TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Mar 26, 2023
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Citizen Science for Educators - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): citizen science (27), environment (246), fish (18), magnetism (37), oceans (148), STEM (287), weather (161), whales (11)
In the Classroom
Use this site and others to find potential citizen science projects for your students. Ask students to select projects by area of interest and work together as groups to gather and share information. Have students share data and updates using Padlet, reviewed here, or Wakelet, reviewed here. For example, create a Padlet with a column for each project, then ask students to add their data and observations in the appropriate column. When using Wakelet, create a collection for each observation group for students to add data and share information in their chosen project. To enhance learning, as a final project, ask students to share their completed project with the class by creating a website using a free website creation tool like Site123, reviewed here, or with a video made with Animoto, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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20 Citizen Science Projects for Students of All Ages - Eperiential Learning Depot
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): birds (46), butterflies (13), citizen science (27), climate (83), habitats (89), insects (68), migration (45), plants (149), STEM (287), water (101)
In the Classroom
Browse through this list of citizen science projects to find classroom science projects, then work together to choose the project that interests your students. Consider using FigJam, reviewed here, as a starting point to engage students and share information about potential projects. For example, create a Jamboard slide for each possible project, add important information, then ask students to add sticky notes with their ideas. After choosing a project, work together to make science journals that detail your work. Gather and share data using an easy chart-creation tool like Livegap Charts, reviewed here, as you analyze information. Use the tools found at Canva for Education, reviewed here, to share your results with timelines, infographics, and posters.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Citizen Science Platforms & Organizations - Science Literacy Foundation
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (295), citizen science (27), data (150), ecology (101), environment (246), habitats (89), space (215), STEM (287)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the information on this site to introduce your students to the concept of citizen science. Brainstorm together to develop a list of ideas for a citizen science class project, then use a polling tool such as Dotstorming, reviewed here, to vote on your final choice. Instead of using written journals throughout your unit, ask students to replace these and enhance learning by keeping online journals with Microsoft Word or Google Documents: alternatively, have students use a blog tool such as Telegra.ph, reviewed here. This blog creator requires no registration. With Telegra.ph have students click on an icon to upload related images and add YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitter links. Throughout your research, ask students to highlight and share important information, add annotations, and add links to additional information. As you add student resources, use Wakelet, reviewed here, to share information on your website or blog. Ask students to enhance their learning and create personal Wakelets, including images from projects and their journal entries.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Citizen Community Science for Bees - The Bee Conservancy
Grades
K to 12tag(s): citizen science (27), habitats (89), insects (68)
In the Classroom
Share the Bee Conservancy project with students to participate in at home or join as a class. Be sure to take appropriate precautions when photographing bees and identify students who are allergic. Add your images to a class website created with Webnode, reviewed here or any other free and simple website creator. In addition to student images, add descriptions of the bees' locations; then, as students become more proficient in recognizing the different types of bees, add labels to share the name of the species in the image. Finally, extend student learning using Microsoft PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, to create interactive lessons about bees and their habits, including videos, articles, and quizzes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Community Science Opportunities - The Maritime Aquarium
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (295), birds (46), citizen science (27), data (150), environment (246)
In the Classroom
Consider participating in one of the community science opportunities shared on this site as an investigative science project, even if the actual date of the event has passed. For example, The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place in February; however, any student or class can complete it over four days without concerns about grade level. After tallying your bird count, create an easy graph using the Data Gif Maker, reviewed here. Extend student learning by completing another bird count at a different time of the year, then have students analyze and compare their graphs and data collection information. Use one of the many tools found at Canva Edu, reviewed here to create and share presentations, images, or videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Citizen Science Month - Arizona State University and SciStarter
Grades
K to 12tag(s): citizen science (27), data (150), ecology (101), engineering (127), genetics (81), inquiry (24), medicine (56), psychology (64), statistics (121), STEM (287)
In the Classroom
Explore the many free projects Citizen Science offers to engage students in scientific exploration and inquiry that match your curriculum. Consider working together as a class to complete the Citizen Science Tutorial and earn the digital badge. As students work together to collect and analyze data, use Livegap Charts, reviewed here, to enter data and create customized charts. After working in groups or together as a class, to analyze the information learned, create a presentation to share with parents and peers during a Citizen Science night event. Use presentation tools such as Bulb, reviewed here, to create portfolios or Visme, reviewed here, to create and share audio slide presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World Wildlife Foundation Educator's Toolkits - World Wildlife Organization
