Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners

Thursday, February 14, 2013

February

Engaging Students with Citizen Science:

Citizen Science Projects and

Growing Up WILD & Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood

Growing Up WILD
Below are several examples of Growing Up WILD activities and how they might be used with a citizen science project. These are just a few examples and by no means the only activities or projects that would work wonderfully together!

Ants on Parade – Children go outside to observe ant behavior and learn insect characteristics. This activity would be valuable to teach children observation skills for participating in one of the citizen science projects below, such as “School of Ants”

http://schoolofants.org/

Wildlife is Everywhere! – Children make observations and understand that wildlife is all around us. This would be a great intro into any of the citizen science projects!

Grow As We Go – Children explore the life cycles of familiar wildlife and understand that living things grow and change. This would work wonderfully with the “Monarch Larva Monitoring Project” http://www.mlmp.org/

Bird Beak Buffet – Children learn about the special functions of bird beaks. This would work wonderfully with Project FeederWatch http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood

Below are several examples of Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood activities and how they might be used with a citizen science project. These are just a few examples and by no means the only activities or projects that would work wonderfully together!

The Shape of Things – Children search for shapes and colors in the natural and built environment. Great observation skill practice before starting a citizen science project!

Sounds Around – Children explore the sounds of nature. Another great observation skill builder!

Adopt a Tree – Children “adopt” a tree revisiting it throughout the seasons. As you participate in a citizen science project you may be revisiting a certain area to make your observations and recordings.

Citizen Science Projects
Below are citizen science projects that even young children can participate in! Most of these require little to no background information to participate. The Lost Ladybug Project and the Firefly Watch are observing two insects that children love. All they need is an adult helper and they can find, count and observe these species and be making a difference for the world!

Celebrate Urban Birds

http://celebrateurbanbirds.org/

Firefly Watch

https://legacy.mos.org/fireflywatch/

Great Backyard Bird Count
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Journey North

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project

http://www.mlmp.org/

MonarchWatch

http://www.monarchwatch.org/class/studproj/index.htm

NWF: Wildlife Watch

http://www.nwf.org/Home/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Citizen-Science/Wildlife-Watch.aspx