A citizen scientist is an individual who voluntarily contributes his or her time, effort, and resources toward scientific research in collaboration with professional scientists or alone. These individuals don’t necessarily have a formal science background.
While it’s easy to leave science to scientists and experts, it’s also easy to forget we live in the natural world of trees, lakes, rocks, flowers, and much more. Citizen science projects are a fun way for schools, families, community groups, and individuals to contribute hands on to science and our understanding of the natural world.
All you need is a smartphone, time, and an internet connection to research possible projects. Scientists post their projects and use data collected by non-scientists for their research. For example, NASA has a citizen science project asking people to take pictures of trees from the ground so one of their satellites orbiting the earth can correctly calculate the number of trees on our planet. Turns out their satellite can count trees but can’t calculate the height of trees.
All you need is a smartphone, time, and an internet connection to research possible projects. Scientists post their projects and use data collected by non-scientists for their research. For example, NASA has a citizen science project asking people to take pictures of trees from the ground so one of their satellites orbiting the earth can correctly calculate the number of trees on our planet. Turns out their satellite can count trees but can’t calculate the height of trees.
SciStarter Citizen Science
https://scistarter.com/page/Citizen%20Science.html
US Government Citizen Science Projects
https://www.citizenscience.gov/catalog/
Science Journal for Kids and Teens reports on cutting-edge, peer-reviewed science research adapted for students and their teachers. Articles can be selected according to reading level (elementary school, lower high school, middle school, upper high school) and/or subject field (biodiversity and conservation, biology, energy and climate, food and agriculture, health and medicine, physical science, pollution, social science, technology, water resources).
Resources For Teaching & Learning About World Water Conservation Includes resources for International Water Day in March
Twig Science Reporter is a free weekly science news service for kindergarten through grade 6 classrooms created in partnership with Imperial College London to connect science lessons with real-world STEM news and events through high-quality video and other learning resources to pique students’ interest. Each week Twig helps teachers boost student engagement with free stories highlighting scientific concepts focused on everything from local phenomena to global issues.
OpenSciEd is to ensure that science teachers anywhere can access and download freely available, high-quality, locally adaptable full-course materials that support equitable science learning. OpenSciEd provides teachers the materials and support to get all students excited and curious about the world around them and confident in their ability to shape it through questioning, investigating, and solving problems.
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers, and conservationists by bringing science, exploration, adventure, and conservation live into classrooms through virtual speakers and fieldtrips with leading experts across the globe. Since its start in September 2015, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants has run close to 2,000 live events and connected hundreds of thousands of students to scientists and explorers in more than 80 countries—and the program is free for classrooms everywhere. Recorded Lessons
The Best Sites Where Students Can Participate In Citizen Science Projects.
Science Journal for Kids and Teens reports on cutting-edge, peer-reviewed science research adapted for students and their teachers. Articles can be selected according to reading level (elementary school, lower high school, middle school, upper high school) or subject field (biodiversity and conservation, biology, energy and climate, food and agriculture, health and medicine, physical science, pollution, social science, technology, water resources). Teachers will also find a collection of lesson ideas, including hands-on activities, case studies, and games with distance-learning options.
Smithsonian Magazine has just published SEVENTY-FIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ONLINE
National Geographic Citizen Science Projects
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/citizen-science-projects/
iNaturalist”? It’s A Great Tool For Science & ELL Teachers!
Have Students Use “GlobalXplorer” To Become “Armchair Archaeologists”
“Zooniverse” Is One Of The Coolest Ed Sites On The Web – I Can’t Believe I’m Just Hearing About It!
SciStarter provides a database of more than 1500 vetted, searchable projects and events.
Citizen Science Projects is from National Geographic.
Find a project! is from SciGirls on PBS Kids.
HAVE STUDENTS CLASSIFY IMAGES OF ‘GALACTIC INTERACTIONS’ IN COOL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
From Smithsonian Magazine:
Globe at Night [is] a campaign to raise awareness about the negative effects of light pollution. Use the organization’s online tools to choose a constellation appropriate to your location, and make observations about which stars you can see. These data points will help Globe at Night understand how light pollution is impacting different places across the world.
Smithsonian Magazine has just published SEVENTY-FIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ONLINE
