For Teachers:

This program is currently only offered in the following counties: Adams, Benewah, Bonner, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah, Shoshone, Valley, and Washington Counties plus Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA.

The Idaho Forest Products Commission offers free educational outreach to students across the state using our network of Tree Talkers. Our Tree Talkers are volunteers who work or used to work in the forest sector. They come from a variety of backgrounds, but all are very knowledgeable and passionate about our forests.

Requesting an outreach visit is easy and free. Lessons are aligned to state standards and include hands-on demonstrations and activities. Most lessons require 30-60 minutes to complete. The Tree Talker will bring all the equipment and materials needed for each lesson, but may ask you for for common classroom materials and/or to print student worksheets. All lessons include a hands-on activity, preferably taking place outside (on your school campus or a nearby area) so please identify an area ahead of their visit.

You will find descriptions of each lesson below, including information about appropriate grade levels and addressed standards.

Tree Talker Lessons

Lesson: Tree Cookies

Description: One way to learn about tree growth is to look at annual rings. Tree rings show patterns of change in the tree’s life, as well as changes in the area where it grows. Students will trace environmental and historical changes using a cross-section of a tree, or “tree cookie.”

Grades: K-12

Session Length: 60 minutes

Standards addressed: 3.RS-1, 4.RS-1, 5.RS-1, K.ODC-1, 1.ODC-1, 2.ODC-1, 3.ODC-1, 3.ODC-4, 4.ODC-1, 4.ODC-4, 5.ODC-1, 5.ODC-4, 6.ODC-1, 6.ODC-4, 7.ODC-1, 7.ODC-4, 8.ODC-1, 8.ODC-4, 9/10.ODC-1, 9/10.ODC-4, 11/12.ODC-1, 11/12.ODC-4, K.CC.A., K.CC.B, K.CC.C., , K-ESS-2.1 S, K-ESS-2.3, 2-LS-1.1, 3-LS-3.3, 4-LS-1.1, 5-LS-1.1, 5-ESS-3.1, MS-LS-1.3, MS-LS-2.1 S, HS-LS-2.1, HS-LS-2.6

Lesson: Plant a Tree

Description: Never underestimate the power of a tree! In addition to giving us an amazing array of paper and wood products, trees provide a host of other benefits—from shading our backyards to reducing air pollution to helping stabilize the global climate. Students can express their appreciation of trees by planning and carrying out their own tree-planting project.

You must source your own seedling. The Idaho Forest Products Commission gives out free seedlings every April in celebration of Arbor Day. Learn more here.

Grades: K-12

Session Length: 60 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space to plant the tree.

Standards addressed: K.ODC-1, 1.ODC-1, 2.ODC-1, 3.ODC-1, 4.ODC-1, 5.ODC-1, 6.ODC-1, 7.ODC-1, 8.ODC-1,9/10.ODC-1 11/12.ODC-1, K-ESS-2.1 S, K-ESS-2.3, 1-LS-1.2, 2-LS-2.1, MS-ESS-3.3, 4-LS-1.1, 5-LS-1.1, 5-ESS-3.1,MS-LS-2.6, 3-LS-3.3, HS-LS-2.6

Lesson: Adopt a Tree

Description: Students select individual trees to observe over time, deepening their awareness of tree changes and developing a greater appreciation for their local environment.

Grades: K-2

Session Length: 60 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space with trees.

Standards addressed: K.VD-1, 1.VD-1, 2.VD-1, 1.RS-1, 2.RS-1, 2.W-3, 2.W-4, K.ODC-2, K.ODC-3, K.ODC-4, 1.ODC-2, 1.ODC-3,, 1.ODC-4, 2.ODC-2, 2.ODC-3, 2.ODC-4, 1.GC-1g, 2.GC-1g, K.G.A., K.G.B., 2.G.A., K-ESS-2.1, 2-LS-1.1

Lesson: A Tree’s Life

Description: Students discover that trees have life stages that are similar to those of other living things. They discuss a tree’s role in the ecosystem at each stage of its life.

Grades: K-2

Session Length: 60 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space with trees.

Standards addressed: K.RC-3, K.ODC-1, 1.ODC-1, 1.ODC-2 ,2-ODC-1, 1.W-1, 2.W-4, K.MD.A.2, K-LS-1.1, 1-LS-1.2, 2-LS1.1

Lesson: Tree Factory

Description: By modeling the parts of a tree and creating a “tree factory,” students will learn about the structure of a tree.

Grades: 3-5

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Standards addressed: 3.ODC-1, 4.ODC-1, 5.ODC-1, 4-LS-1.1, 5-LS-2.4

Lesson: Every Tree For Itself

Description: This fun and active modeling simulation reviews the conditions that trees need to live and grow, while also demonstrating that trees must compete to meet their needs.