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animals (295), carbon footprint (5), citizen science (27), conservation (95), earth (184), earth day (60)
In the Classroom
Use the lessons and activities found on this site to engage students in learning about animals and conservation. Use Symbaloo, reviewed here, to share additional resources with elementary students in a user-friendly format. For older students, consider using LiveBinders, reviewed here, to collaborate and compile information. After completing research, use a tool such as Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to create infographics as a class or as individual projects. Share your infographics on your class website when complete. As a culminating project, share options with students to "show what they know" through a variety of options. Consider offering students a variety of tools such as creating digital books using Book Creator, reviewed here, a virtual tour built with Google My Maps, reviewed here, or a podcast using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. This site is perfect to include during Citizen Science Month each April as a resource for finding science activities that turn curiosity into impact.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Journey North - Journey North
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): animal homes (57), animals (295), citizen science (27), insects (68), migration (45), Project Based Learning (26), scientists (62)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this site to teach students about animal migration and the activities of scientists. Include a link to the site on classroom computers to follow updates and record sightings. Even if you don't participate by sharing information on the site, consider using the site as a model for observations in your area and possibly a mini project based learning unit. Use Microsoft Office or Google Docs to create a spreadsheet to record sightings including dates, images, and the person doing the sighting. As students view different animals, encourage them to research and learn more about them and share their learning by creating infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Extend classroom technology use by having students include their infographics on webpages created using Carrd, reviewed here. Carrd is a simple yet attractive-looking tool for creating websites for even less tech-savvy users. Redefine classroom technology use and learning and ask students to use Odyssey, reviewed here, to design an interactive map including images, text, and other multimedia to tell the story of migration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Monarch Lab - University of Minnesota
Grades
K to 12tag(s): animal homes (57), butterflies (13), citizen science (27), data (150), habitats (89), insects (68)
In the Classroom
Use the downloadable worksheets on this site to monitor and learn about monarch butterflies in your area. Use Google Sheets and Documents to include images and data together. Compare your class data to those around the country. Take advantage of this project to show students how every piece of data is significant for scientific studies. Ask students to share information through blog entries using edublog, reviewed here. edublog includes tools for easily creating interesting blogs including student writing and images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BirdSleuth - Cornell University
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): birds (46), citizen science (27), environment (246), scientific method (48)
In the Classroom
Science classes come alive using BirdSleuth's free resources. Captivate students while discovering the importance of nature and our interactions with it. In gifted classes, use this idea as an example of project-based learning. Pair it with a book such as Hoot by Carl Hiaasen to include ties with literature. Use this resource to build understanding of stewardship in our environment and of man's impact on nature. Develop research and include language arts standards to document the research, study, and findings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SciStarter - Science for Citizens LLC
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (295), archeology (26), birds (46), citizen science (27), ecology (101), environment (246), geology (62), insects (68), medicine (56), oceans (148), Project Based Learning (26), science fairs (20), scientific method (48), sound (72), space (215), transportation (31), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Find a great project for your students to participate in, entering data and looking at the results. Search by activity or topic to find a project geared towards your students age range, curriculum, and ability to complete. Have students make a multimedia presentation about one of the "projects" using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Slides, Animatron, Vibby, and Inkscape. This resource lends itself to project based learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zooniverse - Zooniverse
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): citizen science (27), earth (184), moon (72), Project Based Learning (26), Research (85), space (215), sun (71), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Find interesting scientific information and how our understanding increases when data is included from other sources. Find information about our past history, earth and space around us, and information that can affect our future technology and exploration. Find a project based learning unit to suit your students interests. Have students make a multimedia presentation about one of the "projects" using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, Animatron, Sway, and Microsoft PowerPoint Online.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Geologic Survey - Educational Resources - U.S. Department of the Interior
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): amphibians (17), animals (295), biomes (111), birds (46), caves (7), citizen science (27), climate (83), climate change (93), earthquakes (45), ecosystems (79), environment (246), erosion (15), floods (10), fossils (41), geology (62), mammals (22), minerals (13), plate tectonics (22), rock cycle (12), rocks (35), soil (16), tsunamis (15), volcanoes (54), water (101)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and the wealth of information on this site. As you go through the lessons on this site replace pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using edublog.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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