’ll spend time sketching their chosen subject while taking thoughtful notes on its features and the surrounding environment. It’s a chance to slow down, look closely, and capture nature’s details through both art and observation.

Watch a video on the Nature  Journaling activity here.

Invite students to explore what it’s like to work as an urban forester. Through hands-on activities, they’ll learn how to assess a tree’s health, measure its circumference and height, and estimate its age. This interactive experience builds observation skills and fosters a deeper appreciation for the role trees play in urban environments.

Download the Tree Measurements activity

In this lesson, students will write or draw positive feelings about themselves or their experience of nature on paper leaves. These leaves can be taped to a larger drawing of a tree or hung up on a tree outside.

Download the Tree of Strength activity