Grades: 3-5

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Standards addressed: 3.ODC-1, 4.ODC-1, 5.ODC-1, 3.MD.B., 3-LS-3.3, 5-LS-1.1

Lesson: Trees in Trouble

Description: Students examine trees for signs of damage or poor health and investigate conditions that may cause trees and other plants to become unhealthy.

Grades: 3-6

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space with trees that appear to have damage.

Standards addressed: 3.RC-3, 3.RC-6d, 4.RC-3, 4.RC-6d, 5.RC-3, 5.RC-6d, 3.W-7, 4.W-7, 5.W-7, 3.RS-1, 4.RS-1, 5.RS-1, 3.ODC-3, 4.ODC-3, 5.ODC-3, 3.GC-1g, 4.GC-1g, 5.GC-1g, 3.MD.A., 3.MD.B., 5-LS-2.3

Lesson: Living with Fire

Description: Students learn about the three elements a fire needs to burn and find out how this “fire triangle” can be used to prevent and manage wildland fires, particularly in the wildland-urban interface.

Grades: 6-8

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space and permission to use matches.

Standards addressed: 6.W-1, 7.W-1, 8.W-1, 6.RS-1, 7.RS-1, 8.RS-1, 6.ODC-1, 6.ODC-4, 6.ODC-8, 7.ODC-1, 7.ODC-4, 7.ODC-8,, 8.ODC-1, 8.ODC-4, 8.ODC-8, MS-ESS-3.2

Lesson: Foresters in Action: Exploring Careers and Caring for Our Forest

Description: Students learn about who works in the forest, the role of a forester, and take tree measurements.

Grades: 6-8

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space with trees.

Standards addressed: 6.ODC-1, 7.ODC-1, 8.ODC-1, 6.RP.A., 6.NS.B., 6.EE.A., 6.EE.B, MS-ESS-3.3

Lesson: Green Jobs

Description: Students learn about different forest sector careers and take a personality quiz to see which one aligns with their vision of their future careers.

Grades: 9-12

Session Length: 60 minutes

Standards addressed: 9/10.ODC-1, 9/10.ODC-4, 11/12.ODC-1, 11/12.ODC-4

Lesson: Counting Carbon

Description: Learners explore how tree sequester carbon and measure trees to identify the approximate amount of carbon stored within it.

Grades: 9-12

Session Length: 60-90 minutes

Space requirements: Must have access to outdoor space with trees.

Standards addressed: 9/10.ODC-1, 9/10.ODC-4, 11/12.ODC-1, 11/12.ODC-4, N.Q.A, .G.GMD.A, G.GMD.D, G.MG.A, HS-LS-2.4, HS-ESS2.D

If you have a topic not listed, please email plt@idahoforests.org to share your idea and see if we can cover it.

Invite us to your classroom

Please Complete this Google Forms survey to request a Tree Talker visit. Please allow for 1-2 weeks to be connected with an available Tree Talker.

Tree Talkers FAQs

How many students can participate?

Our outreach lessons are designed to be hands-on and interactive. We have enough equipment to support a single classroom of students at one time. Multiple lessons can be given on the same day to provide education to more than one class of students in the same school.

How long are the outreach lessons?

Most lessons are designed to fit in a 30 – 60 minute time frame.

Do I need to provide anything?

The Tree Talker will bring all the equipment and materials needed for each lesson, but may ask you for for common classroom materials and/or to print student worksheets.

What resources are available if I would like to extend this learning opportunity?

If you would like to extend student learning and engagement related to forestry and caring for the forests, please consider attending a Project Learning Tree workshop or request resources from the Idaho Forest Products Commission at idahoforests.org.
If you teach middle or high school, use our Inland Northwest Forest Products Curriculum. It’s free! (Coming 2026!)
You can also explore curriculum from Project Learning Tree (plt.org), free lesson plans, and free family activities.

Why Invite a Tree Talker?

Our enthusiastic volunteers are not just knowledgeable—they make learning fun! Tree Talkers bring a wealth of expertise to your students, offering a dynamic and interactive experience. Plus, their involvement can enhance your teaching evaluation, supporting key areas of the Charlotte Danielson Framework: Domains 1d, 1e, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4e.

Invite a Tree Talker today and make a lasting impact on your students while advancing your professional growth!

Looking for more Idaho Forest-Focused Education?

Explore all that IFPC offers, from Project Learning Tree training opportunities, to contests for Idaho students, youth-friendly web pages, papermaking information, jobs and the people who work in forests, and our forest history supplement.

Email Haven or Jenn to request resources, papermaking supplies or other support.

For Tree Talkers:

Welcome! This is your one-stop shop for easy access to resources to support classroom and community presentations. We’re thrilled that you’re part of our collective effort to connect people – especially young people – with trees and forests, the goods and services they provide and myriad potential careers. Together, we can grow people’s understanding of forests and empower them to take actions that benefit forests and all of us.