TurfMutt Lesson Plan: Trees Tame Stormwater

For 15 years, the TurfMutt Foundation has been instructing students, teachers and parents about the value of caring for and using the green space around us. The Foundation’s mission is to “save the planet, one yard, schoolyard and community park at a time.” TurfMutt, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024, has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009.

The TurfMutt Foundation has a series of educational resources that are free and aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards for grades K-8. You can check out the entire TurfMutt Learning Library here.

The lesson plan entitled Trees Tame Stormwater helps kids in grades 6-8 understand the importance of trees for mitigating stormwater runoff. The students learn the difference between treeless areas in our communities, and those that are well-landscaped. They also learn how areas like parking lots and streets can be designed and landscaped to slow storm runoff, reduce air pollution and create a more livable, sustainable environment.

Download the lesson plan Trees Tame Stormwater here.

To learn more about the many benefits of green space for our health and well-being, download the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Backyarding Fact Book. For more on the TurfMutt Foundation, visit TurfMutt.com or sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show on Saturday mornings.