WELCOME TO SCIENCE LESSONS THAT ROCK
  • HOME
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Shop
  • Let's Connect!

Citizen Science Projects

5/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Citizen-science-experiments
citizen-science-project-ideas
WHAT IS CITIZEN SCIENCE?
Citizen science is when the public participates in scientific research. Every-day citizens share and contribute data with the goal of increasing scientific knowledge. You do not have to be a trained scientist in order to participate.

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT
Citizen science is great to do with students because:
  • The data they collect in class is meaningful! Students will be more precise with their data collection if they know it is going to a greater cause.
  • Many studies rely on citizen scientists in order to collect regional data.
  • When you get students exploring, you are helping to grow their interest in the natural sciences. The future is full of STEM careers, so let's get them interested now!

PROJECT IDEAS
Ready to try it out? Here is a list of websites and project ideas to get you started.

1. CitizenScience.gov is a government website that has a TON of project ideas and is a great place to start. You can collect data that will be used by NOAA, USGS, National Science Foundation, and even NASA.

2. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a website run by the Audubon that encourages students to get outside and start birding.  They are looking for regional data where people can upload pictures and species of birds they see in their neighborhoods. Time to dust off those binoculars!

3. National Geographic has a list of citizen science projects, ranging from wildlife observation, measuring night sky brightness (light pollution), butterfly census, listening for frog and toad calls, and more. 

4. SciStarter.org is a website put together by Arizona State University and the National Science Foundation. You can search for projects near you or online only.

5. Project Green Challenge is a website that gives students environmentally-themed challenges. You can register your school and enter to win prizes!

6. Zooniverse is "people powered research." This website has a ton of ongoing projects that also venture into other content areas outside of the natural sciences.

7. inaturalist Do you ever take pictures of insects and cool species in your yard or neighborhood? inaturalist is a website (and phone app) that allows you to upload pictures of your findings and share/discuss with fellow naturalists.

8. Captain Planet Project Hero is a PBL driven website where students can help threatened species and ecosystems in their area.

9. The GLOBE Program is looking for people to contribute data for cloud types, mosquito habitats, and land cover observations.

10. Project Budburst was created by Chicago Botanical Garden. Their goal is to uncover the stories of plants and animals affected by human impacts on the environment.

11. Gorongosa Webcams If you've ever used curriculum from Biointeractive, you know it's pretty stellar. In this lesson students study webcams from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and do animal identification.

12. Pollinator Live is a website that includes links to a bunch of citizen science projects centered around attracting and monitoring pollinators in your area. Teach students the importance of pollinators!


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Becca 
    The face behind Science Lessons That Rock

    I'm a teacher, blogger, and curriculum writer.
    I've been teaching science for 12 years at both the middle and high school levels.

    Categories

    All
    A List Of ALL Blog Posts
    Back To School
    Biochemistry
    Cells
    Chemistry
    Classroom Decor
    Classroom Management
    Distance Learning
    Ecology
    End Of The School Year
    Evolution
    Experiments
    Field Trips
    Forensics
    Formative Assessment
    For NEW Teachers
    FREE Stuff
    Fun Stuff
    Genetics
    Geology
    GIveaways
    Holidays
    Literacy
    Media In The Classroom
    Metrics
    Microscopes
    Physics
    Plate Tectonics
    Projects
    STEM
    Sustainability
    Teacher Tips
    Test Prep
    Water
    Weather And Climate

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Shop
  • Let's Connect!