5 NASA Science Projects That Can Help Teach Kids Astronomy is from Discover.
Citizen science allows laymen to contribute to groundbreaking investigations, even without traveling is from The Washington Post. Here’s the key excerpt:
Scientific American Citizen Science Projects
https://www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_citizen_science_projects
Help NASA Measure Trees with Your Smartphone
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/help-nasa-measure-trees-with-new-app
NASA Globe Observer Citizen Scienc
e Program
https://observer.globe.gov/
Learn MoreCITIZEN SCIENCE.GOVhttps://www.citizenscience.gov/#https://www.citizenscience.gov/#
SCISTARTER CITIZEN SCIENCEhttps://scistarter.org/citizen-sciencehttps://scistarter.org/citizen-science
AMAZING CITIZEN SCIENTIST PROJECTShttps://www.kcedventures.com/blog/12-amazing-citizen-scientist-projects-for-kids
KIDS MAKE GREAT CITIZEN SCIENTISTShttps://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/kids-make-great-citizen-scientists
SIX CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTShttp://simplegreenorganichappy.com/2016/05/6-citizen-science-projects-for-2016-for-kids/
MONEY SAVING CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTShttps://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/citizen-science-projects/
https://scistarter.com/page/Citizen%20Science.html
US Government Citizen Science Projects
https://www.citizenscience.gov/catalog/
Science Journal for Kids and Teens reports on cutting-edge, peer-reviewed science research adapted for students and their teachers. Articles can be selected according to reading level (elementary school, lower high school, middle school, upper high school) and/or subject field (biodiversity and conservation, biology, energy and climate, food and agriculture, health and medicine, physical science, pollution, social science, technology, water resources).
Resources For Teaching & Learning About World Water Conservation Includes resources for International Water Day in March
Twig Science Reporter is a free weekly science news service for kindergarten through grade 6 classrooms created in partnership with Imperial College London to connect science lessons with real-world STEM news and events through high-quality video and other learning resources to pique students’ interest. Each week Twig helps teachers boost student engagement with free stories highlighting scientific concepts focused on everything from local phenomena to global issues.
OpenSciEd is to ensure that science teachers anywhere can access and download freely available, high-quality, locally adaptable full-course materials that support equitable science learning. OpenSciEd provides teachers the materials and support to get all students excited and curious about the world around them and confident in their ability to shape it through questioning, investigating, and solving problems.
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers, and conservationists by bringing science, exploration, adventure, and conservation live into classrooms through virtual speakers and fieldtrips with leading experts across the globe. Since its start in September 2015, Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants has run close to 2,000 live events and connected hundreds of thousands of students to scientists and explorers in more than 80 countries—and the program is free for classrooms everywhere. Recorded Lessons
The Best Sites Where Students Can Participate In Citizen Science Projects.
Science Journal for Kids and Teens reports on cutting-edge, peer-reviewed science research adapted for students and their teachers. Articles can be selected according to reading level (elementary school, lower high school, middle school, upper high school) or subject field (biodiversity and conservation, biology, energy and climate, food and agriculture, health and medicine, physical science, pollution, social science, technology, water resources). Teachers will also find a collection of lesson ideas, including hands-on activities, case studies, and games with distance-learning options.
Smithsonian Magazine has just published SEVENTY-FIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ONLINE
National Geographic Citizen Science Projects
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/citizen-science-projects/
iNaturalist”? It’s A Great Tool For Science & ELL Teachers!
Have Students Use “GlobalXplorer” To Become “Armchair Archaeologists”
“Zooniverse” Is One Of The Coolest Ed Sites On The Web – I Can’t Believe I’m Just Hearing About It!
SciStarter provides a database of more than 1500 vetted, searchable projects and events.
Citizen Science Projects is from National Geographic.
Find a project! is from SciGirls on PBS Kids.
HAVE STUDENTS CLASSIFY IMAGES OF ‘GALACTIC INTERACTIONS’ IN COOL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
From Smithsonian Magazine:
Globe at Night [is] a campaign to raise awareness about the negative effects of light pollution. Use the organization’s online tools to choose a constellation appropriate to your location, and make observations about which stars you can see. These data points will help Globe at Night understand how light pollution is impacting different places across the world.
Smithsonian Magazine has just published SEVENTY-FIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ONLINE
5 NASA Science Projects That Can Help Teach Kids Astronomy is from Discover.
Citizen science allows laymen to contribute to groundbreaking investigations, even without traveling is from The Washington Post. Here’s the key excerpt:
Scientific American Citizen Science Projects
https://www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_citizen_science_projects
Help NASA Measure Trees with Your Smartphone
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/help-nasa-measure-trees-with-new-app
NASA Globe Observer Citizen Scienc
e Program
https://observer.globe.gov/
Learn MoreCITIZEN SCIENCE.GOVhttps://www.citizenscience.gov/#https://www.citizenscience.gov/#
SCISTARTER CITIZEN SCIENCEhttps://scistarter.org/citizen-sciencehttps://scistarter.org/citizen-science
AMAZING CITIZEN SCIENTIST PROJECTShttps://www.kcedventures.com/blog/12-amazing-citizen-scientist-projects-for-kids
KIDS MAKE GREAT CITIZEN SCIENTISTShttps://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/kids-make-great-citizen-scientists
SIX CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTShttp://simplegreenorganichappy.com/2016/05/6-citizen-science-projects-for-2016-for-kids/
MONEY SAVING CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTShttps://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/citizen-science-projects/
Climate Change Education is a middle and high school climate change curriculum from Stanford.
The American Educator has an issue on climate change.
Students want climate change lessons. Schools aren’t ready is from The L.A. Times.
The American Educator has an issue on climate change.
Students want climate change lessons. Schools aren’t ready is from The L.A. Times.